1. Opening Prayer
2. Sing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" Hymns pg. 26
3. Read Joseph Smith History 1:17 I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other— This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
4. Read and discuss the following from the May 2011 Friend:
Do you know what the word restore means? It means to bring something back to the way it was.
When Jesus Christ was on the earth He taught His gospel. He taught faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. He gave His Apostles His authority, which is the priesthood of God. The Church of Jesus Christ was on the earth.
After Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, His Apostles went forth to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, but many people rejected them. The Church of Jesus Christ and the priesthood were taken from the earth for hundreds of years.
In 1820, young Joseph Smith was reading in James in the New Testament. He read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5).
Joseph wanted to know which church to join. He decided to do what the scripture said.
Joseph went to a grove of trees one spring morning and knelt in prayer to ask of God. As he was praying, a bright light descended. In that light stood two glorious heavenly beings: Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Joseph asked Them which church he should join. Jesus Christ told Joseph to join none of the churches.
Three years later, Joseph was visited by the angel Moroni, who taught him about the Book of Mormon and showed him where the golden plates were buried.
John the Baptist and the Apostles Peter, James, and John came to earth to ordain Joseph Smith to the priesthood of God. The priesthood was once again on the earth.
The true Church was restored—or brought back—to the earth. We are blessed to have the restored Church on the earth. The Lord’s Church today is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
5. Closing Prayer
Additional Resources: Joseph Smith Seeks Wisdom in the Bible (Gospel Art Picture Kit)
The First Vision (Gospel Art Picture Kit)
Restoration (Friend, May 2007)
Showing posts with label Joseph Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph Smith. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Family Home Evening Lesson #58: JESUS CHRIST RESTORED THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL THROUGH JOSEPH SMITH
1. Opening Prayer
2. Sing "On A Golden Springtime" Children's Songbook, pg. 88
3. Read Articles of Faith 1:6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, deachers, evangelists, and so forth.
4. Read and discuss the following from the April, 2010 Friend:
Imagine a glass full of clear, pure water. If we bump the glass, some water might spill out and the glass wouldn’t be full anymore.
When Adam and Eve were created, the fulness of the gospel was on the earth. For many years prophets taught the gospel.
When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He established His Church. He taught the fulness of the gospel: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obedience to the commandments. Jesus showed all people how we should live. He became the Savior of us all. The gospel glass was full.
But as the years passed, parts of the gospel were lost because wicked people changed it or didn’t obey it. The fulness of the gospel was no longer on the earth. Heavenly Father promised His children He would give them the fulness of the gospel again. He called Joseph Smith to help Him restore the fulness of the gospel.
John 3:16 teaches us that Heavenly Father gave us His Son and the gospel because He loves His children. He calls prophets to teach everyone His gospel so we will know the way back to Him.
We are blessed to have the fulness of the gospel in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our gospel glasses are full to the top, and Heavenly Father has promised that the gospel will never be taken from the earth again.
5. Closing Prayer
Additional Resources: Jesus Christ Restored the Fulness of the Gospel through Joseph Smith
(Friend, April 2010)
The Gospel is Restored (Friend, Feb. 2003)
Joseph Smith--Prophet of the Restoration (Friend, July 2001)
The First Vision (Gospel Art Picture Kit)
2. Sing "On A Golden Springtime" Children's Songbook, pg. 88
3. Read Articles of Faith 1:6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, deachers, evangelists, and so forth.
4. Read and discuss the following from the April, 2010 Friend:
Imagine a glass full of clear, pure water. If we bump the glass, some water might spill out and the glass wouldn’t be full anymore.
When Adam and Eve were created, the fulness of the gospel was on the earth. For many years prophets taught the gospel.
When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He established His Church. He taught the fulness of the gospel: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obedience to the commandments. Jesus showed all people how we should live. He became the Savior of us all. The gospel glass was full.
But as the years passed, parts of the gospel were lost because wicked people changed it or didn’t obey it. The fulness of the gospel was no longer on the earth. Heavenly Father promised His children He would give them the fulness of the gospel again. He called Joseph Smith to help Him restore the fulness of the gospel.
John 3:16 teaches us that Heavenly Father gave us His Son and the gospel because He loves His children. He calls prophets to teach everyone His gospel so we will know the way back to Him.
We are blessed to have the fulness of the gospel in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our gospel glasses are full to the top, and Heavenly Father has promised that the gospel will never be taken from the earth again.
5. Closing Prayer
Additional Resources: Jesus Christ Restored the Fulness of the Gospel through Joseph Smith
(Friend, April 2010)
The Gospel is Restored (Friend, Feb. 2003)
Joseph Smith--Prophet of the Restoration (Friend, July 2001)
The First Vision (Gospel Art Picture Kit)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Family Home Evening Lesson #33: THE FIRST VISION
1. Opening Prayer
2. Sing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" Hymns pg. 26
3. Read Joseph Smith History 1:14-17 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
4. Read and discuss the "The First Vision" from The Gospel Art Picture Kit:
On a beautiful spring morning in 1820, Joseph Smith went into the woods near his home to pray. He did not know which church to join and decided to ask Heavenly Father. Joseph looked around to make sure he was alone, then knelt and began to pray. He was immediately overcome by some evil power. Thick darkness surrounded him, and he could not speak. Joseph thought he was going to be destroyed, but using all the energy he had, he asked God to deliver him from this unseen enemy. Just as Joseph was about to give up, he saw a pillar of light over his head, and he was released from the evil force that had held him. The light came down and rested on him, and Joseph saw two personages whose brightness and glory were beyond description. They were standing in the air above Joseph. One called Joseph by name, pointed to the other, and said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” These personages were Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Joseph asked Heavenly Father and Jesus which church was right and which he should join. Jesus told Joseph that he should not join any of the churches, because they were all wrong. He said, “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Jesus again told Joseph not to join any of the churches. He also told him many other things during the vision. After the vision Joseph was lying on his back looking up into heaven. As the bright light left, he found he was too weak to walk. Joseph’s strength gradually returned and he went home.
5. Closing Prayer
Additional Resoureces: Joseph Smith's First Vision (Friend, April 1995)
The Truth Is on the Earth Once More (New Era, Jan. 2009)
The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith (Liahona, Nov. 2002)
2. Sing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" Hymns pg. 26
3. Read Joseph Smith History 1:14-17 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
4. Read and discuss the "The First Vision" from The Gospel Art Picture Kit:
On a beautiful spring morning in 1820, Joseph Smith went into the woods near his home to pray. He did not know which church to join and decided to ask Heavenly Father. Joseph looked around to make sure he was alone, then knelt and began to pray. He was immediately overcome by some evil power. Thick darkness surrounded him, and he could not speak. Joseph thought he was going to be destroyed, but using all the energy he had, he asked God to deliver him from this unseen enemy. Just as Joseph was about to give up, he saw a pillar of light over his head, and he was released from the evil force that had held him. The light came down and rested on him, and Joseph saw two personages whose brightness and glory were beyond description. They were standing in the air above Joseph. One called Joseph by name, pointed to the other, and said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” These personages were Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Joseph asked Heavenly Father and Jesus which church was right and which he should join. Jesus told Joseph that he should not join any of the churches, because they were all wrong. He said, “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Jesus again told Joseph not to join any of the churches. He also told him many other things during the vision. After the vision Joseph was lying on his back looking up into heaven. As the bright light left, he found he was too weak to walk. Joseph’s strength gradually returned and he went home.
5. Closing Prayer
Additional Resoureces: Joseph Smith's First Vision (Friend, April 1995)
The Truth Is on the Earth Once More (New Era, Jan. 2009)
The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith (Liahona, Nov. 2002)
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