Saturday, January 22, 2011

Family Home Evening Lesson #73: WE BELIEVE!

1. Opening Prayer

2. Sing "True to the Faith" Hymns pg. 254

3. Read Articles of Faith 1:13  We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

4. Read and discuss the following from the January, 2011 New Era:

When Joseph Smith wrote the thirteenth article of faith, he expressed everything we can and must seek and become as believers. Joseph Smith knew that we must believe in standards and values and seek after these things in order to have the power and strength of the Holy Ghost. He knew we would need to follow the Savior in word and deed. He knew that doing this would prepare us to be worthy of the blessings of the temple.

How will you do this? How will you lead others in following the Savior’s example, living a virtuous life, and preparing for the temple? First, believe in yourself! Your courage and strength have helped you become a leader, and your commitment will make all the difference this year. Your ideas, innovations, and actions can shape the world now and in the future.

Because of the technological world in which you live, you have the ability to flood the earth with those things that are virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy. You have at your fingertips the ability to testify of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. Never before has a generation had such an ability, blessing, and opportunity.

Three Things Plus One—Every Day!

We believe in you. Now is the time to unite and begin a change that will empower you and bless others. We invite you to continue to do three things every single day—plus one.

1. Pray every morning and every night.

2. Read in the Book of Mormon at least five minutes every day.

3. Smile!

4. In addition, we invite you to obey and live the standards in For the Strength of Youth. Become familiar with these standards. Share them with others. And be an example of the believers.

5. Closing Prayer

Additional Resources: 2011 Mutual Theme (New Era, January 2011)
For the Strength of Youth

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Family Home Evening Lesson #72: THE SCRIPTURES ARE THE WORD OF GOD

1. Opening Prayer

2. Sing "Search, Ponder and Pray" Children's Songbook pg. 109

3. Read 2 Nephi 32:3   Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4. Read and discuss the following from the January, 2011 Ensign:

In the Book of Mormon, Lehi tells his family about his dream of the tree of life. In the dream, Lehi wanted his family to eat the fruit of the tree, which was “desirable above all other fruit” (1 Nephi 8:15). He saw many people walking along the path that led to the tree of life, but some got lost in mists of darkness and wandered away from the path. Others held onto the iron rod that led along the path toward the tree. They walked forward, holding tightly to the rod until they reached the tree and ate the fruit, which brought them joy. (See 1 Nephi 8.)

Lehi’s son Nephi prayed to know the meaning of the things his father had seen. Nephi was shown the same dream as his father. The Spirit taught Nephi that the tree of life represents the love of God. Nephi was shown Jesus Christ, the Son of God, teaching and blessing people on the earth. Nephi was also taught that the rod of iron represents the word of God. (See 1 Nephi 11.)

The scriptures are the word of God. Reading the scriptures is like holding onto the iron rod. We will know what Jesus wants us to do and say. We will have power to resist temptation and make our way to the tree of life and to feel the love of God.

5. Closing Prayer

Additional Resources: Poster: I Know the Scriptures are True (Friend, January 1998)
Scripture Lifeline: Is it Really True?: (New Era, November 2009)
Getting Into the Scriptures (Friend, February 1998)