Week 14: Sabbath Day Worship

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exodus 20:8

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson from LDS.org

Ideas from Lindsey:
Make quiet books for Sacrament Meeting
Have all family members write down all the things they did on Sunday...discuss the activities we do before/after church and how to improve
Role play correct/incorrect behavior during sacrament meeting
Sing the primary song on p.196 "Sacrament" about how Saturday is the day we get ready for Sunday
Have a lesson on the importance of journal writing and set a goal for each family member to write a goal to write in their journal each Sunday for one month.
Create a book with pictures of the Savior to look at during sacrament meeting
Discuss activities we do during sacrament that may distract others
Teach of the importance of keeping the chapel clean
Write thank you cards to the Aaronic priesthood for administering the sacrament



Next week's lesson: Service (start thinking of service project for your family!)

Week 13: Repentance

By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

Doctrine and Covenants 58:43

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson from LDS.org

Ideas from Lindsey:
Decorate a beautiful white cake. Relate it back to being clean on your baptism day (or Sunday after you repent). Then sprinkle some dirt on the cake which represents some things we need to repent of. Keep sprinkling small amounts until the cake is covered. Ask if they would want to eat it still. Teach about repentance and serve white cake/cupcakes for a treat.
From Josh Snodgrass...
The following is a favorite object lesson that Josh Snodgrass shared. "My siblings and I loved it so much that our parents did the lesson several times.  It involves a glass of water which represents our life.  You put drops in the water which represent sins.  Our parents asked us to try to make the water look clean again.  Of course we could not to take the drops out and make the water clear again.  But then our parents explained how the atonement works when we repent, and they added bleach to the water, making it clear again.  I asked my mother about the lesson, and she showed me this website that describes how to do it:  http://www.sugardoodle.info/Adversity/Life%20Stains%20All.shtml."


TALKS AND ARTICLES
• Boyd K. Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy Territory,” Ensign, Oct. 2012, 28–31
• D. Todd Christofferson, “The Divine Gift of Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 38–41

DISCUSSION
1. What keeps us from repenting?
2. What did Jesus Christ mean when He said, “For behold, I, God, have suffered
these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (Doctrine and
Covenants 19:16).
3. What are the blessings of being forgiven?

VIDEOS- These videos are EXCELLENT!
“A Change of Heart”
“Reclaimed”

WORDS OF LIVING PROPHETS
“Whoever you are and whatever you have done,
you can be forgiven. Every one of you ... can
leave behind any transgression with which you
may struggle. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it
is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus
Christ. But you cannot do it without an active
commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do
it without repentance where it is needed. I am
asking you … to be active … and … be clean. If
required, I am asking you to get active and get
clean.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “We Are All Enlisted,” Ensign or
Liahona, Nov. 2011, 45

Here is a link to a great FHE lesson provided by the Sunday School Presidency: WORD DOC
(Please let me know if the link doesn't work...I tried a new way without using dropbox, thanks!)

Ideas from Heather Teeples:
From Primary

This weeks sharing time lesson In Primary was called, "When I Repent, I can be Forgiven." I thought I would share some of my ideas and websites I found most useful when putting together my sharing time. Hopefully, this along with Sister Willkinson's ideas, will help you in putting together your Repentance Family Home.

I based most of my Sharing Time Lesson from a blog called Little LDS Ideas.
http://littleldsideas.blogspot.com/2010/04/2nd-week-sharing-time-idea-for-may.html
I started my sharing time using a Caterpillar named Spot. I shared with the kids Spots day. During his day Spot had made 6 sins/mistakes. Every time he did we added a bright yellow spot to the Caterpillar. At the end of the story of Spots day we talked about how Spot could be clean again and have his spots removed through Repentance. The blog presented the ABC's of Repentance. A Admit, B Be Sorry, C Confess and D Don't do it again. We talked about each of these steps and when we got to the 
C for Confess we discussed who Spot needed to Confess too and how he could correct his sins or mistakes. As the kids gave me their answers we would remove a bright yellow spot off of Spot the Caterpillar until he was all clean again. We wrapped up Sharing time with making sure the kids understood that Repentance can be used as often as needed and if we follow the ABC's step of Repentance we can always be forgiven. I was truly impressed with how well the kids did. 

The next extremely helpful blog was called Sophia's Primary Ideas.
http://www.sofiasprimaryideas.blogspot.com/2013/05/june-2013-lds-primary-sharing-time.html
You will want to scroll down to Week 4- When I Repent, I can be Forgiven."

I loved the variety and how there were a lot of ideas that could match all different ages. You have to remember the ideas are geared for a Primary Sharing time but I feel they are easily adaptable to Family Home Evening. 
Some of my favorites are the Now & Later game, the Math Problems and the Cinderella idea.

The last helpful website is from The Hatch Patch.
http://www.hatchpatch.com/sites/default/files/June_week4_repent_forgiven_prodigal.pdf
The nice thing about this website is that it has the whole lesson planned out with handouts. All you have to do is print everything off. For young children it is Great. I love how they have the main statements and scriptures using pictures for the words.

If you are having a hard time bringing up any of the websites just go to Sugardoodle.net. On their main page is a Primary section. Right below the word Primary is says Sharing Time and lists all the months. Click on June and then click on week 4. You will find all the websites except the first one under that heading. Good Luck! 

Next week's lesson: Sabbath Day Observance

Please keep those new ideas coming!!!

Week 12: Physical and Emotional Health

Physical and Emotional Health

All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings … shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge.

Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–19

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson from LDS.org

A few ideas from Lindsey:

Ideas to teach choosemyplate.gov
Teach your family about the new "my plate" that took place of "mypyramid".
Teach correct portion sizes.
Put some examples of food on the table and have family members order them from least healthiest to most healthiest. For little ones you could hold up two items and have them choose which is better for them to eat. For example, fruit roll up vs. a dish of  fresh berries.
Have each family member create their own plate. Glue cut-outs of food from magazines onto a paper plate (or just draw them) Template and coloring sheet
Do any of the following KIDS ACTIVITIES (mazes, coloring, etc.)
Check out the section for physical fitness
Use one of the calculators/food planners
Use Food-a-pedia to look up the nutrition facts of over 8,000 foods
Check out the section just for PRESCHOOLERS...or PICKY EATERS
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Moms out there...? Here is your link!

A few more ideas...
Challenge your family to a month long fitness challenge (perhaps add up total hours of physical activity in one month)
Teach your family the wellness pyramid with physical, emotional, and spiritual being at the corners.
Go outside and physically do something athletic together
Relay Races
Sing songs that require physical activity and movement


Excellent Ideas from Elder's Quorum:

Emotional and Physical wellness is important to our overall spiritual wellness. Staying physically and emotionally fit will allow us to feel the spirit more and be more intune to our bodies needs and desires. As we strive to stay fit will be able to recognize our weaknesses, find areas we can improve and build resilience against the storms of life. Staying physically fit will help our emotional heath. Staying emotionally strong will improve our relationships with friends, family and with all those we interact. It is somewhat of a spiral that builds upon itself ever climbing higher. It too can spiral downwards if we choose to neglect our bodies physically and emotionally. Payl spoke to the people of Corinth about taking care of these beautiful temples that house our spirits. 1 Cor. 3:17.

Here are some tips and activities for your Physical well being:

1. Try to get some sort of physical activity for 30 minutes each day. This can include but not be limited to walking, jogging, weight lifting, playing sports or weeding a garden.

2. Start somewhere. Make a plan to accomplish your goals. If you haven't been too active for some time, start slow and try increasing your activity by 10 minutes each day.

3. Work together. Increasing activity with a spouse, family members or friends can be a great way to build relationships, be an example to others and get in a good workout.

4. Try new things. Doing the same activity repitiously can get boring so try spicing it up with a change of scenery or doing something different.

Here are some tips for Emotional well being:

1. Meditation and prayer. Taking even a few minutes to clear your mind and focus on a happy thought, a spiritual truth or a plain color will allow you to train your mind and improve your focus.

2. Strive for optimism. Being optimistic isn't always easy. There is something to be said for always trying to find the good of each situation and having faith to endure.

3. Gratitude. Being thankful for each and every blessing allows us to see how amazing our Great Creator is and how richly he has blessed us.

4. Journal writing is way of clearing our thoughts and improving our focus. It allows us to retrospectively ponder our amazing blessings.

Activities for families with childeren:

Physical- Hold a family olympics with short races, number of push ups/ sit ups, most jumping jacks and squats. Hold these quarterly, semi- or annually and remember to record results as champions may vary from year to year.

Emotional-

1. Show a solid colored piece of paper to everyone. Have everyone sit quietly with their eyes closed and focus on that one color for 1 or 2 solid minutes. Instruct them to not let their thoughts stray for those few moments and if they do they are to redirect their thoughts back to that color until it's over. Then discuss how challanging or not it was to keep focused on the one color. Let each child take a turn describing their experience.

2. Take a few moments to record the most important events of the day.

Here are TWO blogs with great ideas for the word of wisdom (thanks Erin!):
http://www.mormonmommyblogs.com/2013/06/family-home-evening-lesson-word-of.html

http://lifeinthemotherhood.blogspot.com/2011/08/fhe-idea-word-of-wisdom.html

Next week's Lesson: Repentance

Week 11: Music and Dancing

Praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing.

Doctrine and Covenants 136:28

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson from LDS.org

Ideas from Lindsey:

• MUST SEE VIDEO about a blind 15-year-old piano prodigy, freely shares his God-given musical gift to bless the lives of everyone who listens. Extraordinary Gift
• The obvious...DANCE LESSONS!
• Allow your little ones to dance to children's music. Consider providing them ribbons, scarves, or other items to move to the music.
• Teach little ones how to clap to the beat, or play an instrument to a beat. Make them shakers (bottle with rice or pennies inside) to shake to the beat.
• Talent show; allow family members to share their talents with the family
• Teach your family how to lead music (instuctions available in back of hymn book)
• Sing each family member's favorite hymn or primary song.
• Invite all members of the family to bring their i-pods to FHE. Everyone pulls up their "most played" or "recently played" song lists. Ask the question "Would you allow the Savior to listen to the music on your list?". Consider taking it a step further and have family members volunteer names of songs from their list. Go through the lyrics together and discuss the importance of listening to good music.
• Read your children a book that has an audio version to music.
• Invite other families over to learn a line dance!
• Karaoke night!
• Teach dance etiquette to your family by role playing. For example, have your teenage son role-play how to ask a girl to dance, dance conversation, thanking the girl, returning the girl to where you found her, etc. Teach those daughters how to cordially accept a dance invite, conversation, and graciously thanking a guy for a dance...(and how to avoid awkward moments and boost a guy's ego...while looking past the strong armpit scent!)
• No kids around? Dim the lights, put on your favorite tunes, and dance in the living room!

Does the music I listen to invite the Spirit?

Next week's lesson: Physical and Emotional Health

Week 10: Language

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good.

Ephesians 4:29

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson from LDS.org

Ideas from Lindsey:
Play telephone
Create a telephone by cutting a hole in the bottom of two paper cups and attaching with cotton string.
Teach your children how to say something in your mission language (or sing the opening song in that language)
Write 10 compliments and 10 put downs in a basket. Let children pick out one and decide if its a compliment or a put down.
Swear Jars or "bad word" jars. Create a jar to be used for each time a member of your family says a bad word. When they do, they put a dollar in the jar (or whatever you choose to put in the jar).
Write your own form of "text talk" to use with your family
Labels/stereotypes for teens: Put up 6-8 large pieces of butcher paper around the room and label each page with a group of people. For example, The Elderly, Blondes, Asians, Hispanics, Skaters, Athletes, etc. Then set out markers and let all the members of your family write down different stereotypes, labels, or things people say about individuals who fall into that group. Discuss the importance of what we say (and think) about people just because they fall under certain steroptypes...and not judging.

CLICK HERE for ideas from the Young Women

Featured Family:

Warnick family having a FHE on gratitude

 

Next week's lesson: Music and Dancing