FHE: Trying to Be Like Jesus

Discussion:
(from May 1999 Friend http://lds.org/friend/1999/05/sharing-time-follow-jesus-christ?lang=eng)
We talk a lot about trying to be like Jesus and following His example, so how do we really do that?

When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He set a perfect example for us to follow in treating other people. He said, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). He showed us at least three things that each of us can do: He was kind. He loved everyone. He served others.

I can be kind. Jesus taught that we can share what we have with others. We can visit people who are sick. We can make someone who is new feel welcome. Jesus did these things, and we can, too. He said that when we do these things for others, we are doing it for Him (see Matt. 25:40). When we share with others, we are not just sharing with them—we are sharing with Him. When we visit others, it is as if we are also visiting Him. When we make others feel welcome, we are making Him feel welcome, too. Surely that is why being kind helps us to have a good feeling and to feel close to our Savior.

I can love everyone. When Jesus knew that He was about to be crucified, He gave His disciples a most important commandment—to love one another the same way He loved them. He told them that people would know that they were His disciples if they followed this commandment. People will know that we are followers of Jesus Christ when they see that we are trying to love everyone.

I can serve others. Jesus spent His whole life serving others. He even gave His life for others—for us. He taught that the greatest among us would be those who serve others as He did (see Matt. 23:11). That is hard for some people to understand. They think that if everyone serves them, it means that they are very important. Jesus Christ taught a better way—to serve others by helping them, by comforting them, by treating them as He treated others.

Activity:

Read the scenarios and scripture references from the September 1990 Friend http://lds.org/friend/1990/09/sharing-time-try-to-be-like-jesus?lang=eng and decide how to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Story:

Read about how being kind and unselfish makes us happy in "The Best Summer Day". http://lds.org/friend/2009/06/the-best-summer-day?lang=eng

Testimony:

-We can follow the example of Jesus Christ by being kind, by showing our love to others, and by serving.

-As we follow the example of Jesus Christ and try to make others feel good, we will be happy also.

FHE: Love

Activity:
Introduce the topic of Home Evening by giving these clues from pages 76 & 78 of the Family Home Evening Resource Guide.  Have everyone raise their hand when they think they know what we're talking about and let people guess after each clue.
1. We cannot see it.
2. We can feel it, but not with our hands.
3. It can be divided up indefinitely.
4. We will never run out of it.
5. It makes us happy.
6. It makes us want to do things for others.
7. It makes us humble.
8. It gives us patience.
9. It makes us want to avoid unrighteous actions.
10. It helps us to be contented with what we have.

Discussion:
Tonight we're talking about showing love in our home.  Why do you think it's important to show love?  (helps us to be happy and invite the Spirit into our home, etc.)  Who set an example for us of how to show love?  (Jesus Christ)  Think of a couple examples of times when Jesus showed love & discuss how we can follow His example.

Activity:
Play "spin the bottle" and have whoever it points to share a way that they can show love in our home.  (sharing, saying "I love you", giving hugs, letting someone else go first, listening and being obedient, being reverent, forgiving, etc.)  Then that person spins the bottle to see who will go next.

Testimony:
-We can follow the example of the Savior by showing love in our home.
-Showing love in our home helps us to invite the Spirit and be a happy family.

FHE: Testimony

Discussion:
What is a testimony?
A testimony is a spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the gospel and the reality of Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ given to us by the Holy Ghost.  Testimony means to know that something is real.

You can know that this table is real because you can touch it.  You can know that the sun is real because you can see it and feel it's warmth.  But how can you know that something is real when you can't see or touch it?  The Holy Ghost can help us to know that something is true by the way we feel.  When we do what is right or learn about something that is true, we feel good, warm or peaceful inside.  This is the witness of the Spirit that what we're doing or learning about is true.  Even though we haven't seen Jesus Christ, we can know that He is real and that He loves us.

A testimony doesn't come all at once.  President Uchtdorf talked about this in General Conference.  He said that instead of being one big event, gaining a witness or testimony, "often comes in the form of a puzzle--one piece at a time."  (May Ensign, p. 70)  As we learn about the gospel and try to do what is right, the Spirit will witness to us little by little that the things we are learning and doing are true.   

Activity:
How can you gain a testimony and help it grow? (pray, read the scriptures, attend Church, etc.)
Print out a picture from lds.org to cut it into a 9 piece puzzle.  (It could be a picture of the Savior, the First Vision, a child bearing testimony, etc.)
On the back of each piece, write one thing you can do to gain a testimony and help it grow: 
-Pray sincerely
-Read the Scriptures
-Attend Sacrament Meeting & Primary
-Follow the Prophet
-Obey the Commandments
-Try to be like Jesus
-Repent of any wrongdoing (so that you can have the Spirit with you)
-Participate in Family Home Evening
-Share your testimony with others
Then discuss each action as you put the puzzle together.  (You could hide the pieces around the room and reiterate how we gain our testimonies one piece at a time.)

Unlike this puzzle, though, our testimonies are never finished.  We need to strengthen our testimonies throughout our entire lives by continuing to learn and do what is right.

Discussion:
How can you share your testimony?
-There are many ways we can share our testimonies.  A testimony doesn't have to be formal or use certain words.  We can bear our testimony with simple statements.  We may talk about things that we know or believe with our family members or friends.  We can also bear our testimony through our actions--by living in accordance with what we believe or know is true.

-When we bear our testimonies in Sacrament meeting, we should keep them simple and focused on the Savior and the things that we know are true.  Sometimes it is appropriate to share an experience that helped to strengthen our testimony, but we shouldn't tell stories to entertain or draw attention to ourselves.  Testimonies are heartfelt expressions of the things we know to be true.  As we bear pure testimony, we will invite the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost.  Our own testimonies will be strengthened as we bear them.

Activity:
Use this activity from the October 2008 Friend to review the essential parts of a testimony.  You can attach the pictures to a glove, or make them into finger puppets.  Or simply trace a hand and glue the pictures onto the fingers as you discuss what each one represents and how you could share that part of your testimony. 
http://lds.org/friend/2008/10/testimony-glove?lang=eng&query

Each person can try on the glove and tell about the five parts of a testimony or bear their testimony of these things if they'd like to.  (Don't pressure anyone to bear their testimony as they should be heartfelt and personal.)

Testimony:
-Each one of us can gain our own testimonies of the gospel.  As we learn about Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ and try to do what is right, the Holy Ghost will witness to us that the things we are learning and doing are true.
-We can strengthen our testimonies each day as we try to live the gospel.  Little by little, our testimonies will continue to grow stronger throughout our lives.

FHE: Forgiveness

Discussion:
Sometimes in life others will hurt or disappoint us.  Whether their actions were accidental or on purpose, we are the only ones that can choose how we will act or how we will feel.  We can choose to let things bother us and get upset or we can choose to let things go and forgive others.  If we choose to focus on a problem, it can seem worse or bigger than it really is.  We start to see only the negative.

President Boyd K. Packer talked about forgiveness this past General Conference.  (Briefly tell the story from his talk about the man who lost his wife and had to learn to forgive and "leave it alone".)
 http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/guided-by-the-holy-spirit?lang=eng

President Packer taught that when we refuse to forgive or "leave it alone", "that attitude is somewhat like a man being hit by a club.  Offended, he takes up a club and beats himself over the head with it all the days of his life.  How foolish!  How sad!  That kind of revenge is self-inflicting.  If you have been offended, forgive, forget it, and leave it alone."

Activity:
When we are hurt by someone, we may have feelings of anger and hurt.  We might feel like seeking for revenge or hurting them back.  (As you talk about this, fill a backpack with five heavy objects--books, rocks, etc.--labeled: hurt, anger, resentment, revenge, and hate.)

Have each family member take turns carrying this heavy load.  Explain that carrying these feelings is an even greater burden than carrying the heavy bag.  When we forgive, we can forget all these feelings and are free from the burden of carrying them.

Discussion:
-Who is hurt the most when we choose not to forgive?  (ourselves)

-What difference does it make when we forgive?  (We can let go of angry and hurt feelings and be happy instead.  We can also be forgiven of our own sins.)

Read D&C 64:10
-Why do you think the Lord commanded us to forgive everyone?  (Forgiveness allows us to feel peace and happiness.  We may not understand why others do things that are unkind, but we are responsible for our own actions and decisions.  When we are holding grudges or feeling upset with others, we can't invite the Spirit to be with us.  By forgiving others and letting go of hard feelings, we are able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and focus on things that are truly important.)

Activity:
Make a simple obstacle course.  Have each person go through it while looking backwards, then let everyone go through it looking forward.  Discuss how doing the obstacle course while looking forward is like forgiveness.  When we forgive, we can forget about the hurt feelings and problems of the past and focus on the future, which makes getting through life much easier.

Testimony:
-We will all have times in our lives when we are hurt by things that others do or say, but we can decide for ourselves how we will act.  When we choose to forgive and let things go, we can find peace and have the companionship of the Holy Ghost to help us in our lives.  Our lives will be much happier when we choose to forgive.

Additional Activities:
-Read this story from the June 2009 Friend
http://lds.org/friend/2009/06/let-it-go?lang=eng

FHE: Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Discussion:
Read Exodus 20:8.  Keeping the Sabbath day (or Sunday) holy is a commandment.  To keep it holy means that we do things that remind us of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ--going to church, reading the scriptures, and other reverent things.  We should avoid working on the Sabbath or doing things that would keep us from thinking of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

That's why we do things differently on Sundays.  We do different things to help make it a special day, set apart from the rest of the week.  We stay in our Sunday clothes to help us remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.  (Obviously, this isn't a requirement--just something our family does so I thought it was appropriate to re-visit why we've chosen to do this.)

One of the most important things we can do on Sunday is to attend our church meetings and partake of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants.  We can worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and learn of Them.

Activity:
Draw slips of paper from a bucket or bowl and decide whether the activity listed is appropriate for the Sabbath.  (use thumbs up/down, stand up/sit down, or simple yes/no answers.)  (This list comes from the Primary 2 manual, lesson 37.)
 
-going to church
-visiting relatives
-cleaning the house
-going shopping
-going to a movie
-reading the scriptures or other good books
-praying
-watching or participating in a game of sports
-writing letters
-going for a walk
-playing scripture games
-visiting a sick person

Discussion:
Elder L. Tom Perry talked about "The Sabbath and the Sacrament" this last General Conference.  http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-sabbath-and-the-sacrament?lang=eng
He said, "Parents, now is the time to teach our children to be examples of the believers by attending sacrament meeting. When Sunday morning arrives, help them to be well rested, properly dressed, and spiritually prepared to partake of the emblems of the sacrament and receive the enlightening, edifying, ennobling power of the Holy Ghost. Let your family be filled with love as you honor the Sabbath all day long and experience its spiritual blessings throughout the week."

-What are some ways we can prepare for the Sabbath day? 
(clean house, wash clothes, etc. on Saturday; be ready spiritually for taking the sacrament--spending time thinking about what we want to improve on over the next week; etc.)

Activity:
Brainstorm things that our family can do to better keep the Sabbath day holy.  (You could make a Sunday box or jar to draw ideas from when you're not sure what to do.)

For example:
-scripture charades or pictionary
-flannel board stories
-write letters or make phone calls to family members
-read histories/stories about our ancestors
-write in your journal or draw pictures about your week
-take a walk as a family
-prepare for Family Home Evening
-play quiet games or do puzzles or coloring together while listening to church music
-work on Faith in God or (some) Cub Scout requirements
-hold a family testimony meeting
-read from the Friend magazine
-read the illustrated Scripture Stories books
-have one-on-one interviews with mom or dad
-look at family pictures
-watch Sunday-appropriate videos
-learn to play Primary songs or Hymns or sing songs together

Testimony:
-Keeping the Sabbath day holy will help us to draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  It helps us to show our love for Them and invites the Spirit to be with us.

Additional Activity:
Print the coloring book at the end of this lesson.  (Primary 2, Lesson 37)  You could cut out the following word strips and figure out which page they go with after coloring them.
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=a4c2767978c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=637e1b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

• • On the Sabbath we go to church to honor Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and learn about them.
• • The Sabbath day is a good day to study the gospel with our families. We can read the scriptures and other good books.
• • The Sabbath day is a day of prayer. We pray at church, with our families, and by ourselves.
• • On the Sabbath day we can sing hymns and listen to good music.
• • On the Sabbath day we can write in our journals and write letters to or draw pictures for our relatives, friends, and the missionaries.
• • The Sabbath day is a good day to visit family members or people who are sick or lonely.

FHE: Ancestors

Sorry, not much to share this week...Brayden's Cub Scout den is working on the Heritage belt loop and he's supposed to learn about his family heritage: history, traditions, origins, and culture.  So that's what we'll be doing for FHE this week--sharing some info & favorite stories about our ancestors.

For an activity, we'll try to make some thumbprint Mother's Day cards.  (Shh!  Don't tell!)  If they turn out, I'll post a picture. :)

FHE: The Atonement

Lesson:
Read this overview of the Atonement from the March 1995 Friend.
http://lds.org/friend/1995/03/the-atonement?lang=eng

Discussion:
What does the Atonement do for us?
-It allows us to be forgiven of our sins and be made clean again when we repent.
-As part of the Atonement, Jesus Christ also suffered for our pains and sicknesses (see Alma 7:11-12).  He understands our struggles, our sorrows, and our pains and He can comfort us in times of need.

How do we apply the Atonement in our lives?
-Repent when we make a mistake.
-Pray for help to overcome weakness and become better.
-Seek His comfort and help in times of difficulty.

Activity:
Use six eggs to spell EASTER--one for each letter.  Place a strip of paper in each egg with the word assigned to that letter.  Open the eggs and discuss how each word relates to Easter.
E - Everyone
A - Atonement
S - Savior
T - Tomb
E - (This egg is left EMPTY) meaning the tomb was empty. 
R - Resurrection

Video:
Watch this Easter message from President Monson: He Lives!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXrOG02NMB0

Testimony:
-Bear testimony of the power of the Atonement and the reality of the Resurrection--that He does live and because of Him, we can return to live with Heavenly Father again.

Additional Activites:
Use the flannel board figures to tell this story from the March 1989 Friend that helps to explain the Atonement.
http://lds.org/friend/1989/03/sharing-time-the-atonement?lang=eng