Atonement

Family Home Evening
Atonement


Opening Prayer: Child

Opening Song: "I'm trying to be like Jesus" Children's Songbook #78
Lesson: Dad

(this activity comes from the Nov/Dec 2007 Lds Living Magazine)

Have someone get down on their hands and knees on a towel. Place a cup of water on the person's back between their shoulder blades (ask them to make themselves flat/steady like) As the person to remove the cup without spilling it.

You can either let everyone have a go (and fail) or you can just have one demonstration.

Then ask the child if they can do it. Ask them to think of a way they can get the cup off their back.

Mine didnt - so after some gentle prodding we worked out that PERHAPS we could just ask someone to take it off our back for us.

Things you can teach from this object lesson

Sometimes we are placed in a position to help someone who cannot complete a task alone. Ask children "How do you help mummy?" How do you help Daddy, How do you help your brother or sisters/grandparents etc

For older children we can liken this to the gift of Eternal Life from Jesus. Jesus died on the cross so our sins may be forgiven that we may live in heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus again. Jesus did something for us that we CANNOT DO for ourselves.

Activity

My girls wanted to keep putting cups of water on their backs!!

Make a little flip book (in those cheap photo albums) of pictures of Jesus. Say Jesus can help us whenever we need him.


Closing Song: Tell me the stories of Jesus Children's Songbook #57

Closing Prayer: Mom

Treat:

Smoothies in your cup

Candy served in cups

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Family Home Evening Lesson

The 12 Apostles


Opening Song: 'Follow the Prophet' Children's Songbook #110



Opening Prayer : Child


Lesson: Mom


As we are starting to near General Conference Time, I thought I would spend some time with the kids getting to know those who might speak.

Print (and laminate if you want to keep) pictures of First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. These are mine that I have had for a few years that my husband made ( I just realised we didnt have Elder Anderson!! so quickly printed him for this photo!)

See if your children know any of their names.

Stick them on the wall in order.

Play memory or type of game with the pictures.

If you print two copies you can play match.

Read out some interesting information about them.


Talk about the importance of leaders. Why these men mean so much to us. We love them for their words, work, example, love  and dedication.


I need this lesson too, as I couldn't name them all off the top of my head :)

We keep our laminated pictures in with our Gospel Art Picture Kit. As new apostles are called we (usually!)  print and laminate a new one.


Activity:

Excellent Apostle Recognition games found here at Suite 101



Closing Song: 'Latter day Prophets' Children's Songbook #134


Closing Prayer: Child



Treat: Gingerbread men or cookie people

Voting

Family Home Evening Lesson

Voting/Government


Opening Song: "My Country" Children's Songbook #224


Opening Prayer : Child

Scripture: D&C 134: 1


We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

Lesson: Mom

(note: Australians are about to vote for a new Prime Minister. I know this might not be applicable to US residents but thought I would share the FHE we had on this. It is also manditory to vote in australia so it is an important law to teach children to obey.)

Article of Faith 12
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

We discussed what the kids thought this AoF meant. We discussed the differences between king, president, magistrates etc.

Why is it important to vote for the person that leads your country?

We talked about how and where we vote (we always take our kids with, so they remember from last time)



Activity

Have a vote in the family for someone who could be incharge of the family (for a week or a day) - Make ballot sheets and teach children how to do a vote and place in a box

Vote for new rule or changes you would like at home
Have some different foods out and have children 'vote' for their favourite


Closing Song: National Anthem

Closing Prayer: Child

Treat: A national/cultural food from your country.

Pioneers

Family Home Evening Lesson

Pioneers



Opening Song: The Handcart Song  Children's Songbook # 220

Opening Prayer : Child



Lesson: Mom

Based on  July 2010 Friend magazine article
Even though it isnt pioneer day where I live, we can still remember and celebrate pioneers


What are pioneers?

A Pioneer is someone who goes somewhere or does something first and shows others the way to follow.

We can remember the pioneers from old days who settled areas first and bought our family to our country. We can remember the first person in our family who joined the church. We can remember how hard people worked in previous generations.

How can we be pioneers?



Activity

Pretend to be pioneers going on a trek.
Get children to carry or pull items they would want to take with them

Make (flat) wagons by gluing paddlepop sticks onto paper

If you have girls make bonnets, dress up



Closing Song: Pioneer Children were quick to obey Children's Songbook # 215


Closing Prayer: Child


Treat:

Make   Damper  (old australian bread recipe)

Eat simple foods

Trail Mix

Missionary Work

Family Home Evening Lesson

Missionary Work


Opening Song: "I hope they call me on a mission" Children's Songbook #169


Opening Prayer : Child


Lesson: Mom

Our Bishopric asked us to have a FHE on Missionary Work. This is the lesson my husband came up with

We gave one of our children a packet of lollies (candy)- the type in a roll with several inside.

She came out in front of the others and we asked:

What do you do if you have something special?

(all the other girls immediately said "SHARE!")

How would you feel if she didn't share?  (sad, upset etc)

If you didn't see the lollies, how would you know that she had something special? (we wouldn't)

We likened this to sharing the gospel. Talk about missionary work, how we can share what we know with our friends and neighbours. We want all people to know about what we think is special to us. (Share the candy)

Then we gave everyone a candle.

Daddy had the lit candle and said it was like his testimony. He wanted to 'share' it with us.

One by one we lit each others candles 'passing on our testimonies' to one another.


Activity

My husband unpacked everything from his mission :)

He showed photos (most amazing 'cause none of us have ever seen him with hair)
We played with his collection of badges
He showed us letters he wrote and his journals
We practiced some of the languages he learnt
He showed us the mission rule book and read some out
He showed Ezra Taft Bensons Signature to them (old I know!)

Closing Song:  "Called to serve"  Children's Songbook #174


Closing Prayer: Child


Treat:

Share Candy with one another


I found this lesson very successful and the girls stayed interested for over half an hour!

Everyone is Special

Family Home Evening Lesson

Everyone is special


Opening Song:  "Can a little Child like me?" Children's Songbook #9


Opening Prayer : Child



Lesson: Mom

Lesson Based on President Monson's Message  Canaries with Grey on their Wings from the June 2010 Ensign 

The Prophet President Monson was given a canary from a lady in his ward. She had two perfect yellow canaries and one with grey specks on it's wings. The lady said "This canary isnt the prettiest but it has the best song"

Sometimes we might not feel as pretty, or as big, or as smart as others. But each of us is important to the Lord. We must be good and use our talents. There are many people like the canary with grey wings. We might not be perfect but we can be good at other things.

Ask Children "What are you good at?"  "What are your talents?"

Activity:

CD Bird Craft  (make in yellow)
Egg Cup Bird, Pinecone Bird, Paper Bird, Paper Plate Bird crafts

Share or Show examples of  your talents


Closing Song: "I'm thankful to be me" Children's Songbook #11


Closing Prayer: Child



Treat:
 
Bird Cookies   (scroll half way 'Raven Cookies) 
 
Bird Sugar Cookies

Modesty

Family Home Evening Lesson

Modesty


Opening Song: "I will follow God's Plan" Children's SongBook # 164


Opening Prayer : Child


Lesson: Mom

This lesson based on Modesty article page 8-10 in May 2010 Friend Magazine

Have some clothes out to do the Modesty Checklist on. Page 10 has a checklist for making sure you look good and clean. Look at items and get children to say yes or no to the checklist questions below

My shoulders are covered, My shirt covers my stomach, My shorts or skirt go to my knees. My shirt is not low cut. My clothes are not too tight, I don't look sloppy, My hair is combed, My clothes are not saggy, torn or holey, Labels or words on my clothes are respectful and not rude or offensive.

Talk about how do we respect our bodies? (healthy food, exercise, modest clothes, dont put anything harmful into our bodies)


For greater enforcement  if needed share The Strength of Youth Pamphlet
This page teaches why dress standards must be followed, and also offers guidelines for appropriate dress. These guidelines include:


•No short shorts or skirts
•No tight clothing
•No bare midriff
• No revealing attire
•No clothing that is low-cut in the front or the back.
•No extremes



Activity:

Read the story Modesty at Any Age  on page 8 of May 2010 Friend.

Modest Body Collage - Trace around childrens body, use scraps of fabric, paper to create modest clothes for the body outline.  The same could be done  in a smaller size on paper dolls too.

Sing/speak this modesty song/poem found at Sugar Doodle

It's sung to the tune of “I love to see the temple” (page #95):



My body is a temple;
I treat it with respect.
I live the Word of Wisdom.
I’m modest in my dress.

For my body is a gift from God,
He wants me to protect it.
My mouth speaks clean* words,
My thoughts are pure.
This keeps my temple holy.

*or “kind”



Closing Song: "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" Children's SongBook #78



Closing Prayer: Child


Treat: