Teaching the Virtues of a Daughter of God to my Daughters {Gratitude}

I am constantly amazed that I have been blessed to be the mother of 5 wonderful children.  Two are little mommies-in-training.  Lately I have come to comprehend that my girlies are kind of my apprentices. Which if you watch your kids they imitate you anyways, why not make what they are imitating intentional.

Women of Wisdom -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
 
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
 
I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn.
 
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.
 
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
 
I want to be there with the children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
 
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
 
~Marjorie Pay Hinckley

FHE Idea of the Week

Lesson 5: Adam and Eve, The First Family

Opening Song: “Families Can Be Together Forever” (CS, page 188)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony: 2 Nephi 2:25

Lesson: “My Eternal Family,” Friend, Feb 2004, 38

Tell about the creation of people, as found in Genesis 1:26–28. Explain that Adam and Eve were the first two people to live on the earth. They had bodies of flesh and bones that looked like Heavenly Father’s body.

• • Who was the first man to live on the earth?
• • Who was the first woman?
• • What kind of bodies did Adam and Eve have?

Have the children feel their arms, and remind them that their bodies are like Adam’s and Eve’s bodies. Tell the story of Adam and Eve in your own words, bringing out the following points (see Genesis 2:15–25; 3):

• 1. After Adam and Eve received physical bodies, they lived in a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden.
• 2. Adam and Eve were married for eternity by Heavenly Father.
• 3. Fruits and flowers grew easily in the Garden of Eden, and all the animals were tame.
• 4. Adam and Eve did not know the difference between good and bad.
• 5. Adam and Eve could not have children.
• 6. Adam and Eve could eat fruit from every tree except one.
• 7. Adam and Eve ate the fruit from that tree.
• 8. Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden.
• 9. The whole world changed: Adam and Eve had to work hard to get food, weeds began to grow, and animals became wild.
• 10. Adam and Eve then began to have children.

Adam and Eve established the first family on this earth. Heavenly Father commanded them to have children and to worship Him. As children were born to Adam and Eve, they taught them the gospel. (See Moses 2:28, Moses 5:5, and Moses 5:12.) This is Heavenly Father’s plan for families—He has sent us to earth so that we can learn from our parents and, someday, teach our own children.

Have someone read the testimony of Adam and Eve from Moses 5:10–12. Express your appreciation for what Adam and Eve did for us. Testify that because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will all be resurrected and can choose to become like Heavenly Father and return to his presence.

Activity: Help the children do the following finger play:

Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve lived on the earth (cup hands together to indicate the earth)
When it was very new.
They tended many animals (use one hand to pet the other hand)
And the food they grew (put fingers to mouth, as if eating).

Adam and Eve had children (put up two fingers close together)
Who had children of their own (add two more fingers).
Now many children have been born (wiggle all ten fingers).
Look how the world has grown (use arms to make a large circle, then stretch arms out to the side)!

Closing Prayer

Treat

FHE Idea of the Week

Lesson 4: Families Are a Part of Heavenly Father’s Plan

Opening Song:  “Families Can Be Together Forever” (CS, page 188)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:  

Scripture or Testimony:  Matthew 6:21

Lesson: Review with the children that each of us chose to follow Heavenly Father’s plan and come to earth. Tell the children that when we came to earth, Heavenly Father blessed us with people to help us and love us.

Tell the children that you will give them clues to help them figure out who these people are. One at a time, have a child hold up each letter of the word family. Have the children state the name of the letter. Then give a clue that starts with that letter. Some possible clues are given on the next page.

1. Father is a part of it.

2. Aunts and uncles are part of it.

3. Mother is a part of it.

4. I am a part of it.

5. Love is a part of it.

6. You are a part of it.

When you have given all the clues, repeat the word family together with the children.

• Why do we need families? 

Explain that when we were babies we needed to live with people who would take care of us. Heavenly Father planned for each of us to live with a family that would love us and take care of us. As we grow older, our families also teach us and help us make wise choices.
Explain that all families are different. Some families have two parents, and some families have only one. Some families have lots of children, and some families have only a few children or one child. Some families have children, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all living together. Some children live with adults who aren’t related to them but who still love them and care for them. Families do different things together and show love in different ways. The important thing about families is that the family members love and care for each other. Everyone needs to be part of a family.

Activity:

Hold up your hand with the fingers extended. Explain that the members of a family can work together like the fingers and thumb of a hand. Ask the children to try to pick up their scriptures or some other object with one hand, without using their thumbs. Explain that while they may be able to pick up the object with just their fingers, it is much easier when they use their thumb and fingers together. Remind the children that every member of a family is important. Family members can accomplish much when they all work together.

Give the children paper and crayons or pencils and have them draw pictures of their families. Label each picture My Family Loves Me.

Closing Prayer & Treat

Click here for a Coloring page

Little Prayers

Every night before their heads hit the pillow my little girls say prayers.  Today we had a ROUGH day.

This is Rebecca's prayer:

"...please help mommy to not be a grump anymore.  I don't like it when she is a grump..."

I have come to believe quite strongly that the Lord sends us children so they can teach us something, not the other way around.

LDS Church's Elder Russell Nelson, and wife Wendy Watson Nelson robbed in Mozambique

Elder Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Wendy, were among church leaders robbed by armed assailants Friday evening in the Mozambique Maputo Mission home.
On a church assignment in Mozambique, Elder and Sister Nelson were having dinner with Elder William W. Parmley of the Quorums of the Seventy and the church's Africa Southeast Presidency and his wife, Shanna Lee, and with mission President Blair J. Packard and his wife, Precinda, said LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter.
"We don't have complete information yet, but we understand Sister Packard's arm was broken," said Trotter. "In addition, she and others suffered some superficial injuries, mainly cuts and bruises."
Elder and Sister Nelson will continue their assignment over the weekend as planned, he added.
Local authorities are investigating the matter.
The LDS Church was legally recognized in Mozambique, a southeastern Africa nation, in 1996, with the first branch created in the capital city of Maputo. Missionaries arrived in 1999.
The Mozambique Maputo Mission was created on Jan. 1, 2005, the church's 339th mission.

FHE Idea of the Week

Lesson 3: My Body Is a Temple

Opening Song: “The Lord Gave Me a Temple” (CS 153)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony: 1 Corinthians 3:16

Lesson:  Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: Ye Are the Temple of God,” Friend, May 2002, 44

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Cor. 3:16–17).Close your eyes and picture a temple. What color is it? How big is it? Does it have any windows? Are there spires? How many?  The temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are unique. The Salt Lake Temple in Utah has gray granite walls and six spires. It looks different from the Cardston, Alberta Temple in Canada, which has natural stone walls and no spires. Even though each temple looks different, all are beautiful and are built for the same purpose. They are places where special ordinances take place that are needed for us to return to Heavenly Father. Temples are also places where Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father can come.

You are like the temple. You are different from everyone else, but you, too, are a house for the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost). The Apostle Paul said: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Cor. 3:16–17.) Your body is a temple.  Just as you treat temples with respect, you should treat your own body with respect. You can do this by obeying the Word of Wisdom (see D&C 89), by dressing modestly, and by following the counsel of President Gordon B. Hinckley to “be clean” (see Friend, February 2001, page 25). One way to be clean is to not have tattoos. President Hinckley said, “A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body” (Ensign, November 2000, page 52). You should also keep your heart and mind clean by reading, listening to, and watching only “things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father” (see My Gospel Standards).  If you are clean in mind and body, you can receive great blessings because “the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell” (Alma 34:36).

Activity: Find your way through the maze. When you get to a picture, follow the path that represents your choice. Choose the Yes path if the picture shows something that helps you keep your body “a temple of God.” Choose the No path if it is something that would not be good for your mind or body.

Draw small pictures of five other things that are good for you, and five things you should avoid. Place your pictures over corresponding good-and bad-choice pictures in the maze.

Closing Prayer & Treat

April 2009 General Conference.

As many families have started to do, we view conference at home in front of the computer.  Today was no different accept that I got very little out of it because my girls don't nap and didn't want to sit still.  But my favorite part was from President Uchtdorf. This really motivates me to want to jump in and live the gospel like I know we all should and the way the Lord would have us live.

“Discipleship is a journey. We need the refining lessons of the journey to craft our character and purify our hearts. By patiently walking in the path of discipleship, we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our faith and our willingness to accept God’s will rather than ours.

It is not enough merely to speak of Jesus Christ or proclaim that we are his disciples. It is not enough to surround ourselves with symbols of our religion. Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessings of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, ’spectator discipleship’ is a preferred if not a primary way of worshipping.”...

...“Let us remember on this Palm Sunday, during this Easter season, and always, that the restored gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has the power to fill any emptiness, heal any wound, and bridge any vale of sorrow. It is the way of hope, faith, and trust in the Lord. …I bear my solemn witness that Jesus the Christ lives. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the promised Messiah. He lived a perfect life and atoned for our sins. He will ever be at our side. He will fight our battles. He is our hope; He is our salvation; He is the way.”

FHE Idea of the Week

Lesson 2: My Pre-mortal Life

Opening Song:  “I Lived in Heaven” (CS, page 4)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony:  D & C 138:56

Lesson:  Margaret Lifferth, “Sharing Time: The Plan of Happiness,” Friend, Jan 2005, 14

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).

Many people want to know where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going. Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness answers these questions.   Before we were born, we all lived together in heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We learned and grew as much as we could. But eventually Heavenly Father gathered all His children in a council and told us that to become like Him, we must leave heaven for a time. He would create an earth for us, He would give us the freedom to choose between good and evil, and He would show us the way to know what is good. He would provide a Savior so that when we sinned, we could repent and still return to Him.

We came to earth to gain a body and walk by faith. We can’t remember our home in heaven, but we can choose the right by following the example of Jesus, obeying our parents, and living My Gospel Standards.

After we die, we will all live again because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He overcame death through the Resurrection, and everyone will be resurrected. He also overcame sin, and those who have faith, repent, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and keep the commandments will return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They will have the gift of eternal life, which is what the plan of happiness is all about.

Activity: 

Teach children that in the pre-mortal life Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Before we came to earth, we lived with Heavenly Father.  Explain that Heavenly Father presented a plan for all of us to get a physical body and to learn to choose the right. Read Moses 4:1–4, and have the children tell the story in their own words. Ask, “Who is the ‘Beloved Son’ Heavenly Father spoke of?” Show GAK 240 (Jesus the Christ). On a large sheet of paper list the following statements: “An earth would be created where we could live and show we would obey Heavenly Father’s commandments”; “We shouted for joy when we heard Heavenly Father’s plan”; “Jesus was prepared to redeem us”; “There was a war in heaven.” Write another list of the following scriptures in random order: Abr. 3:24–25; Job 38:7; Ether 3:14; Rev. 12:7–9. Have the children read the scriptures and match each scripture to a statement. Testify of Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer:

Treat  

March Visiting Teaching Message

Here is a link to the Visiting Teaching Message for March

Below is a Handout for this month

FHE Idea of the Week

I Am a Child of God

Opening Song:  “I Am a Child of God” (CS, page 2)  

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony:   Psalms 82:6

Lesson: Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: I Am a Child of God,” Friend, Mar 2003, 18

All of you are children of the most High (Ps. 82:6). Name some of your favorite Primary songs. Why did you choose those particular songs? You probably enjoy them because they have a good melody or an important message. 

One song that is a favorite for Primary children throughout the world is “I Am a Child of God.” It was written for a Primary conference in 1957 by Sister Naomi W. Randall and Sister Mildred T. Pettit. Sister Randall prayed for help in writing the message. She awoke in the middle of the night with the words of the song in mind. She mailed the words, or lyrics, to Sister Pettit, who lived in California. Sister Pettit put the words to music. 

A few years later, President Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, suggested changing “Teach me all that I must know” to “Teach me all that I must do.” He said that “to know isn’t enough. … We have to do something.” (Friend, Oct. 1984, 14.) 

In Primary, you learn some important truths when you sing this song. You learn that you really are a child of God. You learn that Heavenly Father has sent you to a home with parents to help you. And, especially, you learn that when you do what is right, you can one day return to live with Heavenly Father. 

Activity: Display pictures of some of the children in your family. Tell how each child is different—and special. Testify of each child’s divine nature.  Make copies of the picture for kids to color.

Discuss various talents and personality traits, such as being good at athletics, music, or art; being friendly; being kind. Have the children stand in a circle. Choose one child to be “It.” The child who is It tosses a beanbag or other item to someone standing in the circle and calls out a talent such as “athletics,” then counts quickly to 10. The child who catches the beanbag must name an athletic talent, such as “playing soccer,” before It reaches 10; if not, he or she becomes It.

Closing Prayer

Treat

The Family that Prays Together Stays Together

The Home Teaching Message this month is from Pres. Monson.

"As father hears his tiny son pray unto God that his dad will do the right things and be obedient to the Lord's bidding, do you think that such a father would find it difficult to honor the prayer of his precious son?"

This line in the message got me thinking about a very real way to influence my wonderful children and family to do what the Lord would have us do.

If I were to gear our family prayers towards gratitude, repentance, and guidance.  Including every family members' needs in the prayer, not only will my family enjoy increased peace and love but they will feel the love of our Heavenly Father and be motivated to live up to my hopes and wishes for them.

At least that is the theory.