Faith | FHE Lessons

Values

2

Posted in God's Love, Gratitude, Individual Worth | Posted on 22-03-2013

Tags: Faith, good works, integrity, knowledge, values, virtue

FHE Scripture

Scripture

“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.”

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

How Firm a Foundation - Hymn #85 or High on the Mountain To Hymn #5

How Firm a Foundation

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev’ry condition–in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea–
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
Other Verses…

High on the Mountain Top

1. High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled.
Ye nations, now look up;
It waves to all the world.
In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land,
On Zion’s mount behold it stand!

2. For God remembers still
His promise made of old
That he on Zion’s hill
Truth’s standard would unfold!
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.

3. His house shall there be reared,
His glory to display,
And people shall be heard
In distant lands to say:
We’ll now go up and serve the Lord,
Obey his truth, and learn his word.

4. For there we shall be taught
The law that will go forth,
With truth and wisdom fraught,
To govern all the earth.
Forever there his ways we’ll tread,
And save ourselves with all our dead.

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For All Family Members*
Read or summarize “Focus on Values” by Elder Russel M. Nelson (taken from February 2013 Liahona). Testify of the importance and blessings of maintaining these values in our lives.

Developing eternal values will help us become all our Heavenly Father wants us to be.

ValuesPic I would like to talk about some of the values you ought to be focused on in your daily lives. You young women will recognize them. And you young men, they are not exclusively for the young women. These values are just as worthy of your attention as they are for the young women.

Faith

The first Young Women value is faith. In fact, faith is the first principle of the gospel. Your faith should be focused on our loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. You should also continually strengthen your faith in God’s plan of salvation.

It is important to develop faith to keep all of the commandments of God, knowing that they are given to bless you and bring you joy. You will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and which they will ignore. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, you need to keep all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith.

Divine Nature

The second Young Women value is divine nature. That’s a grown-up way of saying, “I am a child of God.” You have divinity within you. Our Heavenly Father created you.

Have you ever thought to be thankful for your heart? Look at the job it’s doing. It’s pumping enough fluid every day to fill a railroad tank car, about 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters). Inside the heart are four sets of valves that open and close 100,000 times a day, more than 36 million times a year, and they don’t break. No man-made material—paper, plastic, metal, or steel—can open and close that many times, with that frequency, without breaking. Every organ in the body is so well designed and so marvelous in its function.

You know if you try to swim underwater without taking a breath, you can go only so long. What is it that drives you up to take a breath? Carbon dioxide is being measured by two small meters in the neck, and they send word up to your brain as if to say, “Your carbon dioxide level is too high. Get rid of it.” So you swim up to the surface and exhale, getting rid of the carbon dioxide.

What incredible abilities your body possesses! Take good care of your body. Don’t do anything that would defile the natural beauty of this marvelous, God-given creation.

Individual Worth

The next Young Women value is individual worth. A faithful disciple of Jesus Christ will become a devoted son or daughter of God—more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish, more anxious to exercise compassion than to exercise dominion, more committed to integrity than to popularity.

You know of your infinite worth. Indeed, each faithful young woman in the Church proclaims that individual worth is one of her most cherished values. She declares, “I am of infinite worth with my own divine mission, which I will strive to fulfill” (Young Women Personal Progress [booklet, 2009], 29). The same applies to young men. Each son and daughter of God is of infinite worth because of his or her divine mission.

Individual worth also includes the development of your faith as an individual. No one else can develop your faith for you. You can wish you had the faith of President Thomas S. Monson or some other hero, but you must develop it yourself. When you make a mistake, as an individual you repent of these past problems. When you were baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, it was done as an individual. So, as an individual, you make covenants. These ordinances of salvation are all an individual matter.

The greatest ordinances and blessings of membership in the Church come in the temple. There we have the ordinances of the endowment and the sealings to parents, spouses, and ancestors. All ordinances of exaltation are a family matter. Do you see that difference? The ordinances of salvation are individual; the ordinances of exaltationinvolve more than one person.

Knowledge

The next Young Women value is knowledge. In the Church, obtaining an education and getting knowledge are a religious responsibility. We educate our minds so that one day we can render service of worth to somebody else. Being educated is the difference between wishing you could do some good and being able to do some good.

Often people ask me what it’s like to be a doctor. They ask, “How long were you in school?” Well, it was a long time. From the time I got my medical degree until the time I sent my first bill for professional services rendered was 12½ years. It was a long time, but how old would I have been 12½ years later if I weren’t doing that? Exactly the same. So you might as well strive to become all that you can become.

My medical education is what allowed me to perform a heart operation on President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) in 1972. So don’t discount knowledge. The glory of God really is intelligence (see D&C 93:36).

Choice and Accountability

The next Young Women value is choice and accountability. This is another way of saying “moral agency.” Moral agency is part of life because Heavenly Father wanted each one of us to act for ourselves and to become what we want to be.

Choice and accountability tells you that for every choice you make, you are accountable for the consequences of that choice. So we need to make responsible decisions. It probably doesn’t matter much whether you wear a blue tie or a red tie or a purple dress or a green dress, but what does matter is whether your choice draws you closer to or away from the Lord and His way of life. And why do we counsel and plead with you to follow the way of the Lord? It’s simply because that is the way to happiness.

Good Works

Next comes the Young Women value of good works. This value is patterned after the life of Jesus Christ, who loved people. To show His love for people, He served them. When we love somebody, we show it by doing something nice. So learn to serve: find a need and fulfill a need. Surprise people with a good deed they hadn’t planned on. We have that opportunity at home, at school, and at church.

I remember the first time I went to Africa as a General Authority. My traveling partner was Elder Russell C. Taylor. Each morning when I woke up, I found that he had shined my shoes. He didn’t need to shine my shoes, but that was his way of saying, “I love you.”

Integrity

The next Young Women value is integrity. The word integrity comes from the word integer, meaning “whole” or “intact.” In medicine we talk about the structural integrity of the heart. So when something goes wrong—for example, a wound to the heart—we say it has lost its integrity; it no longer does what it’s supposed to do. Applied to the human being, integrity means you’re dependable—you can be counted on.

In the scriptures we read that the Prophet Joseph Smith’s brother Hyrum was loved by the Lord because of the “integrity of his heart” (D&C 124:15). The Lord was not talking about the anatomy of the heart; He was talking about the integrity of Hyrum’s spirit.

Virtue

The newest Young Women value is virtue. Virtue is a wonderful word. What does it mean to you? Virtue means “purity.” But there’s also another meaning. Do you remember in the New Testament when the woman who had the issue of blood touched the hem of the Savior’s garment? The Savior said, “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (Luke 8:46). In that case, virtue has a different meaning. In the Greek language it’s the word dunamis, which is the root from which we get the words dynamo and dynamite. It means “power.” We want both kinds of virtue for you precious young men and young women.

Become All You Can Be

Knowledge brings power; purity brings power; love brings power. We want you to have the power to become all that the Lord wants you to become. You’re growing, you’re changing, and you are in charge of what you will end up being.

I don’t think it makes any difference whether you are a furniture salesman, a surgeon, a lawyer, or an architect. Any worthy occupation, whatever suits you, is wonderful. But what really matters is what you are becoming.

Ask yourself these questions: Do I have integrity? Do I have purity? Do I have love? Do I have compassion? All of these attributes are beyond measure. And as you think about and live by the attributes of the Young Women values, they will help you become all that you can be.

Photo illustration by Derek Israelsen

Testify of the importance and blessings of maintaining these values in our lives.
*For Younger Children*

Read or summarize “Friend to Friend” (taken from the October 1996 Friend). Testify of the importance and blessings of maintaining these values in our lives.

Love one another, and … serve one another (Mosiah 4:15).

We believe in being honest (A of F 1:13).

I’d like to share with you two important lessons that I learned in my youth. When I was young, my friends and I often played ball in an alley behind our home. A woman named Mrs. Shinas rented a tiny house nearby, and she used to watch us play from her window. She rarely came out of her house, and when she did, she never smiled. We all thought that she was mean. She had a big dog, an English setter, and whenever one of our baseballs rolled in its direction—which happened often—Mrs. Shinas would send the dog to fetch it. We wouldn’t see the ball again. Soon we ran out of baseballs.

In those days, we didn’t have lawn sprinklers, and so each day I watered our lawn by hand with a hose. One day as I stood there watering our little stretch of grass, I noticed that Mrs. Shinas’s lawn looked a little shabby. It took only a few more minutes to water it, too, and soon I was watering her lawn each day.

When autumn came that year, one of my tasks was to clear our yard of leaves. I sprayed the ground with a hose, pushing the leaves into a pile with the force of the water. I decided to gather up the leaves on Mrs. Shinas’s yard as well, and as I was doing this one day, she came to her door and beckoned for me to come inside. I turned off the hose and went into her house.

She invited me to sit in her living room, and she gave me a cookie and a glass of milk. As I sat there eating my cookie, she showed me her collection of little china dogs. I could tell that they were her most prized possession. Then she thanked me for taking care of her lawn. It was the first conversation I had ever had with her.

Mrs. Shinas then went into her kitchen and returned with a box. In it were all the baseballs that her dog had taken. She handed me the box, said thank you—and smiled! It was the first time I’d ever seen her smile.

I believe that love is shown by how you live, how you serve, and how you bless others. When we serve others, we are showing them that we love them, and we are also showing Jesus Christ that we love Him.

The Primary theme this year focuses on love, a most important principle. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. … He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” (John 14:15, 21.)

I like the following poem, which is about love:

Which Loved Her Best?

“I love you, mother,” said little John;

Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,

And he was off to the garden swing,

Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

“I love you, mother,” said rosy Nell;

“I love you better than tongue can tell”;

Then she teased and pouted full half the day,

Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.

“I love you, mother,” said little Fan;

“To-day I’ll help you all I can;

How glad I am that school doesn’t keep!”

So she rocked the baby till it fell asleep.

Then, stepping softly, she took the broom,

And swept the floor, and dusted the room;

Busy and happy all day was she,

Helpful and cheerful as child could be.

“I love you, mother,” again they said—

Three little children going to bed;

How do you think that mother guessed

Which of them really loved her best? ^*

Another important principle is honesty.

I was in the Navy at the end of World War II, when I was a very young man. My training took place near San Diego, California. Everyone in the Navy had to know how to swim, or they wouldn’t let him out of boot camp (training camp). I had learned to swim as a boy and could do it quite well.

One day an officer said, “All of you who can swim get to go to San Diego for the day. Those who can’t must have a full day of swimming lessons. So those of you who can swim, line up over here, and we’ll put you on a bus and take you into town.” I lined up with the swimmers—there were about thirty or forty of us. But instead of having my group get on a bus, the officer marched us into the gym, where the swimming pool was.

I thought, You’re mixed up, fellow. We’re the ones who can swim. But, of course, I said nothing. We prepared for swimming and were ordered to jump into the deep end of the pool.

Most of us obeyed, but about ten men in our group didn’t know how to swim. They had thought that they could go to San Diego without measuring up. The officer didn’t let them just stand there—he pushed them into the water. He let them go under the water, come up gasping for air, and then go down again. When they came up for the second time, a big bamboo pole was held out to them, and they were pulled to safety. Then the officer said sternly, “Don’t you ever lie to me again!” I tell you, I was glad I hadn’t tried that! The experience taught me the value of being honest and true to yourself at all times.

Love and honesty are two principles that will guide us all our lives.

Testify of the importance and blessings of maintaining these values in our lives.

FHE Treat

Treat

Oreo Brownies or Caramel pecan rolls

Oreo Brownies

Ingredients

5 1/2 oz unsalted butter
7 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
4 eggs
5 1/2 oz light brown sugar
3 tbs cocoa powder
a pinch of salt
16 Oreo cookies, broken into pieces

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to about 350°F (180°C). Line an 8x8x3-inch (20cm) baking pan with baking paper with the paper overlapping the sides (this will make them easier to lift out of the pan after baking.
Melt your butter in a pan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate, stir until smooth and well combined.
Whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl until they triple in volume. Add half the brown sugar around the outer edge of the eggs in the bowl (so you don’t knock the air out of the mix) and whisk until incorporated. Add the remaining sugar again around the edge, and whisk again for a few minutes until the mix is smooth and you can’t feel any sugar crystals in between your fingers. Whisk the melted chocolate into the eggs quickly to incorporate it.
Add the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, salt and a third of the broken up Oreos) around the edge of the bowl and fold in until combined, taking care not to knock the air out. Pour the mix into the paper-lined baking pan. Scatter the remaining chunks of Oreo cookies over the top of the mixture, pressing some into the batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the middle is only slightly gooey.
Get the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. When cooled, lift the baking paper and brownies out of the pan and set on a cutting board. Cut into 2×2-inch squares (in half and then half again, both ways). Makes 16 Oreo brownies.

(Taken from Sugar and Snapshots)

Caramel pecan rolls

Ingredients:

Sweet Dough
3/4 c +2 tbsp Milk
2 tbsp Honey
2 tbsp Vegetable Shortening
1 tsp + 1/9 tsp yeast
1 Egg, Medium size
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1-3 c All Purpose Flour
Sugar Filling
2/3 Sugar, granulated
1/3 c Brown Sugar, packed
1 tbsp Cinnamon, ground
4 tbsp Unsalted Butter, softened
Caramel
2/3 c Brown Sugar, packed
2/3 c Heavy Cream
1 tbsp Vanilla Paste (optional)
2 c Chopped Pecans

Instructions:

In a small sauce pan combine the milk, honey, and vegetable shortening. Bring up to 110°F no higher, or it will kill the yeast. Pour the milk mixture into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add in the yeast and let bloom for 5-10 minutes.
While the yeast is doing its magic, measure out 3 cups of flour. In a small bowl combine the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, mix well and set aside. Prepare your work surface by lightly dusting it with flour.
Turn your attention back to the stand mixer, turn it on medium speed and add in the egg and salt. Mix until well combined. Once combined slowly add in 1 cup of flour. It will turn into a batter like constancy. Keep adding in the flour 1/4 cup at a time just until the dough pulls away from the sides. Let it kneed for 5 minutes. Transfer to your prepared work surface and kneed until the dough forms a ball, that is not sticky to the touch, but quite elastic. Cover with a towel, and let rise for 40 minutes.
After it has risen for the 40 minutes, punch down the dough into a rectangular shape, and cover with a tea towel and let rest for at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare your baking pan I used a 10″x10″x4″ square cake pan. Line with foil, or spray with bakers spray. Set aside and begin making the caramel.
In a small sauce pan add the brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Bring up to a boil and simmer until the sugar is melted completely. Pour the caramel into the bottom of your baking pan. Add 2/3 of the chopped pecans into the caramel in an even layer. Time to work the dough.
Roll the dough out into a 24″ x 10″ rectangle. Take the softened butter and with a pastry brush create an even layer of butter over the top of the dough going to the edges. Pour the sugar mixture over the butter and with your hands spread out into an even layer.
Roll it up length wise so you have a 24″ long tube. With a sharp knife, slice into twelve 2″ pieces.
Place the rolls on top of the caramel pecan mixture in the pan leaving around 1″ between each roll. Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours, until doubled in size. Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes until the tops of the rolls are a golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes, place a piece of parchment over your serving tray, and put it over the warm rolls. Flip the pans so now the caramel pecan mixture is on top, and the rolls are on your serving tray.Serve warm covered in extra pecans and caramel with a cup of coffee, and watch your loved ones devour them with glee.

(Taken from Sugar and Snapshots)

Activity

1- Play Value’s Hide and go seek – You can have each family member stand for a value and/or use objects to represent them.

2- Play a game like Monopoly or Ticket to Ride

Baptism

1

Posted in Missionary Work, Ordinances, Priesthood | Posted on 09-11-2012

Tags: Commandments, Faith, God's Love, Jesus Christ, Obedience, Self Improvement

FHE Scripture

Scripture

John 14:15

15 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

When I Am Baptized – Primary Songbook #103 or - Come, Follow Me Hymn #116

When I Am Baptized

1. I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

2. I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

Chorus
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Come, Follow Me

1. “Come, follow me,” the Savior said.
Then let us in his footsteps tread,
For thus alone can we be one
With God’s own loved, begotten Son.

2. “Come, follow me,” a simple phrase,
Yet truth’s sublime, effulgent rays
Are in these simple words combined
To urge, inspire the human mind.

3. Is it enough alone to know
That we must follow him below,
While trav’ling thru this vale of tears?
No, this extends to holier spheres.

4. Not only shall we emulate
His course while in this earthly state,
But when we’re freed from present cares,
If with our Lord we would be heirs.

5. We must the onward path pursue
As wider fields expand to view,
And follow him unceasingly,
Whate’er our lot or sphere may be.

6. For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow’rs,
And glory great and bliss are ours,
If we, throughout eternity,
Obey his words, “Come, follow me.”

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For All Family Members* Read or summarize the following article “Come Unto Christ” by President Henry B Eyring (taken from March 2008 Ensign). Testify of the importance of coming unto Christ and being baptized.

The words “come unto Christ” are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept. From the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel in this dispensation, it has been the charge given by Jesus Christ to His representatives. Their charge has been “to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.”¹

Every member of the Church, upon accepting the baptismal covenant, becomes a disciple who has promised to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ at all times in any place he or she may be in.²The purpose of our witness is to invite people to come unto Him.

All of us should be intensely interested in learning how to issue that invitation effectively. We know from experience that some will not respond. Only a few responded when the Savior Himself offered this invitation during His mortal ministry. But great was His joy in those who recognized His voice. And great has been our joy when those we have invited have come unto Him.

Know That He Is the Way

It is worthwhile to ponder over those instances in our own lives when people have responded. Personally, I have seen a pattern when people have accepted that invitation. In each case the Holy Ghost has manifested at least three truths to them. The experiences have not always come in the sequence in which I will list them, but they all come to the hearts of those who truly come unto Christ.

First, they come to feel that the only way they can have the happiness they want most in this life and in the world to come is through Jesus Christ. They come to believe these words from the Book of Mormon: “Behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.”³

That assurance is not easy to feel in a world in which many voices say that there is no God, that there is no sin, and that happiness is found in pleasure. But our voices can be more powerful if we can get the gift of bearing a sure witness that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of the world. That witness will come most powerfully out of your own experiences with the Atonement of Jesus Christ working in your life. If you reflect often on how His Atonement has changed you and if you give thanks often, you will find that your witness of Him gains power to touch the hearts of others. When those you invite out of your own testimony feel that witness, they will come to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. And that acceptance, when it comes, will warm their hearts and yours.

Covenant and Obey

Second, those I know who have truly come unto Him make covenants to obey and to follow Him. It may begin by keeping simple commitments, such as reading the Book of Mormon or going to a sacrament meeting. It must come out of their faith that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior. When they keep the commitment out of that faith, they feel something. They may not be able to identify the feeling in words, but they feel better. Obedience, even in small things, brings that blessing from God. And in time they begin to feel a repentant heart and with it a desire to make the covenant of baptism, to take the Savior’s name upon them, and to be cleansed from sin.

People come to make that crucial choice for many reasons. At first one man we taught could not see the need to be baptized. After all, he had tried to be good all his life. He had committed no serious sin. He had been baptized as a child in another church. But then two things came to his mind. One was that the Savior was baptized out of obedience, having never sinned. The other is that he wanted to make the commitment to the Savior through the authority of the true priesthood, just as the Savior went to John to be baptized.

Another young man we taught chose to be baptized out of a heart broken by the sorrow he felt for his sins. As he came up out of the waters ofbaptism, he threw his arms around my neck, tears streaming down his cheeks, and said in my ear, “I’m clean. I’m clean.”

Their choices to make the covenant of baptism sprang from a common faith. They knew that if they would keep a covenant to obey the Savior’s commandments, He would keep His covenant with them to lead them toward eternal life. They were ready to come unto Him that they might be changed and led by Him and, in time, become like Him.

Strive to Become like Him

That leads to the third thing I have seen in the lives of those who have truly come unto Him. They strive to become like Him. They begin to try to do unto others as they know He would do. You and I have seen that in faithful people soon after their baptism and receiving of the Holy Ghost. Once, I went with my missionary companion to visit a family we had taught and baptized just a few weeks previously. The parents took us down into their basement to show us a room. It had been the bedroom of one of their two daughters. But she had now moved in with her sister. The bedroom she vacated was filled with everything the family would need in an emergency.

We had not taught them anything about emergency preparedness. When we asked why they had done something so difficult so quickly, the reply was that they had read in a Church magazine that the Lord would like families to be prepared to take care of themselves and others. They said, “Isn’t that what Latter-day Saints do?”

That simple faith extended to everything they felt the Savior would have them do. And their desire to follow Him lasted. And it changed them. They had always been kind, trying to help others. But that ability to show charity grew. And that has been the pattern in all those I have known who continued to come unto Him over a lifetime.

We sometimes speak of retaining members as if we held them in. We can and we must be a friend to those who have made the choice to come unto Him. They can become discouraged when trials come, as trials always do. Yet we must remember that the best and surest friends they have are the Savior and His Father, who is also their Father. Heavenly Father and the Savior will send them the Holy Ghost to comfort them and confirm their faith if they are humbly obedient. So, for example, when going visiting teaching or home teaching with a new member, if you give him or her the chance to pray or to teach or to make the appointment, you may give him or her more strength than just your expressions of love. It will bring down the powers of heaven. And that will lift them through trials and protect them from pride when blessings begin to come to them, as blessings will.

A Change of Heart

Another wonderful thing will happen. When you give your heart to inviting people to come unto Christ, your heart will be changed. You will be doing His work for Him. You will find that He keeps His promise to be one with you in your service. You will come to know Him. And in time you will come to be like Him and “be perfected in him.”⁴By helping others come unto Him, you will find that you have come unto Him yourself. If you want to be near Him, to feel His peace, you can do it best in His service.

He is the one who said:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”⁵

I testify that He will keep that promise to those we invite for Him. And He keeps that promise to those who serve Him by doing the inviting.

Testify of the importance of coming unto Christ and being baptized.

*For Younger Children* Read or tell the following story: “What My Father Gave Me” (taken from the Nov 2012 Friend). Testify of the importance of being baptized.

I’ve gotten lots of great birthday presents in my life, but what I got from my dad on my eighth birthday takes the cake. And it all started when he asked me a single question in a room full of people.

That room was in our church building, and the people filling it were myfamily members. I had never seen so many of them in church at one time! We were all there to see my cousin Bre get baptized.

As I watched Bre’s parents take pictures of her in her white dress, I started feeling really excited about my own baptism.

I went over to look at the font, thinking about what my special day would be like. Would the water be warm? Would all my family be there? I hoped I would feel the peaceful, clean feeling that I had heard other people tell about. All of these thoughts were tumbling around in my mind when Dad walked over and asked the question that changed everything.

“Chris, who do you want to baptize you?”

Here’s the thing: my dad couldn’t baptize me because he wasn’t a member of the Church.

My mom is a convert, which means she got baptized later in life. But my dad never seemed to want to be baptized, and that made me sad sometimes. I didn’t talk about it very much because I didn’t want to make him feel bad. But this time, I decided to tell him.

“I want you to baptize me. You’re my dad!”

I still remember the look on his face. First he was surprised. Then he looked kind of sad. Then his expression turned thoughtful, as if he were thinking about something important.

“C’mon, buddy. We’ll talk about it later,” he said, wrapping his arm around me as we headed to our seats.

The next day, I stood with my dad again—this time in front of the bishop’s office. It was time for me to meet with the bishop for my baptismal interview. I was pretty nervous, and it seemed like Dad was too. He kept pacing back and forth in front of the office door. After I had my interview, Dad walked right up to the bishop.

“What do I have to do to be able to baptize my son?” he asked.

The bishop froze, right in the middle of his handshake. You should’ve seen the smile that came across his face! He told my dad that he needed to be baptized and receive the Aaronic Priesthood. My dad said that he was finally ready to make these special promises with Heavenly Father.

You can probably guess how this story ends. A month later, I stood in the baptismal font dressed in white. The water was warm. My family was there. Best of all, my dad was standing next to me, ready to baptize me.

I know that lots of kids are still waiting and praying for a family member to get baptized. It’s hard to wait, but we can keep being good examples and never give up hope. Knowing this makes me feel even more grateful for the decision my dad finally made—the decision that gave me the best birthday of my life.

“I will honor my parents and do my part to strengthen my family.”

Testify of the importance of being baptized.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Read or summarize the following article: “An Empty Font” (taken from the February 2012 New Era). Testify of the importance of coming unto Christ & being baptized.

It was 7:45 a.m. on a rainy August morning here in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. We (the full-time missionaries in the Freetown District) had planned a baptismal service and were determined to hold it, rain or shine. It was then I received a call from Brother Allieu, a member from our branch, but I could not totally understand what he was saying, as he was speaking rapidly in Krio, the local language. I told him to take a deep breath and speak slowly. He did so and said, “Elder Naeata, there is no water for the baptismal font. I am sorry. There is no water.”

I thanked him for the call and then announced the bad news to the other elders. Immediately we began to think of how we could still perform this sacred ordinance. It was then that Elder Agamah reminded us of the waterfall and pond up the mountain nearby in a place called Mellow. The elders all agreed we should try and hold the baptism there, so we obtained permission to do so.

As everyone gathered later that morning at the bottom of the mountain, the group came to a stark realization of the formidable task looming ahead. However, the determined company had no sign of hesitation to press forward. Men and women and even children walked and talked happily up the wet and slippery trail. Gradually ascending, we took a short detour to cross the river.

As we hiked, the zeal of some in the party began to fade when the rain picked up, but we pressed forward with hope. Still, the rugged path seemed to have no end. Finally we arrived at our destination. Our hearts were happy, but the rain persisted to beat down upon us. As we prepared for the baptismal service, we took refuge from the rain under a large mango tree.

We opened by singing the hymn “The Spirit of God” (Hymns, no. 2). After the opening devotional we went to the baptismal site. The water was rushing off the falls and into the pond where we would perform the sacred ordinance.

A father entered the pond and helped his son into the water when, suddenly, the rain stopped. The rays of the sun broke through the clouds and illuminated the pond. We could feel the presence of the Spirit. After the father baptized his son, a husband baptized his wife, and then the elders baptized their investigators. The sun continued to shine, as did the smiles on our faces.

We closed the service by singing “Come, Follow Me” (Hymns, no. 116). Yes, indeed, we did follow Him. We followed our Savior up and down the mountain, across full, flowing creeks, up the steep and wet trails, and through the rain. And those who were baptized truly followed the Savior’s example as they entered the waters of baptism.

Testify of the importance of coming unto Christ & being baptized.

FHE Treat

Treat

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate or Apple Enchiladas

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Yields 3 Servings

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (no marshmallows)
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
whipped cream or marshmallows optional

Instructions:

1. In a medium sauce pan over medium low heat whisk together your milk and hot cocoa mix.

2. Add your canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.

3. Heat until desired temperature is reached.

4. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and/or marshmallows and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. (Taken from Cookies & Cups)

Apple Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling

6 (8 inch) flour tortillas

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup water

Instructions:

1. Spoon about one heaping quarter cup of pie filling evenly down the center of each tortilla.

2. Sprinkle with cinnamon; roll up, tucking in edges; and place seam side down in prepared dish.

3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar and water.

4. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes.

5. Pour sauce over enchiladas and let stand 45 minutes.

6. Bake in preheated 350 degrees oven 20 minutes, or until golden.

7. Serve with vanilla ice cream. (Taken from Cornfed Momma)

Activity

1- Play Mother May I? & work towards a picture of the Savior.

2- Memorize your baptism covenants.

3- Have each individual share things they remember from their baptism.

Personal Revelation

2

Posted in Revelation | Posted on 23-08-2012

Tags: Faith, Holy Ghost, Prayer

FHE Scripture

Scripture

Matthew 7:7-8

7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

Search, Ponder, and Pray - Primary Songbook #109 or Let the Holy Spirit Guide - Hymn #143

Search, Ponder, and Pray

1. I love to read the holy scriptures,
And, ev’ry time I do,
I feel the Spirit start to grow within my heart—
A testimony that they’re true.

2. So, prayerfully I’ll read the scriptures
Each day my whole life through.
I’ll come to understand.
I’ll heed the Lord’s command
And live as he would have me do.

Chorus

Search, ponder, and pray
Are the things that I must do.
The Spirit will guide, and, deep inside,
I’ll know the scriptures are true.

Let the Holy Spirit Guide

1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven’s view.

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow’r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For All Family Members* Click on the link below to access additional material, discussions, and questions that you can use for your lesson. Choose the material that best suits your families needs.

*Recognizing Personal Revelation*

*For Younger Children* Read the talk by President Thomas S. Monson and discuss afterwards. Help your children understand what revelation is, who can receive it, and how. Help them understand that we must act upon the revelation that we receive.

Tell a personal experience of a time when you received personal revelation and what you learned from it.

Testify of the power of personal revelation.

Going on an Errand for the Lord

Our Lord and Savior said, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). When we accept His invitation and walk in His footsteps, He will direct our paths.

In April of 2000, I received a phone call from Rosa Salas Gifford, whom I did not know. Her father, Bernardo Agusto Salas, had liver cancer. Her father’s great desire, she explained, was to meet me before he died.

I felt impressed that I should visit Brother Salas that very evening. I drove past the location where the road to the house should have been. I could see nothing. However, I don’t give up easily. I drove around the block and came back. Still nothing. One more time I tried and still no sign of the road. I offered a silent prayer for help. The inspiration came that I should approach the area from the opposite direction. I turned the car around so that I was now on the other side of the road. As I neared the location once again, I could see a street sign lying on its side at the edge of the road and a weed-covered track leading to a single, tiny residence. As I drove toward it, a small girl in a white dress waved to me, and I knew that I had found the family.

I was ushered into the room where Brother Salas lay. With some prompting, Brother Salas opened his eyes, and a wan smile graced his lips as I took him by the hand. I spoke the words, “I have come to meet you.” Tears welled up in his eyes and in mine.

I proceeded to provide a priesthood blessing. The words seemed to flow freely under the direction of the Spirit of the Lord. Following the blessing, I offered a few words of comfort to the grieving family members. With my limited Spanish language ability, I let them know that I loved them and that our Heavenly Father would bless them.

As I drove homeward, I reflected on the special spirit we had felt. I experienced a sense of gratitude that my Heavenly Father had answered another person’s prayer through me. May we ever be on the Lord’s errand, that we might ever be entitled to the Lord’s help.

Object Lesson

Purpose: This game demonstrates that sometimes our prayers we are concentrating on only speaking. We need to remember that prayer is not only our communication with

Heavenly Father, but also His communication with us. This game can teach us to be sensitive to what He is saying to us.

You will need:

Six to eight items of clothing that you can take off or put on such as glasses, tie, sweater, hat, necklace, shoes
Stopwatch or watch with a second hand
The scriptures

Ask participants to look at you for ten seconds, paying attention to the details of how you are dressed. Have them close their eyes (or you can briefly leave the room). Quickly change one detail about how you are dressed (take off a shoe, roll up sleeves, put on glasses, etc). Ask them to carefully look at you again, trying to identify the change you made. When they have the right answer or thirty seconds has gone by, repeat the process using yourself or others.

Vary the difficulty of the changes according to the ages of your participants.

As they are guessing, commend them for the way in which they are paying careful attention.

Explain that we are able to communicate to Heavenly Father through prayer and that we must listen carefully and pay careful attention when He talks to us. When we listen to God’s voice it will help us to know how to love and obey Him.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Read the talk “Eight Ways God Can Speak to You”, by Dallin H. Oaks. You can also use the same object lesson and additional resources below to adapt questions, activities, and discussions according to your families needs.

*Recognizing Personal Revelation*

Use this as an opportunity to ask family members to write down ways or situations in which they may need to seek personal revelation. Challenge them to take the steps towards receiving that revelation through what has been taught.

Testify of the power personal revelation has had in your life.

FHE Treat

Treat

Quick OREO Cheesecake and Angel Lush Cupcakes

Quick OREO Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 tub (24.2 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Ready-To-Eat Cheesecake Filling
12 OREO Cookies, coarsely chopped, divided
1 OREO Pie Crust (6 oz.)

Instructions:

1. SPOON cheesecake filling into large bowl. Remove 1/3 cup of the chopped cookies; set aside. Add remaining chopped cookies to filling; stir just until blended.

2. SPOON into crust. Smooth top lightly with back of spoon to form even layer. Sprinkle with the reserved chopped cookies.

3. SERVE immediately. Or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Angel Lush Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (16 oz.) angel food cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
2 cans (8 oz. each) DOLE Crushed Pineapple in Juice, undrained
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
2 cups assorted fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries and sliced strawberries)

Instructions:

HEAT oven to 375ºF.

PREPARE cake batter as directed on package; pour into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until tops are golden brown and cracks feel dry. (Note: If baking in batches, refrigerate remaining batter in bowl until ready to pour into lined muffin cups and bake.) Cool cupcakes in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

MIX dry pudding mix and pineapple in medium bowl. Gently stir in COOL WHIP; spread onto cupcakes.

TOP with berries.

Activity

1- Red Rover

Divide everyone into two teams, each forming a long line, holding hands, facing the other team. The two teams should be around 20 or so feet apart. The teams take turn calling out, “Red Rover, Red Rover, let <insert child’s name> come over!” That child leaves their team’s line, runs as fast as they can toward the other line and tries to break through the held hands. If they break through, they get to take someone back to their team. If they don’t, they join the new team. When a team only has one person left, that person tries to break through the other team. If they do not, then their team loses. If they do, they gain a player and play continues.

2- Capture the Flag

This game is most fun when played with a large group. Split the group into two teams, each team having a flag or other marker at the team’s base. The object of the game is to run into the other team’s territory, capture their flag and make it safely back to your own territory. You can tag “enemy” players in your territory, sending them to your jail. They can be sprung from jail by a member of their own team running into your territory, tagging them and running back, with one freed person allowed per jail break. It is sometimes played that all the people in jail could hold hands and make a chain back toward their own territory, making it easier for members of their team to tag them. We also played a similar game called Steal the Sticks. It had almost the same rules, but several sticks were used instead of one flag.

Overcoming Fear

1

Posted in Fear | Posted on 13-08-2012

Tags: Faith, Holy Ghost

FHE Scripture

Scripture

D&C 6: 34 & 36

34 – Therefore, fear not, little aflock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

36 – Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

I Pray in Faith- Primary Songbook #14 or Abide with Me; ‘Tis Eventide – Hymn #165

I Pray in Faith

1. I kneel to pray ev’ry day.
I speak to Heav’nly Father.
He hears and answers me
When I pray in faith.

2. I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”;
I thank him for blessings he sends;
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need,
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Abide with Me; ‘Tis Eventide

1. Abide with me; ’tis eventide.
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on.
Within my heart a welcome guest,
Within my home abide.

[Chorus]
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, ’tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, ’tis eventide.

2. Abide with me; ’tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side.

3. Abide with me; ’tis eventide,
And lone will be the night
If I cannot commune with thee
Nor find in thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
Would in my home abide.

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Discuss with your children what their fears are. Have them write their fears down on a piece of paper and share them with the family if they feel comfortable. Choose from the stories below – whatever is most applicable to you and your family or tell your own story of a time when you were afraid and turned to the Lord for help. Discuss key points and what they can learn from it.

Read the following story with them:

1 - But I’m Too Shy

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13).

Will Mindy overcome her fear of meeting people?

“Mom, I’m bored,” Mindy said.

Mom had just picked Mindy up from her piano lesson, and now they were at the stake center waiting for Mindy’s sisters to finish rehearsing for the stake musical.

Her older sister, Jessica, and younger sister, Krista, had both gotten parts in the play. But Mindy didn’t get a part. She envied her sisters a little, but she was also kind of glad she wouldn’t have to perform in front of the whole stake. That sounded scary.

“Well, why don’t you go find some other kids who aren’t practicing right now?” Mom said.

“OK,” Mindy said.

Mindy left the cultural hall and followed the sound of voices to a nearby classroom. Peeking in the door, she saw several kids she didn’t know.

“They must be from other wards in the stake,” Mindy thought.

She wanted to meet them, but she was too afraid to say hello. Instead, she walked back to the cultural hall and sat down by Mom.

“Didn’t you find the other kids?” Mom asked.

“I found them, but I don’t know any of them,” Mindy said.

“It’s not that hard to meet people,” Mom said. “When I was your age, I was really shy too, but then I decided I didn’t want to be shy anymore. I made a goal to meet one new person every day.”

“I don’t know, Mom. I don’t really think I can not be shy,” Mindy said.

“If you just try, it will get easier,” Mom said. “You can start small with just one person. Look, a girl is sitting over there by herself. Why don’t you go say hello?”

Mindy tried to think of an excuse, but she knew she should take her mom’s suggestion. She said a quick prayer asking Heavenly Father to help her, took a few deep breaths, and walked over to the girl. “Meeting one person does seem a lot easier than approaching a whole group,” she thought.

“Hi,” Mindy said.

“Hi,” the girl replied. “My name is Shalee. What’s yours?”

“My name is Mindy.” There was a bit of silence, and then Mindy thought of a question to ask. “Are you in the play?”

“No,” Shalee said. “But that’s my dad up there practicing,” she said, pointing to the stage.

“My sisters are in the play too,” Mindy said.

Their conversation went on as they learned about each other. Pretty soon practice was over, and it was time to go home.

Elder L. Tom Perry

”I was very shy in high school. … I was afraid to try. … Live up to your potential. Don’t be afraid to try. Have confidence in yourself.” – L. Tom Perry

Feeling Shy?

Many children feel shy sometimes, whether they’re meeting new people, giving a talk, or answering a question in school. Here are some things to try when you feel shy:

• Pray. You are a child of God, and so is everyone else. Heavenly Father wants to help you.
• Breathe. Sometimes when you’re scared, you forget to breathe deeply enough. Taking slow, deep breaths can help you calm down.
• Smile. Sometimes when you’re feeling shy, other people may think you don’t want to be their friend. Smiling tells them that you are nice.
• Try. When you are in a situation where you’re feeling shy, you need to leave your comfort zone. Start small, and work up to harder things.
• Practice. Think about what you will do and say before you get into the situation. You can even practice with family or friends.
• Help. Think about and help others around you. Remember, someone who seems unfriendly may be shy just like you!
• Don’t give up! It may take a while before you learn to overcome your shyness, but don’t stop trying.

2 – The Opposite of Fear

(Based on a true story)
Do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you (D&C 68:6).
Tricia stared with wide, watery eyes at her bedroom closet. The door was broken and wouldn’t shut all the way. In the dark the clothes looked like huddled monsters waiting to jump from their hangers and rush at her. To make things worse, she could hear loud breathing that seemed to come from the closet.

She knew that there were bad people who sometimes hurt children. One of them could be hiding in the closet! She also remembered the story a boy in her kindergarten class had told about a nightmare. He had been chased by a snake with a very long tail. The snake caught him and tied him up with its tail!

Tricia’s sisters, MaryAnn and Rebecca, were sleeping in the bedroom too, but she didn’t call out to them. Whatever was hiding in the closet might attack. She heard the TV fall silent. That meant her parents had finished watching the news and were going to bed. But she couldn’t run to them—she couldn’t even move.

Tricia was so scared that she wanted to cry, but she didn’t dare make a sound. All she could do was stare at the dark, creepy closet, hoping that whatever lurked there wouldn’t get her.

As Tricia stared, a thought came quietly into her mind: “Why don’t you pray?” Immediately she felt a little better. Her mom had told her that she could pray anytime, anywhere. She didn’t even have to close her eyes! Tricia prayed silently. As soon as she said, “In the name of Jesus Christ,” a calm feeling came over her. She knew that Heavenly Father had heard her prayer.

With every breath she became calmer. The scary breathing wasn’t as loud anymore either. In fact, as her own breathing grew quieter and quieter, so did the breathing from the closet. Tricia held her breath. The breathing stopped entirely. Finally she understood—she had been afraid of her own breathing!

She felt a little foolish, but mostly she felt grateful. As soon as she had thought about Jesus, her scary thoughts had stopped being scary, and she could see how silly they really were. She remembered her father telling her that the opposite of fear was faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “No wonder Satan likes people to be scared,” she thought. “They’re not thinking about Jesus when they’re afraid.”

Tricia snuggled into her covers and prayed again. This time she thanked her Heavenly Father for hearing her prayer and helping her overcome her fears. When she finished praying, she silently sang “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.” Now she wasn’t afraid to close her eyes and let the music and words warm her. Before long, she was fast asleep.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

“Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of spiritual power that will give you and me the assurance that we have nothing to fear.” – M Russell Ballard

*For Teenagers or Adults* Read the talk “God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear”, by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Discuss a time when you have felt fear, what you did to overcome it, and how you turned to the Lord.

Write down your fears on a piece of paper and discuss them with the family.

Set a goal to overcome one fear and discuss a plan of action.

Testify of a time when you faced fear with the help of our Savior.

FHE Treat

Treat

Red, White, and Blue Delight and Crispy Creamy Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Red, White, and Blue Delight

Ingredients:

FOR THE BLUEBERRY SAUCE:

1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

FOR THE DESSERT:
1 pint strawberry sorbet
1 container (1 1/2 quarts) vanilla ice cream
Fresh blueberries and strawberries for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine the blueberries and the water in a medium-size saucepan. Partially cover the pan, then bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Continue simmering the berries until they begin to break down, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar and cook the berries until they become soft, about 1 to 2 minutes more.

2. Stir together the lemon juice and cornstarch in a small bowl until evenly blended. Stir the mixture into the berries, then cook them at a low boil, stirring constantly, for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and transfer it to a medium-size bowl. When the sauce is cooled, cover it and place it in the refrigerator to chill.

3. Line a 9- by 5-inch metal loaf pan with two sheets of crisscrossed plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang on all sides, then chill the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes.

4. Place the container of sorbet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to soften, then spoon the sorbet into the pan and mold it, using a sheet of plastic wrap to smooth the top as needed. Cover it with foil and freeze it for 2 hours. The last 30 minutes, soften the vanilla ice cream in the refrigerator. Remove the pan from the freezer, add half the vanilla ice cream, mold it, cover it with foil, and freeze it and the remaining ice cream for 30 minutes. For the third layer, mix the remaining ice cream with 3/4 cup of the blueberry sauce, and add it to the pan. Freeze the dessert for one more hour.

5. Chill a platter in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Right before serving, thin the remaining blueberry sauce with a spoonful of water or orange juice. Invert the dessert onto the platter, unwrap it, and garnish it with fresh berries. Use a sharp knife to slice the dessert, and serve it with the sauce. Serves 10.

Crispy Creamy Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter
1 bag of marshmallows (10 ounces)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups crisped rice cereal
1/2 cup decorating sprinkles or mini candies
1 quart ice cream or frozen yogurt

Instructions:

1. Coat a 9- by 13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set the pan aside. Coat a medium saucepan with nonstick cooking spray and melt the butter and marshmallows in it over medium-low heat, stirring continuously. Stir in the vanilla extract. Add the cereal.

2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the mixture until it forms a large ball. Add the sprinkles or candies, if desired. Spoon and press the mixture into the 9- by 13-inch pan. Chill the pan for 10 minutes. Then cut the crisped rice treats into twelve 2-inch squares.

3. Peel the container away from the ice cream. Working on a waxed-paper covered surface, slice the ice cream into six 2- by 2- by 1-inch blocks with a warm knife (a parent’s job). Sandwich each one between 2 crispy squares and lightly press the layers together. Makes 6 sandwiches.

(Recipes taken from www.familyfun.go)

Activity

1- 2 Games in 1
Here’s a simple way for families to exercise both their minds and bodies. Start by writing the names of favorite sports on slips of paper. Drop the slips into a hat and randomly pick two. The object: to come up with a game that’s a hybrid of both. We’ve provided some examples below.

What You Need:
Paper
Pencil, pen, or marker
Hat
Sports equipment for chosen games

Instructions:
1. Goffle (golf + wiffle ball): Tee off with a Wiffle ball and bat and take turns putting into a coffee can on its side.
2. Hu-Square (hula hoops + 4-square): Like 4-square, only players guard hula hoops instead of chalk boxes.
3. Bowl-quet (bowling + croquet): Set up three to five empty plastic soda bottles on a flat surface, then see how many you can knock down in two tries with a croquet mallet and ball.

2- The Pinaqua
One of the coolest things we do in the summer, and I mean that literally, is an adaptation of a favorite birthday party game. On the hottest days of the season, nothing beats a water-filled piñata slung over the branch of a tree. A dentist’s dream, this candy-free version will flood your kids with fun — and a generous amount of cold water.

What You Need:
Medium-sized trash bag (we used a clear, 10-gallon bag)
Water
Rope
Tree limb
Bandanna or scarf
Broom

Instructions:

1. Using your backyard hose, fill a medium-sized plastic trash bag with one to two gallons of water. Knot the top of the bag.
2. Tie one end of the rope tightly beneath the knot. Toss the free end of the rope over a tree branch (a parent’s job) and either tie it securely or have the adult stand by to raise and lower the piñaqua.
3. To play, each child takes a turn getting blindfolded, getting spun around three times, and then taking three whacks at the piñaqua with the broom. The winner is the one who manages to break the bag and unleash the tidal wave.

Pioneer Day

9

Posted in Pioneer Day | Posted on 16-07-2012

Tags: Faith, Family History, Obedience, Sacrifice

FHE Scripture

Scripture

D&C 98:3

3 – Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been aafflicted shall work together for your bgood, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

To Be a Pioneer – Primary Songbook #218 or Come, Come, Ye Saints – Hymn #30

To Be a Pioneer

1. You don’t have to push a handcart,
Leave your fam’ly dear,
Or walk a thousand miles or more
To be a pioneer!

2. You do need to have great courage,
Faith to conquer fear,
And work with might for a cause that’s right
To be a pioneer!

Optional descant
We are marching, ever marching.
We are marching, ever marching,
Marching onward, ever onward.
We are pioneers;
[1st time only]: we’re marching.

Come, Come, Ye Saints

1. Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
’Tis better far for us to strive
Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell—
All is well! All is well!

2. Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
’Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—
All is well! All is well!

3. We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away in the West,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the Saints will be blessed.
We’ll make the air with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we’ll tell—
All is well! All is well!

4. And should we die before our journey’s through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—
All is well! All is well!

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Explain the purpose of “Pioneer Day”. Read or retell “Saving the Wheat” (Friend, July 2012). Discuss the story. Testify of the sacrifices the pioneers made.

Explain the reason why Pioneer Day is celebrated in Utah and in the LDS Church. You may use the following information from Wikipedia to explain it’s significance.

“Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois and other locations in the eastern United States.”

“In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart. Latter-day Saints throughout the United States and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Churches’ pioneer era, with songs, dances, and pioneer related activities.”

Read or retell “Saving the Wheat” (Friend, July 2012)

Saving The Wheat

By Marianne Dahl Johnson

(Based on a true story)

“Margaret and Neil, take this wheat to the gristmill on City Creek, please,” Mother said.

Neil smiled happily. He was only four years old, but he liked to help Mother as much as he could. He proudly took the small bag of wheat kernels in his arms.

“I’ll carry it,” Margaret announced, snatching the bag from Neil’s arms. “You’re too little. You might drop it, and you know we can’t afford to lose any of it!”

That was certainly true! When the Gardner family had arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 3, 1847, they had rejoiced that they had reached this sanctuary for the Saints. But that didn’t mean that everything was perfect. Now it was winter, and Neil was often hungry. Each family received a little wheat given out by weight. They ate sego and thistle roots. Once in a while hunters brought meat to the settlers.

When they got to the gristmill, Neil watched carefully as the wheat was ground. When a handful of kernels spilled on the floor while it was being ground, he and Margaret sprang to gather it up. Margaret wrapped it in her handkerchief. That evening they would parch it on the top of the stove at home. No food could be wasted.

After that cold, hungry winter, spring finally came, and Neil’s family moved to Mill Creek, a few miles from Salt Lake City. They planted a small crop of wheat. When the grain came up, it looked so strong and good. How wonderful it would be to have plenty of flour next winter! But then the crickets came.

Crickets were everywhere. There seemed to be no end to them. They were big and black and ate everything in their paths. Everyone worked in the fields, trying to kill the insects. But it seemed useless. There were just so many crickets.

Finally a day of fasting and prayer was planned. Father and the other men went to Salt Lake to pray for help from Heavenly Father.

While Father was gone, Neil, Mother, and Margaret went into the fields again to fight the crickets. Neil was tired, and the thought of another hungry winter made him want to cry. As they worked, it suddenly became darker. Neil looked up and saw thousands of gulls in the sky. Mother threw up her hands in despair. “What the crickets won’t take, those birds will!” she exclaimed.

Mother sat down and cried. Neil cried too. He didn’t know what would become of his family.

Too tired to fight the bird invaders, Neil and his mother and sister watched the seagulls.

“Mother, look!” Neil shouted. “The gulls aren’t eating our wheat. They are eating the crickets!”

“I believe you are right!” Mother said.

Mother, Margaret, and Neil held hands and danced in a circle. They hugged and laughed. The gulls were saving their wheat!

Suddenly, Mother stopped dancing and dropped to her knees. “Come, children,” she said. “These gulls were sent by Heavenly Father to save His children. Let us give thanks to Him.”

The three of them prayed right there in the wheat field. Neil never forgot the miracle of the gulls.

“God is mindful of the fasting and prayer of all of His children, young and old.”

Discuss the following questions.

Where did Neil’s family move to in the Spring?
What started eating Neil’s family’s wheat?
Why did Neil’s Father and other men in the town go to Salt Lake?
What happened when the Seagulls came?
How did Heavenly Father bless Neil and his Family?
How has Heavenly Father blessed you and your family, just like he blessed the pioneers?

Testify of the sacrifices the pioneers made.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Explain the purpose of “Pioneer Day”. Read “The Strength of Our Heritage” (Ensign, July 2012). Discuss the article. Testify of the sacrifices the pioneers made.

Explain the reason why Pioneer Day is celebrated in Utah and in the LDS Church. You may use the following information from Wikipedia to explain it’s significance.

Ready the following excerpts from Elder L. Tom Perry’s address, “The Strength of Our Heritage” (Ensign, July 2012)

I’ve always been excited about pioneer stories. My grandmother lived next door to us when I was a child. At the age of eight she had walked most of the way across the plains. She could remember enough pioneer experiences to keep me fascinated by the hour as I would sit and listen to her.

President Brigham Young (1801–77) has always been one of my special heroes. His answers to problems were basic and fundamental and benefited the people. I marvel at his spirit and enthusiasm as he led the Saints west.

When it became apparent that the cost of moving new converts from Europe to Utah would be prohibitive, the idea was presented to President Young that they use handcarts to cross the prairies. President Young could immediately see the advantage, not only in the cost savings but also in the physical benefit it would be to the people to walk that far and arrive in the Salt Lake Valley full of vigor and vitality after such an experience. He said:

“We are sanguine [confident] that such a train will out-travel any ox train that can be started. They should have a few good cows to furnish milk, and a few beef cattle to drive and butcher as they may need. In this way the expense, risk, loss and perplexity of teams will be obviated [avoided], and the saints will more effectually escape the scenes of distress, anguish and death which have often laid so many of our brethren and sisters in the dust.

“We propose sending men of faith and experience, with suitable instructions, to some proper outfitting point to carry into effect the above suggestions; let the saints, therefore, who intend to immigrate the ensuing year, understand that they are expected to walk and draw their luggage across the plains, and that they will be assisted by the [Perpetual Emigrating] fund in no other way.”

Between 1856 and 1860 a few thousand Saints successfully made the 1,300-mile (2,090 km) journey by handcart. The success of their travel was marred only by two fateful trips, the Willie and Martin handcart companies, which left too late in the year to avoid the early winter snows. Again, notice the genius of President Young. At the October 1856 general conference, he devoted the entire conference to organizing the relief effort to assist those distressed Saints. And he instructed the brethren not to wait a week or a month before they went. He wanted several four-horse teams ready the following Monday to go and relieve the suffering of the Saints caught in the snows. And that’s exactly what happened.

The first relief parties were on their way the following Monday. The description of the Willie company’s joy upon receiving that first relief party brings emotions close to the surface. Captain Willie had left his small band and gone out with a single companion in search of the relief train.

History records: “On the evening of the third day after Captain Willie’s departure, just as the sun was sinking beautifully behind the distant hills, on an eminence, immediately west of our camp, several covered wagons, each drawn by four horses, were seen coming towards us. The news ran through the camp like wildfire, and all who were able to leave their beds turned out en masse to see them. A few minutes brought them sufficiently near to reveal our faithful captain slightly in advance of the train. Shouts of joy rent the air; strong men wept until tears ran freely down their furrowed and sunburnt cheeks, and little children partook of the joy which some of them hardly understood, and fairly danced around with gladness. Restraint was set aside in the general rejoicing, and as the brethren entered [the] camp the sisters fell upon them and deluged them with kisses. The brethren were so overcome that they could not for some time utter a word, but in choking silence repressed all demonstration of … emotions. … Soon, however, feeling was somewhat abated, and such a shaking of hands, such words of welcome, and such invocation of God’s blessing have seldom been witnessed!”

Just as the pioneers made the desert blossom as a rose, so too our lives and families will blossom if we follow their example and embrace their traditions. Yes, pioneer faith is needed as much in the world today as in any period of time. Once again, we need to know that heritage. We need to teach it, we need to be proud of it, and we need to preserve it.

How blessed we are. What responsibilities our knowledge and our understanding carry. Arnold Palmer, a great American golfer, is reported to have said, “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to is.” What a great statement: “Wanting to is.”

God grant us the desire to want to win the greatest of all the gifts He has given His children—the gift of life eternal. May God bless us that we will understand our potential, that we will learn and grow and develop an understanding of our heritage and determine to preserve those great gifts that have been given to us as His children. I bear my solemn witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that His way will lead us to life eternal.

Together as a family, discuss things from the article that particularly struck you. Brainstorm a list of things we can learn from the pioneers. How can we apply these teachings to building a strong family?

Testify of the sacrifices the pioneers made.

FHE Treat

Treat

Dutch Apple Pie and Giant Ginger Molasses Cookies

Dutch Apple Pie

Ingredients:

5 whole Apples, Cored, Peeled And Sliced
¾ cups Sugar
2 Tablespoons Flour
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 dash Ground Nutmeg
1 whole 9″ Pie Crust, Unbaked
⅓ cups Cold Butter
⅓ cups Brown Sugar
¾ cups Flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
1. Core, peel, and slice apples. Toss apples with white sugar, flour, cinnamon and dash of nutmeg.
2. Roll out pie crust, put it in your pie pan and fill crust with apple mixture.
Crumble Topping
4. Combine butter, brown sugar, and flour until mixture is a crumbly consistency. I use my food processor, but a fork works just as well.
5. Pour crumble topping over apples, make sure it gets in all the nooks and crannies of the pie.
6. Bake in 350 degree (F) oven for 60-70 minutes. Let pie set for 30 minutes before cutting.

Giant Ginger Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

2-¼ cups All-purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
¼ teaspoons Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
¾ cups Unsalted Butter, Softened
1 cup Dark Brown Sugar
1 whole Egg
¼ cups Unsulphured Molasses
½ cups Granulated Sugar, For Rolling Cookie Dough Ball In

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375ºF and line a baking sheet, i.e. a Silpat.

Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger into a medium bowl and set aside.

Cream the butter and dark brown sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes). On medium speed, beat in the egg and molasses, increase the speed to high and mix until it no longer looks curdled.

On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and stop once combined. Use a 1/4 cup scoop to measure each cookie and roll them into large balls. Toss each cookie ball into the granulated sugar and place 4 onto the prepared baking sheet (they will spread!). With dampened fingers, press down the center of each cookie. Bake in your preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove the pan let cool for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Repeat until all are baked.

(Recipes taken from www.TastyKitchen.com )

Activity

1- Pioneer Games – Enjoy an evening with your family, playing games the pioneers played. Here are a few ideas.

Stick Pulling - The Prophet Joseph Smith excelled at stick pulling. This activity is for two people and would work best if both people are approximately the same size. Several groups of two could participate at the same time. The two participants should sit on the ground facing each other. Each person’s feet should be against his opponent’s feet. Each person holds on to a thick wooden stick, such as a broom stick. When the start signal is given, each person tries to pull the other person off the ground by pulling on the stick. The winner is the person who pulls his opponent off the ground or who maintains a hold on the stick when his opponent loses his grip on it.
Laundry Relay - Pioneers did not have washing machines or clothes dryers. They had to wash all of their laundry by hand. Divide the participants into teams of equal numbers, and have a laundry relay race. Have a washtub with water in it, a t-shirt and some clothespins for each team. Have a clothesline strung between trees or poles, and put the other supplies along the clothesline area for each team. The first person runs to the washtub and dunks the t-shirt all the way into the water, then wrings it out and hangs it on the clothesline with the clothespins. She then races back and tags her next team member. That person then runs to the t-shirt, takes it off the clothesline, dunks it all the way into the water, wrings it out and hangs it on the clothesline. When the final member tags the team member who went first, the game is over. The team that finishes first wins.
Dancing - The pioneers often danced to fiddle music. Have a pioneer dance, and learn some old favorites, like the Virginia Reel. Bring recordings of music from the 1800s or ask a violinist to play some popular songs from that time period.

(Ideas taken www.ehow.com)

First Presidency Message: July

1

Posted in Prophet | Posted on 09-07-2012

Tags: Faith, Mission, Self Improvement, Work

FHE Scripture

Scripture

Psalms 118:24

24 - This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

I Will Follow God’s Plan – Primary Songbook #164 or Press Forward, Saints- Hymn #81

I Will Follow God’s Plan

My life is a gift; my life has a plan.
My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began.
My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth
And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth.
I will follow God’s plan for me,
Holding fast to his word and his love.
I will work, and I will pray;
I will always walk in his way.
Then I will be happy on earth
And in my home above.

Press Forward, Saints

1. Press forward, Saints, with steadfast faith in Christ,
With hope’s bright flame alight in heart and mind,
With love of God and love of all mankind.

[Chorus]
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ.
Receive his name, rejoicing in his might.
Come unto God; find everlasting light.

3. Press on, enduring in the ways of Christ.
His love proclaim thru days of mortal strife.
Thus saith our God: “Ye have eternal life!”

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For Younger Children*Read the First Presidency Message from the July Ensign. Make a list of your gifts and abilities. Add your testimony to President Uchtdorf ‘s, that we are “Always in the Middle”.

Read all, or part, of the First Presidency Message from the July Ensign.

Always in the Middle

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

By many world calendars, July marks the middle of the year. While the beginnings and endings of things are celebrated and remembered, the middle of things often goes unnoticed.

Beginnings are times for making resolutions, for creating plans, for bursts of energy. Endings are times for winding down and may involve feelings of completion or loss. But with the proper outlook, considering ourselves as in the middle of things can help us not only to understand life a little better but also to live it a little more meaningfully.

The Middle of Missionary Work

When I speak to our young missionaries, I often tell them they are in the middle of their missions. Whether they just arrived the day before or are to depart for home the day after, I ask them to think of themselves as always being in the middle.

New missionaries may feel they are too inexperienced to be effective, and so they delay speaking or acting with confidence and boldness. Seasoned missionaries who are close to completing their missions may feel sad their missions are coming to a close, or they may slow down as they contemplate what they will do after their missions.

Whatever the circumstances and wherever they serve, the truth is that the Lord’s missionaries are daily sowing countless seeds of good tidings. Thinking of themselves as always being in the middle of their missions will embolden and energize these faithful representatives of the Lord. As it is with full-time missionaries, so it is with all of us.

We Are Always in the Middle

This change in perspective is more than a simple trick of the mind. There is a sublime truth behind the idea that we are always in the middle. If we look at our location on a map, we are tempted to say we are at a beginning. But if we look more closely, wherever we are is simply in the middle of a larger place.

As it is with space, so it is with time. We may feel we are at the beginning or end of our lives, but when we look at where we are against the backdrop of eternity—when we realize that our spirit has existed for time beyond our capacity to measure and, because of the perfect sacrifice and Atonement of Jesus Christ, that our soul will exist for an eternity to come—we can recognize that we are truly in the middle.

Recently I felt impressed to redo the headstone on my parents’ grave. Time had not been kind to the grave site, and I felt that a new headstone would be more fitting for their exemplary lives. When I looked at the birth dates and death dates on the headstone connected by the usual insignificant little dash, this small symbol of a lifespan suddenly filled my mind and heart with an abundance of rich memories. Each of these treasured memories reflects a moment in the middle of my parents’ lives and in the middle of my life.

Whatever our age, whatever our location, when things occur in our lives, we are always in the middle. What’s more, we will forever be in the middle.

The Hope of Being in the Middle

Yes, there will be moments of beginnings and moments of endings throughout our lives, but these are only markers along the way of the great middle of our eternal lives. Whether we are at the beginning or the end, whether we are young or old, the Lord can use us for His purposes if we simply set aside whatever thoughts limit our ability to serve and allow His will to shape our lives.

The Psalmist says, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we [should] rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Amulek reminds us that “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32; emphasis added). And a poet muses, “Forever—is composed of Nows.”1

Being always in the middle means that the game is never over, hope is never lost, defeat is never final. For no matter where we are or what our circumstances, an eternity of beginnings and an eternity of endings stretch out before us.

We are always in the middle.

President Uchtdorf teaches that no matter your age, you can do something to help others. In your journal or on a piece of paper, list or draw your gifts or abilities. Children may want to ask their parents what they think their gifts are.

Decide how you could use your gifts to help others in the situations below.

helping pictures

At the end of your list of gifts, write or draw one way you can use those gifts to help others this week.

Add your testimony to President Uchtdorf ‘s, that we are “Always in the Middle”.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Read the First Presidency Message from the July Ensign. Make a list and discuss things you can do “in the middle” of your missionary preparation. Add your testimony to President Uchtdorf ‘s, that we are “Always in the Middle”.

Together as a family, read the First Presidency Message from the July Ensign.

Always in the Middle

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

By many world calendars, July marks the middle of the year. While the beginnings and endings of things are celebrated and remembered, the middle of things often goes unnoticed.

The Middle of Missionary Work

We Are Always in the Middle

Whatever our age, whatever our location, when things occur in our lives, we are always in the middle. What’s more, we will forever be in the middle.

The Hope of Being in the Middle

We are always in the middle.

President Uchtdorf tells missionaries to think of themselves as being in the middle of their missions. You can also apply this idea to your mission preparation: whether you are 12 or 18, you can prepare to serve a mission.

Discuss and make a list of some things you can do “in the middle” of your mission preparation? The following is a list of ideas you may discuss.

Always be worthy to attend the temple.
Learn to recognize promptings from the Holy Ghost by writing down your promptings and acting on them.
Pray for the missionaries.
Ask the missionaries in your area what they recommend you do to prepare to serve a mission.
Learn to manage your time effectively, including important activities such as service, scripture study, and journal writing.
When talking with a family member, share a scripture that inspired you recently. Explain what you think about the scripture.
Ask your friends about their religions and what they believe. Be willing to share your beliefs. Invite them to church or activities.

As you recognize that you are in the middle of your mission preparation, you can live your life to be more worthy of the Lord’s trust and the Spirit’s companionship.

Add your testimony to President Uchtdorf ‘s, that we are “Always in the Middle”.

(Lesson outline taken from the July 2012 Ensign)

FHE Treat

Treat

Golden Oreo Peanut Butter Bars and Berry Fudgsicles

Golden Oreo Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:

FOR THE CRUST:
16 whole Golden Oreo Cookies
4 Tablespoons Butter

FOR THE FILLING:
⅓ cups White Chocolate Chips
3 Tablespoons Butter
1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
¼ teaspoons Vanilla
⅓ cups Powdered Sugar
Edible Pearls For Garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Line an 8×8 square dish with foil, spray lightly with cooking spray and set aside.

For the crust, place the Oreos into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until crumbs have formed. Melt butter in the microwave and stir into the Oreo crumbs. Press well into the bottom of the prepared dish. Refrigerate.

For the filling, place white chocolate chips, butter and peanut butter into a heat proof bowl. Microwave using 30-second intervals, stirring in between until chocolate chips and butter have melted into the peanut butter creating a smooth consistency. Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Spread over chilled crust, smooth the top and refrigerate until solid, at least 2 hours. (You could place it in the freezer to speed things up.)

Remove the entire pan of bars by peeling foil away from the dish and lifting up. Cut into 24 squares and top with edible pearls. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Berry Fudgsicles

Ingredients:

1-½ ounce, weight Semi-sweet Chocolate, Chopped
¾ cups Milk
½ cups Half-and-half
⅓ cups White Sugar
1-½ Tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 cup Raspberries, Pureed Until A Chunky Puree Is Formed

Instructions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate. Whisk in milk, half-and-half, sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch (I used my spatula/whisk, which if you do not have, you need). Continue to stir mixture for 8-10 minutes, until thickened. Fold in butter and pureed berries.

Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until solid.

(Recipes taken from www.TastyKitchen.com )

Activity

1- Play “Tithing Tag” - One person is “bishop”. The bishop goes out of the room, and everyone else chooses someone to hide a penny. The bishop comes in when the penny is hidden, and the bishop finds the penny, and tries to guess who hid the penny. if he guesses right, the person who hid the penny is bishop.

2- Do yard work in your own yard, or serve a neighbor by working in their yard!

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

2

Posted in Family | Posted on 02-07-2012

Tags: Blessings, Faith, Forgiveness, Love, Prayer, Work

FHE Scripture

Scripture

The Family: A Proclamation to the World (para. 7)

“Happiness in Family Life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

Families Can Be Together Forever – Primary Songbook #188 or Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth- Hymn #298

Families Can Be Together Forever

1. I have a fam’ly here on earth.
They are so good to me.
I want to share my life with them through all eternity.
2. While I am in my early years,
I’ll prepare most carefully,
So I can marry in God’s temple for eternity.

Chorus
Fam’lies can be together forever
Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can.

Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth

1. Home can be a heav’n on earth
When we are filled with love,
Bringing happiness and joy,
Rich blessings from above—
Warmth and kindness, charity,
Safety and security—
Making home a part of heaven,
Where we want to be.

2. Drawing fam’ly near each week,
We’ll keep love burning bright.
Serving Him with cheerful hearts,
We’ll grow in truth and light.
Parents teach and lead the way,
Children honor and obey,
Reaching for our home in heaven,
Where we want to stay.

3. Praying daily in our home,
We’ll feel His love divine;
Searching scriptures faithfully,
We’ll nourish heart and mind.
Singing hymns of thanks, we’ll say,
“Father, help us find the way
Leading to our home in heaven,
Where we long to stay.”

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For Younger Children, Teenagers or Adults* Explain to your children what “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is. Read the proclamation, or segments which you would like to share. Select one of the family principles listed in the seventh paragraph of the proclamation which you would like to work on as a family. Watch “Proclamation”. Testify of the sacred blessing of families and of their central role in the Plan of Salvation.

Explain to your children what “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is. Read the proclamation, or segments which you would like to share.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It explains that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

You can read the full proclamation here.

Select one of the family principles listed below, as mentioned in the seventh paragraph of the proclamation. Discuss the importance of this principle and ways your family can better incorporate that importance principle into your family life. Young children may want to draw pictures of how they will help use that principle in the home.

Faith
Prayer
Repentance
Forgiveness
Respect
Love
Compassion
Work
Wholesome Recreational Activities.

**You may consider using the Church Website as a resource as you study these important principles. Follow this link to view pages devoted to teaching these principles. Select your family’s decided principle in the left column. You can watch videos and read quotes and talks to learn more about how you can strengthen your family with that principle. (Note: This resource can be used for future family home evening lessons as you learn about different principles.)

Watch the following video of Elder Ballard describing the importance of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”

Testify of the sacred blessing of families and of their central role in the Plan of Salvation.

FHE Treat

Treat

Easy Apple Dumplings and Peanut Butter Pie

Easy Apple Dumplings

Ingredients:

2 whole Granny Smith Apples, Cored And Peeled
2 cans Refrigerator Crescent Rolls
2 sticks Butter
1-½ cup White Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
½ cans Mountain Dew
Ground Cinnamon

Instructions:

Cut apples into 8 slices each.

Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir.

Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples.

Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients:

1 whole 8-inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust
8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
1 cup Peanut Butter
½ cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
8 ounces, weight Frozen Whipped Topping, Thawed

Instructions:

With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Blend in peanut butter and vanilla. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon mixture into the prepared pie crust. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm.

(Recipes taken from www.TastyKitchen.com )

Activity

1- Family Memories – Enjoy spending time together, and discuss your favorite family memories. You could watch old family movies, look at old pictures, or simply tell stories!

2- Play your family’s favorite outdoor game, either in your backyard or at the park.

Faith in Jesus Christ

2

Posted in Easter, Jesus Christ | Posted on 30-03-2012

Tags: Faith, God's Love, Jesus Christ

FHE Scripture

Scripture

Mosiah 3:12 and Articles of Faith 1:4

12- But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

4- We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ…

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

He Sent His Son – Primary Songbook #34 or I Believe In Christ – Hymn #134

He Sent His Son

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What does he ask? Live like his Son.

I Believe In Christ

1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.

2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

3. I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Tell stories of Jesus. Make a list of things we know about Jesus Christ. Testify of your faith in Jesus Christ.

Stories of Jesus: Tell your children that you are going to talk about having faith in Jesus.

Faith means believing that Jesus lives and loves us and that he will bless us if we do what is right. If we trust him and follow his teachings, we will be happy. Our faith in Jesus can grow by learning about him.

Share some stories about Jesus and what kind of person he is with your children. Choose your favorite stories, and retell their favorites. After each story, tell them what it teaches you about Jesus and why it helps you to have faith in him. Your children may not yet understand what faith is, but they will benefit from hearing the stories about Jesus, and their faith will grow.

The following is an example of a story you might tell your children:

Jesus Blesses the Children

One day Jesus was teaching people. Some of the people wanted Jesus to bless their little children, and they started to take their children to where Jesus was sitting. Jesus’ disciples, who were the men who helped Jesus, tried to keep the people from bringing the little children to Jesus.

Jesus saw this and told the disciples to let the children come to him. He said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).

The children came and climbed on Jesus’ lap, and he blessed them and showed them how much he loved them. (See Mark 10:14–16.)

How do you think Jesus felt about little children?

Tell your children that during the week you are going to work together to develop more faith in Jesus by learning more about him. Then share stories of Jesus with the children throughout the week at mealtimes or at bedtimes (for example, the story of Jesus blessing the Nephite children in 3 Nephi 17:17–25).Make a list of things we know about Jesus Christ: Why are we sometimes afraid of strangers? (Because we don’t know them and don’t know if we can trust them.) Discuss why it is hard to have faith in someone whom we do not know. Explain that faith comes from knowing and trusting someone. To have faith in Jesus, we have to know him. Use your chalkboard or poster to write down some of the things that your family knows about Jesus, such as—

1. He is the Son of God. 2. He lives. 3. He loves us. 4. He loves everyone. 5. He died for us. 6. He is our Savior. 7. He is patient. 8. He is forgiving. 9. He has power over the elements of the earth. 10. He knows what is best for us. 11. He wants us to be happy. 12. His teachings come from Heavenly Father and will lead us back to him. 13. He and Heavenly Father appeared to Joseph Smith.

Testify of Jesus Christ and express the faith you have in his Atonement.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Discuss the meaning of “Faith”. Have a discussion about how we can each grow our faith in Jesus Christ. Listen to the modern day apostles and prophets testify of Jesus Christ. Testify of your faith in Jesus Christ.

Tell your family that one of the best ways to prepare yourself to face life successfully is to develop faith in Jesus Christ. Have someone quote or read the fourth article of faith. Faith in Jesus is the first principle of the gospel.

What is faith? (A belief in something that can’t be seen or proved by scientific methods. A trust that is so strong it causes us to act on it.)
Why is faith in Jesus Christ so important?

To answer this question, read John 14:6.

What does way mean?
What did Jesus mean when he said that he is the way?

Discuss how Jesus leads the way back to our Heavenly Father. We belong to his church and follow his example. We have faith in his great sacrifice, which will enable us to return to our heavenly home if we prepare ourselves.

Why can we have faith that Jesus is the way back to Heavenly Father? (Because Heavenly Father sent him to show us the way, because Jesus does and says only what Heavenly Father wants him to, and because of our own testimonies.)

Growing our Faith in Jesus Christ

What can we do to help our faith in Jesus Christ grow?

After your family has responded to this question, hold up a chart of the following, “Our Faith in Jesus Christ Can Grow,” using the sample below:

Our Faith in Jesus Christ Can Grow

1. Pray to Heavenly Father, and ask him to help your faith in Christ grow.2. Learn all you can about the Savior.

3. Follow Jesus’ example and his teachings.

Discuss each step as you read it, using the following ideas:

1. Prayer is important in making our faith grow because the feeling of sureness or testimony of Jesus Christ can come only from Heavenly Father. It comes by revelation through the Holy Ghost. We need help from our Heavenly Father to know Jesus and to understand and have faith in the things we learn about him.

2. We must continue to learn all we can about our Savior. We have the scriptures to teach us about his life and teachings. We have our Church classes and sacrament meetings. We also have seminary, family home evening, and the Church magazines to teach us about him and what he wants us to do.

3. The best way we can develop faith in Jesus is to live his teachings. This is how we learn that they bring good results and joy to us. In fact, faith is believing and trusting him enough to do what he wants us to do even when it is difficult. By using our faith in this way, it will grow. We will also find that we know and understand the Savior better.

If time permits, watch the following video of Modern Day Apostles and Prophets testifying of Jesus Christ

Testify of Jesus Christ and express the faith you have in his Atonement.

FHE Treat

Treat

Easy Creamy Fruit Mousse or Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles

Easy Creamy Fruit Mousse

Ingredients:

1 small (3 oz) box fruit flavored gelatin, regular or sugar free
1 cup boiling water
8 ounces cream cheese, divided
1/2 cup cold water
8 ounce container COOL WHIP, divided
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 small orange

Instructions:

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Place in blender and add 4 ounces (half of the package) cream cheese. Process until smooth. Add cold water and pulse blender to stir. Add half of the container of COOL WHIP (about a heaping cup) to the blender and process just until combined and mixture is free of lumps.

Pour mixture into one serving bowl, or several smaller individual sized dishes. Refrigerate until firm, 3-4 hours. Either top with remaining COOL WHIP or continue on with topping recipe.

To make topping, beat remaining 4 ounces cream cheese with powdered sugar, vanilla, about 1 teaspoon orange zest (more if desired) and one teaspoon of the orange juice. Blend until creamy and smooth and then add more orange juice if needed for consistency. Dollop, pipe, or spread topping over chilled mousse just before serving. If you refrigerate the mousse with the topping on, it will harden, so it’s best to whip it up just before serving. Makes about 6, 1/2 cup servings.

Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups sugar (12.25 oz), divided
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 1/2 cups (12.5 oz) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt*
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter* (not margarine) at room temp
8 tablespoons vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
*if using salted butter, just omit table salt

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish and set aside. Whisk flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl.

Beat butter, shortening, and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-6 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed.

Reduce speed of mixer to low and slowly add flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds. Give dough final stir to ensure that no flour pockets remain.

Working with 2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll into balls. Working in batches, roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat and set on prepared baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart.

Bake 1 sheet at a time until edges of cookies are set and just barely beginning to brown, but centers are still soft and puffy, about 10-12 minutes. The cookies should look raw between the cracks and seem underdone. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Makes about 2 dozen 3-4 inch cookies.

(Recipes taken from www.OurBestBites.com)

Activity

1- “I will increase my faith in Jesus this week by—” – Let every family member write down or draw a picture of what they are going to do this week to increase their personal faith in Jesus Christ

2- Go for a walk and enjoy the warm spring weather! Look for signs of spring around your neighborhood. (If the weather does not permit, stay inside and have fun playing your family’s favorite game.)

Integrity

4

Posted in Commandments | Posted on 10-02-2012

Tags: Faith, Self Improvement, Testimony

FHE Scripture

Scripture

1 Timothy 4:12

12- Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

FHE Lesson Hymn

Hymn

Dare to do Right – Children’s Songbook 158 or True to the Faith – Hymn 254

Dare to do Right

1. Dare to do right! Dare to be true!
You have a work that no other can do;
Do it so bravely, so kindly, so well,
Angels will hasten the story to tell.

Chorus
Dare, dare, dare to do right;
Dare, dare, dare to be true,
Dare to be true, dare to be true.

2. Dare to do right! Dare to be true!
Other men’s failures can never save you.
Stand by your conscience, your honor, your faith;
Stand like a hero and battle till death.

True to the Faith

1. Shall the youth of Zion falter
In defending truth and right?
While the enemy assaileth,
Shall we shrink or shun the fight? No!

[Chorus]
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.

2. While we know the pow’rs of darkness
Seek to thwart the work of God,
Shall the children of the promise
Cease to grasp the iron rod? No!

3. We will work out our salvation;
We will cleave unto the truth;
We will watch and pray and labor
With the fervent zeal of youth. Yes!

4. We will strive to be found worthy
Of the kingdom of our Lord,
With the faithful ones redeemed
Who have loved and kept his word. Yes!

FHE Lesson

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Watch the story of Alma and King Noah’s Court or tell the story yourself. Discuss how Alma shows integrity in the story. Testify of the importance of having integrity and always standing up for what is right.

Follow the following link to watch “Alma and King Noah’s Court” from the Liken the Scriptures series.

Alma and King Noah’s Court – 55 minutes

In this fun and moving retelling of a treasured scripture story, a modern-day girl named Amelia (introducing Lauren Faber) learns a valuable lesson on integrity through the courage of Alma. When Amelia is teased because her family is taking the missionary discussions, she learns from Alma as he defends Abinadi against King Noah to have the faith to stand up for what is right. In this story, Alma (Dallyn Vail Bayles) is faced with the decision of approaching King Noah (Frank Gerrish) and his wicked priests, or risking his live by standing up for the prophet Abinadi (Ken Eklof).

After the movie, discuss how Alma shows integrity in the movie. Also discuss ways we can show integrity and courage in our own lives.

Testify of the importance of having integrity and always standing up for what is right.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Read the expert from “Be Honest” (New Era, Oct. 2005). Watch or discuss the story of Alma and King Noah’s Court. Testify of the importance of having integrity and always standing up for what is right

“Integrity is the quality or condition of being whole, complete, unbroken, and undivided. The word integrity is related to other words with the same root such as entire and integrate. These expressions share the notion of being intact, sound, uncorrupted, and perfect. As Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has explained: “Integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more important, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant.”

Elder David A. Bednar (New Era, Oct. 2005)

Follow the following link to watch “Alma and King Noah’s Court” from the Liken the Scriptures series.

Alma and King Noah’s Court – 55 minutes

After the movie, discuss how Alma shows integrity in the movie. Also discuss ways we can show integrity and courage in our own lives.

Testify of the importance of having integrity and always standing up for what is right.

FHE Treat

Treat

Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn or Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins

Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn

Ingredients:

About 12 cups popped popcorn: natural, or lightly salted works best, avoid butter flavored
1 pound almond bark
1/2 cup red hot candies
10 Oreo cookies
optional: 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon flavored oil (see note in post about using extract)
2 tablespoons semisweet or dark chocolate chips
kosher or sea salt

Instructions:

Place red hots in a heavy duty ziplock bag and smash with a meat mallet or hammer to crush. Alternately you could pulse them in a food processor until they are just roughly chopped. Break up cookies into rough chunks, either by hand, in a ziplock bag, or in the food processor. Do not crush into crumbs.

In a medium sized microwave safe bowl, melt almond bark according to package instructions until smooth. Gently stir in red hots and chocolate cookies and then add cinnamon oil to taste.

Pour mixture over popcorn and stir well to coat. Pour popcorn mixture onto a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment or a silicone mat and set aside. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over popcorn mixture. An easy way to do it is to place the chips in a ziplock bag and heat in 20 second intervals, squishing in between, until melted. Cut the corner off the bag and squeeze chocolate out. Sprinkle kosher or sea salt lightly over mixture to taste. Let popcorn mixture harden, place in fridge to speed it up. When completely dry, break into chunks and just try to stop yourself from eating it all in one sitting.

Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. table salt
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. grated orange or lemon peel
1 large egg
3/4 c. buttermilk
1/3 c. canola oil
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. sugar

Streusel Topping:
1/4 c. sugar
2 1/2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 Tbsp. butter

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spoon the flour into measuring cups and level ith with a knife and combine it in a large bowl with the baking powder, salt, sugar, and citrus peel. Make a well in the center of the mixture. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, and oil. Add to the dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining flour and sugar and then toss the blueberries in this mixture until they are well-coated. Gently fold the blueberry mixture into the batter. Spoon the batter into lined muffin tins, filling 2/3 full.

To make the streusel topping, combine the 1/4 c. sugar, 2 1/2 Tbsp. flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or two butter knives until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter and bake for 18 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the muffins comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack. Makes 12 muffins.

(Recipes taken from OurBestBites.com)

Activity

1- Movie Night! – Watch “Alma and King Noah’s Court” – also part of the lesson – while you enjoy your treat.

FHE LessonsLessons and ideas for family home evening!

2

Posted in God's Love, Gratitude, Individual Worth | Posted on 22-03-2013

Tags: Faith, good works, integrity, knowledge, values, virtue

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Treat

Activity

1

Posted in Missionary Work, Ordinances, Priesthood | Posted on 09-11-2012

Tags: Commandments, Faith, God's Love, Jesus Christ, Obedience, Self Improvement

Scripture

Hymn

Lesson

Treat

Activity

2

Posted in Revelation | Posted on 23-08-2012

Tags: Faith, Holy Ghost, Prayer

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Treat

Activity

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Posted in Fear | Posted on 13-08-2012

Tags: Faith, Holy Ghost

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Treat

Activity

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Posted in Pioneer Day | Posted on 16-07-2012

Tags: Faith, Family History, Obedience, Sacrifice

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1

Posted in Prophet | Posted on 09-07-2012

Tags: Faith, Mission, Self Improvement, Work

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2

Posted in Family | Posted on 02-07-2012

Tags: Blessings, Faith, Forgiveness, Love, Prayer, Work

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Posted in Easter, Jesus Christ | Posted on 30-03-2012

Tags: Faith, God's Love, Jesus Christ

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Posted in Commandments | Posted on 10-02-2012

Tags: Faith, Self Improvement, Testimony

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