#LIGHTtheWORLD

Tonight, for FHE, we will be discussing and preparing for the #LIGHTtheWORLD initiative, which begins December 1st.


We will begin by watching this video:

and reading Matthew 5:16:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

We'll discuss the video and scripture, and think of ways that we can serve others. 

I plan to use these FREE tools to help us with ideas and to record what we are doing as the month goes along:

• 25 Ways to Serve Calendar
• Kids Calendar of ways to Serve
• 25 Days of Service Journals

The important part isn't so much what happens tonight, but what will happen each day in December as we lead up to Christmas.  I'm excited to celebrate this season by serving others and I know it will bring a greater spirit into all of our festivities.

Honor Thy Parents

We have still been having FHE, though not always with a ponderizing scripture.  This week, our FHE took place at a ward member's house with missionaries and a newly baptized ward member.  It was fun!

Last week, our FHE was a ponderizing scripture, Exodus 20:12:

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

I always think that parents teaching this scripture to their kids is self-satisfying. lol  And the fact that we discussed this and made it our focus last week, THE DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY, was extra timely. lol  And let me tell you, my kids did a fantastic job of spoiling me and making me feel not just loved but truly honored. :)

I don't have a lesson plan to share because I did not print one up and we didn't follow any specific outline.  We simply discussed the commandment and what it means.  Why was it given?  Why is it important? 

I've been a bit non-bloggy lately.  I will try to do better.  No promises, I'm enjoying our lazy summer. ;)

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.

The children of Israel received manna from heaven to eat while they lived in the wilderness on their journey to the promised land. Manna was a special food that the Lord prepared for them to eat. Each morning they woke up and found manna on the ground, ready for them to gather. Usually, they had to gather and eat the manna on the day it fell or it became wormy and smelly. The day before the Sabbath, twice as much manna fell, and the Lord told the children of Israel to gather enough for two days. On the Sabbath day they did not receive any manna, but the manna they gathered the day before did not go bad. The Lord preserved it for His people (see Ex. 16:16–24).

Why do you think the Lord sent twice as much manna on Saturday and none on Sunday?

What if the people had not gathered what they would need for Sunday on Saturday?

How is it that manna that was left over on other days was gross, but the left overs from Saturday were not?

Like the Israelites, our families will be guided and blessed when we keep the Sabbath day holy. President Gordon B. Hinckley teaches: “Gather your family about you, teach them the gospel, enjoy yourselves together on the Sabbath Day, come to your meetings, participate. You will know that the principle of the Sabbath is a true principle which brings with it great blessings” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 559).

Has our family been blessed because of keeping the Sabbath Day holy?  How?

Have you been blessed personally for keeping the Sabbath Day holy? 

"There is a power in keeping the Sabbath day holy-power to help others as well as ourselves. If we would have God's blessings and protection as individuals, as families, as communities, and as nations, we must keep His Sabbath day holy… I further testify that when we eventually see things through the proper perspective of eternal truth, we will be amazed at how much we were blessed in important-though often unperceived ways through keeping the Sabbath holy." -John H. Groberg

The scripture we will be ponderizing this week is Exodus 20:8-11:

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Yesterday, we went the the Hill’s for dinner. Why?  (It was our cousin, Taylor’s birthday.)  We had steak, Mary Jane’s potato salad, and fruit pizza.  Why?  Because those are his favorite foods and it was his special day.

Each of us has a special day.  On your day, I make what you want for dinner.  We celebrate the way you want – a party, having friends over, doing something special. 

Does Heavenly Father have a special day?  Of course.  What do we call it?  The Sabbath.  So, if the Sabbath is His day, how should we treat it?  What should we be doing on that day?

What are your thoughts about the following quotes:

"If we don't keep the Sabbath day holy, he may still be our God, but we may not be his people." -Milton R. Hunter

"Observance of the Sabbath is an indication of the depth of our conversion." -Mark E. Peterson

"No person can disregard the Lord's day without suffering serious spiritual consequences." John Wells

Bear testimony of the importance of the Sabbath Day.  Invite family members to share their testimonies.

No Other Gods

We are still here and we have been having our FHE and "ponderizing" different scriptures, I have just been really busy and haven't blogged!  And most of our lessons have been pretty informal, just discussing the scripture.  Today's will be much the same.

Over the next 6 weeks, we are going to be studying the 10 commandments.  I've combined some weeks that I felt were similar or didn't require a full lesson. (I really hope my kids don't need a full lesson on "Thou shalt not kill." lol)

This week, we start with the first two, found in Exodus 20:3-6.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

I am not planning out a full lesson, but some questions I intend to ask, to encourage a discussion, are:

• What are some "other gods" that we might put before Heavenly Father at times?
• How can we be sure that we are not doing that?
• I find it interesting that the commandment does not say "Thou shalt have no other gods."  It says "no other gods before me".  What are your thoughts?
• What are "graven images"?  
• What does Heavenly Father mean when he says, "for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God"?
• How might God "visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations f them that hate me"?  Do we see this happening?
• How does God show mercy unto those that love Him and keep His commandments?

We will close with testimonies and refreshments. :)

An Easter FHE

Preparation: 

• Print the last two pages of handouts from this link for each person in your family.
• Make sure everyone has a copy of the Bible and a pen or pencil.
• Have the video "His Sacred Name" ready to play for the family (less than 3 minutes)

FHE LESSON:

What is coming up this weekend? (Easter!)

Why do we celebrate Easter? (Christ atoned for our sins and died for us, then rose on the 3^rd day, so we can repent and live with Him and Heavenly Father again after this life.)

Have everyone get out their scriptures and give them the worksheet to look up the scriptures listed to learn more about Christ's suffering.

Watch the video “His Sacred Name” on lds.org and give each person the handout to color.

Share the scripture we are “ponderizing” this week, Isaiah 53:3-5:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Focus on the final verse. What does it mean “and with his stripes we are healed”?

How does that make you feel?

What are some ways we can show our gratitude and love for all that our Savior has done for us?

Encourage family members to ponderize Isaiah 53:3-5, especially vs 5, and to seek and carry out ways to show Heavenly Father and Jesus their gratitude for the atonement and resurrection. 

End with testimonies.

As an activity, color Easter Eggs. Make a list of people (single sisters and elderly in our ward) to share our eggs with and set aside some times to go visit them to give them their colored eggs.

JOY!

For FHE last night, we talked about the scripture we are going to ponderize this week: 2 NE 2:25.

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

After discussing what the scripture meant, we used the remaining time to talk about how we can choose to have joy and be more positive in life, even when things are not going the way we hope.  We referenced this New Era Q & A article about helping our friends to be more positive.  And I shared a story from the Friend about a little boy who set out to share joy with others.

Then we made our own list of things that can help us to have joy:

• Family
• Keep the Commandments
• Be Grateful
• Appreciate Nature
• Smile
• Be Nice
• Animals
• Read Scriptures
• Pray
• Remember Jesus and what He has done for us/how much He loves us.

Still Here!

A couple weeks ago, we did not have a regular Family Home Evening because we had a friend visiting from out of town and we met up to spend the evening with her.

Last week, we ponderized Isaiah 58:13-14.  Our Ward Conference was the day before and the message was on keeping the Sabbath day holy.  For FHE, we discussed how keeping the Sabbath day holy can help us and came up with ideas on how our family could be improve our Sabbath day.  Here are some of the ideas we had.  Some of these things could be done as individuals, some as a family.

• Have homework completed before Sunday and don't do schoolwork on the Sabbath.
• Work on Family History
• Write Letters
• Sing Hymns
• Study Scriptures
• Visit people who are lonely or sick.
• Speak Kindly
• Don't watch Football
• Limit TV to approved programs (family movies, church programs, Disney movies, etc)
• Study Church Lessons

We determined that if we do these things, we will experience:

• More Peace
• Love at Home
• Less Stress
• Better Organization
• Help with our Problems
• Personal Revelation

This week, Acadia is giving our FHE lesson and it will be on 1 Samuel 16:7.

Believe on His Name

Tonight, Ryan gave our FHE lesson.  It helped him to complete an assignment for his schoolwork.  His lesson was about Samuel the Lamanite.  Rori was Samuel and Cadi and I were given stones (tennis balls) and a bow & some arrows to try to hit her.  But first, she had to read the words that Samuel taught the people. And we talked a bit about what she said. ...Then we got to throw balls and arrows at her. ;)

It was a pretty fun lesson!  Of all the great scriptures that Rori read as Samuel, Ryan selected Helaman 14:13 as our ponderizing scripture this week.

And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.

Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born

I forgot to mention that two weeks ago, we were out of town, and then last week, Rori gave our FHE lesson (The First Vision, which we paired with JS-H 1:17 to ponderize last week), so it has been a bit since my last post.

Tonight's lesson will be on Abraham 3:22-23.  Here is the lesson outline I plan to follow:

Where did we live before we were born? What do you think it was like? How did we act? What did we do?

How do you think Heavenly Father decided where to send each of us when we were born? How did he decide when we would be born, where we would live, what kind of family we would have? Do you think it was just random?

Abraham 3:22-23

Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

Do you think you are one of the “noble and great ones”?

Do you think Heavenly Father knew you before you were born? Do you think He has chosen you to be one of His rulers and leaders here on earth?

Ask Cadi to stand and share the YW theme.

WE ARE DAUGHTERS of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • Choice and Accountability • Good Works • Integrity • and Virtue

WE BELIEVE as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

What does that theme mean to you? What does it teach you about who you are and what you have been called to do?

How would your life change, how would you regard yourself and treat yourself, if you really understood that you are a daughter of Heavenly Father, and that He loves you?

How does the truth that God knew you before you were born inspire you to follow Him during this life?

Challenge family members to ponderize Abraham 3:22-23 and to insert their name in Abraham's place.

End with testimonies.

The Lord is not interested in our "lip service".

This week's scripture is going to build a little off of last week's scripture. Let's first look at last week's scripture,

2NE9:28-29

O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
We discussed what the difference was between being learned and being wise, and we discussed why those who were learned, but not wise, would perish, and what we need to do in order to be wise.

This week's scripture is:

Isaiah29:13-14

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

What does the first verse mean?

Have you ever heard the term “lip service”? It's when people say one thing, what they think you want to hear, but then do another. It's not honest and usually those kinds of people can't really be trusted.

What is the “marvelous work” that Heavenly Father is going to do? How can we be a part of that work? Are we already?

Why will the “wisdom of their wise men perish and the understanding of their prudent men be hid?”

Last week we talked about how some people are choosing not to follow God's counsel right now. Some are hurting or angry, some have been led astray and don't know any better, and some are just downright belligerent. In the early days of the church, William Law said, “If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.” Ironically, William Law later left the church over a dispute with another church member. But what he said is still true. When people choose to put something else before living the gospel and being true to the covenants they've made, no matter what the reason, they are choosing something else before the Kingdom of God, and in the end, that is all that will matter, that they did not choose the Kingdom of God first.

Last week, we discussed how we could strive to be wise as we sought after learning and education. This week, my challenge is for us to focus on not giving the Lord “lip service”. Let's focus on being honest and true to what we believe and what we say, especially in regards to our faith and the Lord. Let's commit to put the Kingdom of God first in our lives.

End by inviting family members to share their testimony.

"But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."

Here is the lesson I've prepared for our FHE tonight, along with the scripture we will be ponderizing this week...

Suggested Opening Hymn: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man

Begin by sharing the scripture our family will be ponderizing this week:

2NE9:28-29

O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

• Why do you think this scripture starts out by saying “O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!”
• What does it mean to be learned?
• What is the difference between being learned and being wise?
• How can someone who is smart be foolish? Why would they perish because of it?

What are some examples we see of the vainness, frailities, and foolishness of men?

So, does this mean we should not try to be smart?

“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.”

Share the this story about Andrea in your own words...

• Was Andrea “learned”?
• Would you say she was foolish or wise?
• Why was she wise?

What are ways that we can ensure that we are being wise as we seek to learn more and become smarter?

Encourage family members to ponderize 2 NE 9:28-29 and to strive to do the things that will make us wise as we continue to learn and grow.

Created in the Image of God and Given Dominion

I had forgotten to note that we would be gone last week, so we would be ponderizing the last scripture for two weeks, instead of just one.

This week's, FHE lesson:

Introduce this week's scripture.

Genesis1:26-27:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

What does it mean to be made after the likeness of God?

“God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and … if you were to see Him today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 40.

Often, children look like their parents. Has anyone told you that you look like your mom? Or even sometimes that something you do, maybe a face you make, is like your dad? If we are children of Heavenly Father, doesn't it make sense that we would look like Him?

“The recognition of a power higher than oneself does not in any sense debase; rather, it exalts. If we will but realize that we have been created in the image of God, we will not find Him difficult to approach. … This knowledge, acquired through faith, will bring inner calm and profound peace.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “The Lighthouse of the Lord,”Ensign, Nov. 1990, 95–96.

What does “dominion” mean?

“The earth and all things on it should be used responsibly to sustain the human family. However, all are stewards—not owners—over this earth and its bounty and will be accountable before God for what they do with His creations.”

“Environmental Stewardship and Conservation,”mormonnewsroom.org; see also Doctrine and Covenants 104:13–15.

When someone asks you to watch something that belongs to them, does that give you the right to do whatever you want with it?  Recently, friends asked Cadi to stay at their home and watch their dog while they were out of town.  Did she have the right to paint their walls, change their furniture, throw a party, and make a big mess? Even though they put her in charge? She was given dominion over their home and dog while they were gone, but that didn't mean she owned them. It's like that for us here on earth. We have been made stewards of the earth (we've been put in charge of it), but it is not ours.    We should make responsible decisions and do our best to care for it well.

What do we learn from verse 27?

“All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.”

The First Presidency, “The Origin of Man,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1909, 78; Ensign, Feb. 2002, 29.

“Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129.

What are some things we can do to be better stewards?

What can we do to show Heavenly Father we are grateful for our bodies and that we are created in His image?

Close with testimonies.