Repentance

Family Home Evening Lesson
Repentance

Opening Song: Fourth Artile of Faith Children's Songbook #124

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: 3 Nephi 9:22


Lesson: Parent

Have a stick. On each end attach the words


Choice   ---------------------------- Consequence

Whatever you choose there is ALWAYS a consequence

Have children pick up stick. Use examples of choices and ask them to pick up the end of the stick that says choice. Now point out that they have also picked up 'consequence'. Whatever we do there is always a consquence, even if we didn't mean to.


What happens if we make bad choices?
If we make bad choices we are also having bad consquences.
If bad choices are sin what do we have to do?

Repent

What is repentance?
Saying and Feeling Sorry
Not doing it again
Restitution (if you break something that belongs to someone you replace it)

We need to try hard everyday to make good choices and decisions

From lds.org : Repentance is one of the first principles of the gospel and is essential to our temporal and eternal happiness. It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.

Activity:

Fill a vase/jar with water. 
This is us = Our pure bodies/soul.
Take a drop or two of red dye. This is Sin -Put in vase, watch it spread
Have some bleach (3 tbs) in a little bottle {we used a soy sauce bottle and labeled it REPENTANCE}. Have child drop bleach in vase. The water will start to fade and eventually turn clear again.
(Noticable change in one minute, but 15 mins to be completely clear again)

{Our older children were all like 'its NOT changing very quick' etc etc. We used this opportunity to say that Repentance does NOT happen instantly. It is more than just saying sorry. You ask for forgiveness, you pray, you restore, give back anything you have broken. If you have broken a persons trust or happiness with mean words you have to try to gain the trust back. Repentance is work. IT WILL work over time. Eventually our water lightened and turned completely clear after 15 mins.


Closing Song: I feel my Saviors love Children's Songbook #74

Closing Prayer: Child

Treat:

Prayer

Family Home Evening Lesson
Prayer

Opening Prayer: Child

Opening Song: A child's Prayer Children's Songbook #12

Lesson: Dad

I've known about the video segments on lds.org for a while but this was the first time we used them. Check out the Media Library ( from lds.org click Menu, study, media library, Video) Great with little kids!

We used this segment on Prayer to start our lesson.

New Testament Stories chapter 20 - Jesus teaches about prayer

After watching the short video we talked about prayer.

We said this poem

We fold our arms
Close our eyes
Bow our heads
When the prayer is said

Then we talked about the elements of prayer by asking questions

What do we start a prayer with? (addressing Heavenly Father)
What is next? (giving thanks for the many things we have)
Then we can...(ask for things - safety, health, good dreams, bless food, )
And we end with (in Jesus Name)

We asked how many times a day can you pray? (whenever you like, but the girls came up with the rough answer of we pray 6 times a day - food prayers, family prayers, individual prayers)

We discussed why we should kneel in prayer (respect, humble, people kneel to kings and dignitarys, so the Lord would be even more important, so we concentrate on only the prayer and not slouching on the couch or laying in our bed )

We reminded the children to continue trying hard in their personal prayers morning and night

Closing Song: Children all over the World Children's Songbook #16

Closing Prayer

Treat