Be Thankful in All Things

The following is an outline of tonight's FHE lesson:

Introduce the scripture we will be "ponderizing" for the next two weeks (since we will be out of town next week for the Thanksgiving Holiday, we are having our Thanksgiving lesson now and will ponder this scripture both weeks).

Doctrine & Covenants 78:19 “And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.”

What does it mean to “receive all things with thankfulness”?

What are you thankful for?

Are you thankful for hard things? For trials?

The Lord didn't say, “And he who receiveth easy things with thankfulness...” or “And he who receiveth fun things with thankfulness...” He said “all things”.

How can we be thankful for our trials?

(The following list of ways we can be thankful, even during trying times comes from this website.)

1. Grateful people don’t expect that life is going to give them everything they deserve.  They realize that good things do not always happen to good people, and they have given up the notion that life “owes them” anything more than it can offer.  Cancer, afflictions, and even the death of innocent people are unfortunately part of life. Tsunamis and natural disasters can wipe out even a community of unsuspecting people, and the unfairness of life is regrettable and tragic for sure. The question is not if life is unfair, but can we move on in spite of it.
   
2. They do not have preconditions to their happiness. They do not think “If this happens”  only then “I will be happy.” They understand happiness is not coming from the outside, but from within. They focus more on their adjustment to what happens rather than try to change what can not be changed. They do not attempt to micromanage people and things in their lives that are not really in their control.
   
3. People who are grateful have realized that you can not have the rainbow without the rain. Furthermore, they know that you don’t have honey without the bee, and you can’t  have the rose without the thorns. They see rainy days as a normal part of life rather than an aberration, and learn from the rain rather than just wait for it to go away. They admire the beauty of the rose even though it has its thorny side, and savor the sweet taste of honey even though the bee can sting. Realizing you can not have one without the other, they are grateful for both.
   
4. Grateful people have hope. No matter what happens, hope is not lost. They realize the future is uncertain, and while they plan for it, they do not try to micromanage outcomes that are beyond their sphere of influence. They take comfort in the fact that once the sun sets, it rises the next day. They have faith that there is more to life. 
   
5. Those who are steeped in bitterness and grudges have no space in their heart to be grateful.  Forgive others for not acting or being like you had hoped. Maybe you need to set limits on your interaction with them, or distance yourself altogether as in the case of abuse, but carrying the torch of bitterness is going to hurt you more than them. As Buddha said,“Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
   
6. People who are grateful know that a grateful attitude takes work. Gratefulness does not always come naturally, especially in the most challenging times.  In such times, grateful people work on keeping a good perspective.  They might read affirmations, seek support from others, get help for their sadness or anxiety. Some will seek counseling and do not shy away from the effort it takes.
   
7. Grateful people have healthy thinking habits. They go by the motto,“Think Straight – Feel Great!”  They can separate their perceptions from the facts and separate rational from victim-like irrational ways of thinking. For example, they will replace victim self- talk such as “They make me so mad” to victor self-talk such as “I was mad when they did that.”  All-or-nothing irrational thinking such as “It’s awful” and “I can’t stand it” is reserved for the most life threatening circumstance, rather than everyday petty annoyances and slights.
   
8. Grateful people are flexible in their thinking. People who think flexibly are at an advantage in life, as flexibility is the key to growth and wisdom. They don’t cling stubbornly with ways of thinking that do not work, and do not need to see a shift in attitude as meaning a personal defeat and referendum of how wrong they used to be. They realize they can choose their perceptions and have a right to change their minds. With this mentality, the doors that close yield others that  now become open.
   
9. People who love to learn tend to be grateful. Each setback or unforeseen life event offers us lessons, and grateful people focus more on the lessons they can get out of each situation rather than the disappointments. After all, life is a great teacher and teaches us things that no one ever could. Even mistakes and failures are seen as learning opportunities.
   
10. Grateful people define their self worth by their determination and their dreams, not their regrets and disappointments. A grateful mindset has no room for excessive self-recrimination and low self esteem. People who are stuck in past regrets and see themselves as losers in life or as having failed badly in even certain areas of their lives will not be able to be truly grateful. Positive self esteem sets the foundation for gratefulness. So if you are down on yourself, this is a time to get a mental health tune up!
    

What does the Lord promise in D&C 78:19 to those who will receive all things with thankfulness?

• Shall be made glorious
• The things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

How have you been blessed when you were thankful, even for hard things?

Show Video “Thanksgiving Daily” on the YouTube Mormon Channel

Give each person a paper and tell them to go throughout the house and write down 15 things they are thankful for. Encourage them to look for things that they usually don't notice or think about. Tell them to include 3-5 things that they would normally see as a negative thing, but that they can be thankful for.

Ask each family member to put their list somewhere that will help them to remember to be thankful in all things. Challenge them to “ponderize” D&C 78:19 for the next two weeks and encourage them to show gratitude to Heavenly Father, family and friends every day.

Close by sharing testimonies.

Becoming Zion

For FHE this week, we discussed Moses 7:18.

Explain that Zion is God's covenant people. Do we want to be part of God's covenant people? Of course! What does this scripture teach us that we must do?

Write on a white board:

“Of One Heart”

“Of One Mind”

“Dwell in Righteousness”

“No Poor Among Us”

As a family, come up with examples on how we can achieve these in our family. As you discuss ideas, list them under the appropriate phrase.  Here are some of the answers we came up with together:

Of One Heart

• Love One Another 
• Serve One Another
• Speak Kindly to One Another

Of One Mind

• Sharing Goals
• Share Testimonies
• Teach One Another
• Support One another

Dwell in Righteousness

• Read Scriptures Together
• Pray Together
• Have FHE
• Keep the Commandments
• Attend the Temple
• "Cleanliness Invites the Spirit"
  -Help Each Other Make Good Choices
  -Help Keep our House Clean

No Poor Among Us

• Contribute Tithes and Fast Offerings
• Be Kind and Encourage One Another
• Don't be Wasteful
• Don't Invest in Things that are "Lamesauce"
• Treat Each Other with Respect
  

Challenge family members to “ponderize” Moses 7:18. As we ponder this scripture this week, refer to this list we have made. Challenge family members to strive to be of one heart, one mind, dwelling in righteousness, and having no poor among us.

End by sharing testimonies.

Follow the Prophet

I know I am late in posting this, but we did have FHE last night and did introduce a new scripture to ponderize this week.  Here was our lesson:

Before FHE, prepare:

• Two boxes
• Yummy refreshments to fit in one box (Box B)

Suggested Opening Song: Follow the Prophet

Ask family to share thoughts about last week's scripture (Matthew 5:14-16)

• What were things you did to make your light brighter?
• What were ways that you shared that light with others?

Does anyone remember what PresidentMonson spoke about in General Conference last month?

President Monson's talk in General Conference was about our Ponderizing scripture last week! Did you realize that by thinking about that scripture and trying to live it better in your life, you were following the prophet?

Introduce this week's scripture: D&C 1:37-38

• Who is speaking?
• What are the commandments He is asking us to search? (Teachings of the prophets)
• Where do we find them? (Conference, Ensign, Friend, New Era, Scriptures)
• What does verse 38 mean?

If the words of the prophets are the same as the words of God, what does that tell you about the words of the prophets?

Watch Follow the Prophet Video

Discuss that doing the right thing, and following the prophet, might not always be easy.  It may not always be popular, in fact it will often not be popular.  But there is safety in following the counsel of our prophet.  And we will be blessed when we make the right choice.

Two Boxes Object Lesson

For refreshments tonight, I have a treat in one of these boxes. But in order to get it, you must pick the right box. Which box do you want to have?

Is it hard to choose? Why?

Choose one family member to come up and look into each box without saying anything.

Now ask the family if they would like the refreshments from Box A? (They will look to the person who looked into the box to see if they raise their hand. They will not, because that was the empty box.)

Now ask who would like the refreshments from Box B? (Everyone will want it because the person who saw it will raise their hand.)

Why did you choose Box B?

Discuss how the prophet has “seen inside the box” and he knows what choices we should be making. He will always make good choices and if we follow his example, we will receive eternal rewards. But what will we get if we don't follow his example?

Open the empty box: Nothing. No eternal family. No hope. No joy.

Aren't we glad we chose the box that wasn't empty?  Each day we face decisions and if we are following the prophet, we will know which choices to make, which box to open.  The more we follow the prophet and open the right boxes, the easier it will be to recognize the right box quickly.

Share Testimony and invite family members to share their testimony, too.

Challenge family members to ponderize D&C 1:37-38 this week.

Let Your Light Shine

Here is our FHE lesson for tonight and the scripture that we'll be ponderizing this week:

Suggested Opening Song: I am Like a Star

(I'll be having Cadi read the following quote and then explain it in her own words for Rori to understand.) From the First Presidency Message in the August 2015 Ensign, President Thomas S. Monson said:

“I would like all of the youth of the Church to know that they are children of light. As such, they have a responsibility to be “as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). They have a duty to share the truths of the gospel. They have a calling to stand as a temple beacon, reflecting gospel light to an increasingly dark world. They have a charge to keep their light aflame and burning brightly.

“In order for us to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12), we ourselves must believe. We must develop the faith necessary to survive spiritually and to project a light for others. We must nurture our testimony until it becomes an anchor to our lives.

“Among the most effective ways to gain and keep the faith we need today is to read and study the scriptures and to pray frequently and consistently. To the youth of the Church, I say, if you haven’t done so, develop now a habit of daily scripture study and prayer. Without these two essential practices, outside influences and the sometimes-harsh realities of life can dim or even extinguish your light.”

Pass out and have each person complete their age appropriate section in the Stand as a Light Handout 

Again, from President Monson: 

“As you follow the example of the Savior, yours will be the opportunity to be a light, as it were, in the lives of those around you. When you are a light to the world, people around you will feel a special spirit that will make them want to associate with you and follow your example.”

Hand out the Make Someone Smile Handout and challenge them to complete it.

Our scripture to Ponderize this week:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

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

Matthew 5:14-16

Questions to discuss to help us understand the scripture:

• What does it mean to be “the light of the world”?
• Discuss “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
• If you cover up a light, what happens? When you're playing Minecraft and it's dark, what might happen? (Rori loves Minecraft)
• What do you do to keep it from being dark in the game?
• If you hold the light up or place it somewhere where it is not blocked, what happens?
• Imagine that you are somewhere that is dark and you're all alone. How do you think you would feel? Now imagine that you see someone off in the distance, and they have a light. Then how would you feel? What would you do?
• Many of our friends may be sitting right beside us in class or standing right beside us as we visit, but they may be in a kind of darkness. How might they be in darkness?
• Remind family members that even when we don't feel the darkness, sometimes others are feeling it. How do you think others who are in the dark would feel if they could see your light shining brightly?

This week, I would like our family to study and ponder Matthew 5:14-16. Think about what things you are doing to help make your light shine. Think of ways that you can improve to make your light brighter.  Think about ways that you can share your light with others.

Share testimonies.

Activity: Carve Pumpkins 

Take My Yoke Upon You

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

What does it mean to “Come unto Jesus”?

What is a yoke?

A yoke is:

Designed to carry burdens. Why drag the heavy weight of sin around (see Isaiah 5:18)? When we repent and come unto the Savior, He takes that burden away and gives us peace and healing.
 
Intended to help get work done. With the Lord’s yoke, we can help do His work (see Moses 1:39), and He will work with us (see Jacob 5:72). It’s still work, but in it we find rest to our souls.
 
Custom fitted. It’s His yoke we take upon us—the one best suited for us, because His ways help us live in harmony with our true nature, “the nature of happiness” (Alma 41:11), and because the Savior knows us and can succor us individually (see Alma 7:12).

“You come unto Christ to be yoked with Him and with His power, so that you’re not pulling life’s load alone. You’re pulling life’s load yoked with the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and suddenly your problems, no matter how serious they are, become lighter.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Mission and Ministry of the Savior,”Ensign, June 2005, 18.

What are some ways that Christ can help you if you are yoked with Him?

One summer we visited a farm in Massachusetts. While there we took a hayride touring the farm and were introduced to two work horses that had been yoked together for many years. They were retired by this time, but still lived their lives side by side. They had spent so much of their time working together, relying on the other, that even when the yoke was removed, they remained close together and never left the other's side.

If we yoke ourselves with the Savior, not only will He help us through all of the things we face and need to do, but we will grow close to Him. We will be comfortable being with Him. He will always be with us to strengthen us.

What are some ways we can take his yoke upon us?

Challenge family members to ponder Matthew 11:28-30 and to choose to yoke themselves with the Savior each day.

I Will Go and Do

This week, our FHE lesson and scripture to "ponderize" will be 1 NE 3:7.

I have to admit, I have completely copied our lesson from a blogger online.  It was just perfect for what I was looking for.  Why reinvent the wheel, ya know?  So instead of retyping it here, and not giving them the credit they deserve, here is the link where you can find the outline yourself. :)

Family Home Evening in a Snap: I Will Go and Do

This is My Work and My Glory

This weekend was General Conference.  If you are not familiar with it, you should click here.  It happens twice a year and I love it!

One of the many wonderful and inspiring talks given this weekend, was that of Elder Devin Durrant who counseled us to 1) save some money each week, and 2) study a scripture each week.

In an effort to help my family follow the counsel to "ponderize" a scripture each week, I am planning to base our Family Home Evening lessons on a new scripture for us to study that week.  I'm starting with the Scripture Mastery scriptures... that will last us a couple of years. ;)

I'll share our scripture/FHE lessons here:

This lesson is taken mostly from a Conference talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard in 2013 called “This Is My Work and Glory”.

Share the following story in your own words:

I am reminded of a sweet seven-year-old showing her grandfather a small tomato plant she had started from seed as part of a second-grade school project.

She explained that from one tiny seed would come a plant. And if the plant were cared for, it would grow many tomatoes that would each have many seeds.

She said, “And if all of those seeds were planted and grew more tomatoes, and you planted all of those seeds, in a few seasons you would have millions of tomatoes.”

“All,” she said in amazement, “from one little seed.”

But then she said, “I almost killed my plant. I left it in a dark room and forgot to water it. When I remembered the plant, it was all wilted and dead looking. I cried because I thought of all of those millions of tomatoes that would never grow.”

She was then excited to tell her grandfather about the “miracle” that happened.

She explained, “Momma said maybe the plant wasn’t dead. Maybe all it needed was some water and some light to bring life back.

“And she was right. I gave the plant some water, and I put it in the window for light. And guess what?” she asked. “It came back to life, and now it’s going to grow millions of tomatoes!”

Her small tomato plant, so full of potential but so weakened and wilted from unintentional neglect, was strengthened and revived through the simple ministration of water and light by the little girl’s loving and caring hands.

Introduce this week's scripture to study: Moses 1:39

Ask the following questions:

• Who is speaking?
• What does it mean when God says this is “my work and my glory”?
• What is the difference between “immortality” and “eternal life”?
• What is “immortality”?
• What is “eternal life”?

Ask someone to read John 17:3. Eternal life is to know God & Jesus Christ.

Elder Ballard said, “Brothers and sisters, as the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited, divine potential. But if we are not careful, we can become like the wilted tomato plant. We can drift away from the true doctrine and gospel of Christ and become spiritually undernourished and wilted, having removed ourselves from the divine light and living waters of the Savior’s eternal love and priesthood power.”

Jesus said:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37).

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me … shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

If we feel that our faith or testimony is not as strong and healthy as it should be, then we need to turn back to the Savior's “light” and “living water”. As we care for our testimony with a little water and light each day, it will bring life to our faith and testimony, just like it did for the weakened tomato plant.

Share your testimony and challenge family members to study Moses 1:39 each day this week. Consider what the verse means to you. Ponder how we can help to bring about God's “work and glory”. Find ways that we can turn more fully to the Savior.