FHE Jan 9 - Primary Sharing Time

This lesson is mostly taken from the January 2012 issue of the Friend.

Purpose:  To help family members understand that we were given the freedom to make choices.  To help family members learn how to make good choices.

Preparation:
Print out the 2 Nephi 2:27
Print out the words to "As a Child of God"
Create this cube from the Friend.  I'd print it on card stock.
Make this yummy healthy treat.

Opening Song: As a Child of God
Opening Prayer:
Scripture:  2 Nephi 2:27

Lesson:  Agency is a gift from God.  Is the freedom to make choices.  All choices come with consequences.  Consequences are the the things that happen after we make a choice.  For example, if I choose to touch a hot stove then my hand will get burned and will likely hurt for a few days.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to choose to make good choices.  What are some choices we make everyday?

CTR game:  For this I changed the choices to match the age of my kids... toddler/pre-school.  The six choices I chose:
-Mommy asks you to pick up your toys.  What do you do?
-Your brother hits you.  What do you do?
-It's time to get in bed and you want one more Daddy story.  What do you do?
-You want to go outside and play.  What do you do?
-The deacons are passing the sacrament.  What do you do?
-Daddy asks you to wash hands before dinner.  What do you do?

Conclusion:  Every time we make a choice we use our agency.  Heavenly Father gave us agency because he loves us.  He wants us to choose the right.

Closing Prayer:
Treat

FHE Jan 2 - Preach My Gospel

Purpose:  To help family members understand the importance of missionary work.  

Preparation:
Study 1 Nephi 8 and 11.
Print out Lehi's Dream.
Print out words to I Hope They Call Me On a Mission
Wrap a bite size candy bar in brown paper for each member of the family.  These will be your "fruit". Wrap several small objects (like rocks) in the same brown paper.  These will be your "mists of darkness".
Write/Print the words: the, word, of, God twice onto 8 different sheets of paper.  These will be your iron rod.

Song:  I Hope They Call Me On a Mission

Scripture Story:  Lehi's Vision of the Tree of Life  1 Nephi 8 and 11

Show the picture of the vision of the tree of life as you summarize it from 1 Nephi 8 and 11.

Ask:

What did Lehi want to do after he ate the fruit?  (1 Nephi 11:21-22)
What did the people have to do to eat the fruit?  (1 Nephi 8:10-18)
What is the meaning of the fruit?
Why should we share the Gospel?

Be sure to emphasize that the fruit is the love of God.  In order for us to reach the tree with the fruit we must hold to the rod.  We must share the word of God with others so they can eat the fruit too.

Activity:
Place your iron rod on the floor.  Place a bowl with your wrapped candy at the end of your rod.  Place the other objects to the side of the rod.  Explain to the family that you have found a wonderful gift and that in order for them to have that gift they first need to make it to the end of the rod of iron.  As a family begin your journey down the rod of iron.  If a family member is "lost" and wants to unwrap one of the other gifts let them do so.  Then if they would like to, let them start again at the beginning of the rod.  As each family member reaches the end of the tree let them eat their treat.

Testimony:
Share your testimony of the importance of sharing the Gospel  with others.

Treat:
Your "fruit" from the "tree of life".

Family Home Evening 2012

So this year I've decided that I'd like to be a little bit more organized.  In an attempt at organization I've come up with a Family Home Evening schedule.

First week:  Preach My Gospel
Second week:  Primary Sharing Time
Third week:  Article of Faith
Fourth week:  For the Strength of Youth
Fifth week:  Special Topic

In another attempt at de-cluttering I'm going to post my lessons online.  Since I have very small children they will be adapted to the nursery and junior primary crowd.  Feel free to use anything you like!  Happy Family Home Evening!