I Have a Testimony

Family Home Evening Lesson
“I Have a Testimony”
(Adapted from “Sharing Time: I have a Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Dec. 1991 Friend)

Opening Song: “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Song Book # 77)

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

I Have a Testimony:

Read 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.

Tell the story about how Jenny gained a testimony from “Sharing Time: I have a Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Dec. 1991 Friend

Talk about how building your testimony is like building a building. It is built "brick by brick". "One brick could stand for having a testimony of the importance of attending church; another brick, a testimony of the Book of Mormon; and yet another brick, a testimony of prayer."

Get some blocks out and build a testimony tower using the worksheet at the end of the “Sharing Time” lesson. Fill in the worksheet together and show them how a testimony can be built “brick by brick”.

Make the “I Can Gain a Testimony at Church” cards. Print them out on card stock and color them. Punch Holes where indicated and tie them with string so you can flip them over and talk about each card. (Sharing Time: When I Go to Church,” Oct. 1991 Friend)

When you have talked about what the words of this song are saying you can sing it together as a family.

Sing: “When I go to Church” (Children’s Song Book # 157)

Practice bearing your testimonies. Give each member of your family the chance to bear their own testimony and help them if it is needed.

Talk about the upcoming Fast and Testimony meeting and let them know that if they feel the spirit that they are welcome to get up and bear their testimony for the ward.

Closing Song: “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Song Book # 109)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat: Make Rice Crispy Treats and cut them into squares beforehand. As you are serving them place each one down on a platter and mention one thing that was said in one of the testimonies. Make sure to include at least one point from each family member’s testimony. Then talk about how we as a family can help to strengthen each other through our testimonies.

Marriage and Eternal Families

Marriage and Eternal Families

Opening Song: "Families Can Be Together Forever" (Children’s Songbook #188)

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:11

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

Lesson: Mommy (adapted from Sharing Time: My Family, The Friend February 2004)

Show The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Explain that the prophet and apostles wrote this so we would know what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to know about families. Read the first two lines of paragraph s even, “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.” Help the children understand that “ordained of God” means Heavenly Father designed marriage and family not just as an earthly union, but one that will endure forever.

Display a picture of the temple.(or use #501 or #502 from Gospel Art Picture Kit) Explain that we get married in the temple for eternity. Emphasize the importance of marriage being between MAN and WOMAN and that they become Daddies and Mommies.

Show pictures from your wedding day and explain that you were married in the temple (or talk about your family goal to be sealed in the temple if you haven’t been yet). Or display #609 from GAPK. Tell your children of your desires for them to one day get married in the temple. Bear testimony of Jesus and his sacrifice making eternal life and temple marriage possible.

Activities:

• Finger puppets from Behold your Little Ones: Nursery Manua l: Print this worksheet have children color page, then cut out and tape finger puppets of family. (The fact that they became finger puppets was what made this magic) Then recite the following activity verse and invite the children to join you:

This is Mother. (hold up hand; point to thumb)
This is Father. (point to index finger)
This is Brother tall. (point to middle finger)
This is Sister. (point to ring finger)
This is Baby. (point to little finger)
Oh, how we love them all. (hold both hands to chest)

• Build a temple with blocks. Pretend that stuffed animals are going to go get married there. (This one was a big hit)
• Play the Families are Forever (to the tune of the Farmer in the Dell):Can be adapted to family size (The kids liked this one too)

In a circle or line sing:

(Daddy stands in the middle with picture of temple) Fam'lies are forever, Fam'lies are forever, hi-ho the temple-o, Fam'lies are forever

(Daddy takes Mommy’s hand) The husband takes a wife, the husband takes a wife, hi-ho the marry-o the husband takes a wife.

(Parents take child’s hand) Then they have a child, then they have a child, hi- ho A fam’ly-o, then they have a child.

(Parents take next child’s hand) And baby makes four, and baby makes four, hi-ho A fam'ly-o, and baby makes four.

Closing Song: "A Happy Family" (Children’s songbook #198a)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat Ideas:

• Gingerbread man and woman. Make gingerbread or sugar cookie men and women, have children pair them up. Then frost white for wearing white in the temple. If you don't have time for cookies, use cookie cutters to make men and women out of toast. Have children pair them up. Then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Marshmallow temples. Just make a temple with your marshmallows. Big marshmallows might work better: