FHE LessonsLessons and ideas for family home evening!

Scripture

D&C 98:1

1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

Hymn

 I Am Glad for Many Things- Primary Songbook #151 or Come, Ye Thankful People – Hymn #94

I Am Glad for Many Things

1. I am glad for many things,
Many things, many things.
I am glad for many things
That are mine today.

2. Thank you, thank you, my heart sings,
My heart sings, my heart sings.
Thank you for the many things
That are mine today.

Acorn Dough Nuts

Ingredients:

Activity

1- Write down 100 things you are thankful for. Use the following list to help:

3-  Write a Thank You note to a friend or family member.

Scripture

John 13:34

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Hymn

  A Happy Family - Primary Songbook #198 or Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth- Hymn #298

A Happy Family

1. I love mother*; she loves me.
We love daddy*, yes sirree;
He loves us, and so you see,
We are a happy family.

2. I love sister*; she loves me.
We love brother*, yes sirree;
He loves us, and so you see,
We are a happy family.

The Prince’s Dog

There is an old Welsh story from the 13th century about a prince who returned home to find his dog with blood dripping down its face. The man rushed inside and, to his horror, saw that his baby boy was missing and his cradle overturned. In anger the prince pulled out his sword and killed his dog. Shortly thereafter, he heard the cry of his son—the babe was alive! By the infant’s side lay a dead wolf. The dog had, in reality, defended the prince’s baby from a murderous wolf.

Though this story is dramatic, it demonstrates a point. It opens the possibility that the story we tell ourselves about why others behave a certain way does not always agree with the facts—sometimes we don’t even want to know the facts. We would rather feel self-justified in our anger by holding onto our bitterness and resentment. Sometimes these grudges can last months or years. Sometimes they can last a lifetime.

A Family Divided

One father could not forgive his son for departing from the path he had been taught. The boy had friends the father did not approve of, and he did many things contrary to what his father thought he should do. This caused a rift between father and son, and as soon as the boy could, he left home and never returned. They rarely spoke again.

Did the father feel justified? Perhaps.

Did the son feel justified? Perhaps.

All I know is that this family was divided and unhappy because neither father nor son could forgive each other. They could not look past the bitter memories they had about each other. They filled their hearts with anger instead of love and forgiveness. Each robbed himself of the opportunity to influence the other’s life for good. The divide between them appeared so deep and so wide that each became a spiritual prisoner on his own emotional island.

Fortunately, our loving and wise Eternal Father in Heaven has provided the means to overcome this prideful gap. The great and infinite Atonement is the supreme act of forgiveness and reconciliation. Its magnitude is beyond my understanding, but I testify with all my heart and soul of its reality and ultimate power. The Savior offered Himself as ransom for our sins. Through Him we gain forgiveness.

No Family Is Perfect

None of us is without sin. Every one of us makes mistakes, including you and me. We have all been wounded. We all have wounded others.

It is through our Savior’s sacrifice that we can gain exaltation and eternal life. As we accept His ways and overcome our pride by softening our hearts, we can bring reconciliation and forgiveness into our families and our personal lives. God will help us to be more forgiving, to be more willing to walk the second mile, to be first to apologize even if something wasn’t our fault, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more. Thanks be to God, who gave His Only Begotten Son, and to the Son, who gave His life for us.

We can feel God’s love for us every day. Shouldn’t we be able to give a little more of ourselves to our fellowmen as taught in the beloved hymn“Because I Have Been Given Much”?² The Lord has opened the door for us to be forgiven. Wouldn’t it be only right to put aside our own egotism and pride and begin to open that blessed door of forgiveness to those with whom we struggle—especially to all of our own family?

In the end, happiness does not spring from perfection but from applying divine principles, even in small steps. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have declared: “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.”³

Forgiveness is positioned right in the middle of these simple truths, founded on our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. Because forgiveness connects principles, it connects people. It is a key, it opens locked doors, it is the beginning of an honest path, and it is one of our best hopes for a happy family.

May God help us to be a little more forgiving in our families, more forgiving of each other, and perhaps more forgiving even with ourselves. I pray that we may experience forgiveness as one wonderful way in which most happy families are alike.

Watch the following video:

The Prince’s Dog

There is an old Welsh story from the 13th century about a prince who returned home to find his dog with blood dripping down its face. The man rushed inside and, to his horror, saw that his baby boy was missing and his cradle overturned. In anger the prince pulled out his sword and killed his dog. Shortly thereafter, he heard the cry of his son—the babe was alive! By the infant’s side lay a dead wolf. The dog had, in reality, defended the prince’s baby from a murderous wolf.

Though this story is dramatic, it demonstrates a point. It opens the possibility that the story we tell ourselves about why others behave a certain way does not always agree with the facts—sometimes we don’t even want to know the facts. We would rather feel self-justified in our anger by holding onto our bitterness and resentment. Sometimes these grudges can last months or years. Sometimes they can last a lifetime.

A Family Divided

One father could not forgive his son for departing from the path he had been taught. The boy had friends the father did not approve of, and he did many things contrary to what his father thought he should do. This caused a rift between father and son, and as soon as the boy could, he left home and never returned. They rarely spoke again.

Did the father feel justified? Perhaps.

Did the son feel justified? Perhaps.

All I know is that this family was divided and unhappy because neither father nor son could forgive each other. They could not look past the bitter memories they had about each other. They filled their hearts with anger instead of love and forgiveness. Each robbed himself of the opportunity to influence the other’s life for good. The divide between them appeared so deep and so wide that each became a spiritual prisoner on his own emotional island.

Fortunately, our loving and wise Eternal Father in Heaven has provided the means to overcome this prideful gap. The great and infinite Atonement is the supreme act of forgiveness and reconciliation. Its magnitude is beyond my understanding, but I testify with all my heart and soul of its reality and ultimate power. The Savior offered Himself as ransom for our sins. Through Him we gain forgiveness.

Prayer and Peace

One evening I argued with my mom and felt pretty bad. So I decided I would pray. Although I was in a bad mood and didn’t want to be “spiritual,” I knew praying would help me feel happier and less argumentative. After my mom left the room, I started my prayer. “Dear Heavenly Father, I’ve come to Thee tonight because …” No. I opened my eyes and unfolded my arms; that sounded awkward. I tried again. “Heavenly Father, I need …” That also sounded strange. I felt Satan urging me to give up my prayer of asking Heavenly Father for help.

Suddenly I had a prompting to say thank you! So I did, and thoughts started spilling from my mind of all the many things I could thank my Father in Heaven for. When I was done thanking Him, I discussed the problem at hand.

Afterward I felt a wonderful peace inside me, the warm spiritual feeling that I know our Heavenly Father and my parents love me and that I am a child of God. I was able to apologize to my mother and accept her apology.

No Family Is Perfect

In the end, happiness does not spring from perfection but from applying divine principles, even in small steps. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have declared: “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.”³

Forgiveness is positioned right in the middle of these simple truths, founded on our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. Because forgiveness connects principles, it connects people. It is a key, it opens locked doors, it is the beginning of an honest path, and it is one of our best hopes for a happy family.

May God help us to be a little more forgiving in our families, more forgiving of each other, and perhaps more forgiving even with ourselves. I pray that we may experience forgiveness as one wonderful way in which most happy families are alike.

Watch the following video:

1. Heat oven to 375F.  Grease and flour 15×10-inch jelly roll pan.  For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy.  Blend in bananas and vanilla extract.  Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute.  Stir in walnuts.

 Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich

16 Servings

Ingredients:

Activity

1- Secret service.
(Write each family members name on a small piece of paper. Place the pieces of paper in a bowl. Have each family member draw out a name. Each person will do secret acts of service for the person who’s name they drew. Be sure to keep it a secret. *Help other younger children in the family*)

2- Love Circle
(Place a chair in the center of the room. Have a family member sit in the chair. Then go around the room and everyone will say something nice about the person in the chair. Take turns so that every family member gets a turn in the chair.)

3- Play Do you love your neighbor.

Scripture

D&C 98:13

13 – And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.

Hymn

I Have a Family Tree – Primary Songbook #199 or They the Builders of the Nation – Hymn #36

I Have a Family Tree 

1. I have a fam’ly tree
With branches by the dozens.
I have grandpas. I have grandmas.
I have uncles, aunts, and cousins.

2. When it’s reunion time,
No matter what the weather,
It is such a happy day
When the fam’ly gets together.

1. They, the builders of the nation,
Blazing trails along the way;
Stepping-stones for generations
Were their deeds of ev’ry day.
Building new and firm foundations,
Pushing on the wild frontier,
Forging onward, ever onward,
Blessed, honored Pioneer!

2. Service ever was their watchcry;
Love became their guiding star;
Courage, their unfailing beacon,
Radiating near and far.
Ev’ry day some burden lifted,
Ev’ry day some heart to cheer,
Ev’ry day some hope the brighter,
Blessed, honored Pioneer!

3. As an ensign to the nation,
They unfurled the flag of truth,
Pillar, guide, and inspiration
To the hosts of waiting youth.
Honor, praise, and veneration
To the founders we revere!
List our song of adoration,
Blessed, honored Pioneer!

Lesson

*For Younger Children*  Explain why we celebrate Memorial Day. Honor an ancestor. Discuss why it is important to honor our ancestors. Testify and express thanks for ancestors who have gone before us and sacrificed so we can learn from them and live better lives.

What is Memorial Day?

Explain to your children that Memorial Day is a special day set aside to honor veterans who have sacrificed for our country, our ancestors and others who have passed away. Emphasize that on Memorial Day we should also honor people who have died serving our country and fighting for our freedom. Explain that even though we may not have met these people, even our own ancestors, we owe so much to them.

Honor a family member

Take this time to honor one of your family ancestors. Select an ancestor who may have sacrificed a lot for their descendants – whether they served in the military, walked across the plains as a pioneer, or sacrificed in another way. You may consider showing pictures, telling stories, or even reading diary excerpts. 

General Authority personal story: Read the following quote from Elder Cecil O. Saumelson’s talk from the Friend.

“I have great love for my ancestors. It’s comforting to know that not only my father, who has passed away, but also my grandparents, great-grandparents, and others who have died are cheering for me and for my family. I believe that is true for everyone. Our ancestors love us, and we should love them, just as we love our relatives who are with us now.”

Discuss the following questions

• What did this specific ancestor sacrifice in order for those who came after them to have a better life?
• How are we blessed by their sacrifice?
• What can we learn from their example?
• Why is important to honor our ancestors and other people who have sacrificed for us?

Testify and express thanks for ancestors who have gone before us and sacrificed so we can learn from them and live better lives.

*For Teenagers and Adults* Explain why we celebrate Memorial Day. Honor an ancestor. Discuss why it is important to honor our ancestors.  Watch “Until We Meet Again” Testify and express thanks for ancestors who have gone before us and sacrificed so we can learn from them and live better lives.

What is Memorial Day?

Explain to your children that Memorial Day is a special day set aside to honor veterans who have sacrificed for our country, our ancestors and others who have passed away. Emphasize that on Memorial Day we should also honor people who have died serving our country and fighting for our freedom. Explain that even though we may not have met these people, even our own ancestors, we owe so much to them.

Honor a family member

Take this time to honor one of your family ancestors. Select an ancestor who may have sacrificed a lot for their descendants – whether they served in the military, walked across the plains as a pioneer, or sacrificed in another way. You may consider showing pictures, telling stories, or even reading diary excerpts.

Discuss the following questions

• What did this specific ancestor sacrifice in order for those who came after them to have a better life?
• How are we blessed by their sacrifice?
• What can we learn from their example?
• Why is important to honor our ancestors and other people who have sacrificed for us?

(Recipes taken from www.TastyKitchen.com )

Scripture

Psalms 92:1

1- It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Hymn

I am Glad for Many Things- Primary Song 151 or For the Beauty of the Earth Hymn 92

I am Glad for many Things

1. I am glad for many things,
Many things, many things.
I am glad for many things
That are mine today.

2. Thank you, thank you, my heart sings,
My heart sings, my heart sings.
Thank you for the many things
That are mine today.

For the Beauty of the Earth

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,

3. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Discuss the many things we can be thankful for (You may want to use pictures). Testify that Heavenly Father has gave us everything we have and we need to be thankful.

Discuss the following questions as a family:

1- What are you thankful for?
2- Why are you thankful for that?

You may want to mention some of the following things:

house
body
clothes
friends
family
church
scriptures
prophet
animals
food

Testify that Heavenly Father has gave us everything we have and we need to be thankful.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Watch the history of Thanksgiving and then have everyone take turn discussing the many things they are thankful for. Testify of the importance expressing thanks and gratitude for the things that we have.

(Taken from History.com)

What are you thankful for? Why?

Testify of the importance of being thankful to our Heavenly Father for everything that we have.

Treat

Sweet T.O.M. Turkeys or Easy as Pie!

Sweet T.O.M. Turkeys

Ingredients:

Cupcake
Chocolate frosting
3 oval shortbread cookies
6 to 10 candy corn pieces
White icing
Black decorators’ gel
Red fruit leather

Instructions:

1- Frost the cupcake, then press in a cookie head and 2 cookie wings.

2- Press in a row or two of candy corn tail feathers.

3- To make an eye, add a small dot of white icing to the head, then add a dot of black decorators’ gel for a pupil.

4- For a beak, cut the white tip from a piece of candy corn and press it in place.

5- To make the wattle, cut a 1-inch square of fruit leather. Roll it into a tube and stick it in place over the beak.

Easy as Pie!

Ingredients:

2/3 of a 16.5-ounce roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
3/4 cup orange frosting
Pecans, halved crosswise
Whipped cream

Instructions:

1- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly dust a sheet of parchment paper and a rolling pin with flour. On the paper, roll out the dough into a 91/2- to 10-inch circle. Place a 9-inch pie pan on top and trim away the dough’s edges. Transfer the dough round, on the paper, to a cookie sheet and bake it until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes (do not overbake). Let it cool 1 minute, then carefully transfer it, still on the paper, to a rack to cool completely.

2- Cover the cookie to its edges with the frosting and press the pecan pieces in place to form the crust. Slice the cookie as you would a pie and serve with whipped cream.

(Recipes taken from Familyfun.go.com)

Scripture

D&C 98:13

13- And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.

Hymn

I Will Follow God’s Plan- Primary Song 164 or Faith of Our Fathers Hymn 84

I Will Follow God’s Plan

1. 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.

Faith of Our Fathers

1. Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word.

[Chorus]
Faith of our fathers, holy faith,
We will be true to thee till death!

2. Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee,
And thru the truth that comes from God,
Mankind shall then be truly free.

3. Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life.

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Share the story of David (taken from the FHE Resource Book) and testify of the importance of making sacrifices everyday.

While getting ready for baseball practice, David overheard his mother on the phone trying to get a baby-sitter so she could visit her sick mother. After two neighborhood girls said they were busy, David volunteered to stay home from baseball practice and tend the baby. During the hours he was with his baby sister, he felt more love for her than he ever had before.

Discuss the following questions as a family:

1- Who was David’s mom trying to call?
2- What was David going to do?
3- Did David got to baseball practice? why not?

Testify of the importance of making sacrifices everyday. Discuss how Christ sacrificed his life so that we can return to our Heavenly Father.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Discuss the following questions. Testify of the importance of sacrifice and issue a challenge to sacrifice this week.

What does the word sacrifice mean?
Who in the scriptures sacrificed? (give the example of Lehi, Abraham…)
Who offered the greatest sacrifice?

Read Moses 5:9.

What does Christ’s sacrifice make possible?
How do we remember his sacrifice today?
What can we sacrifice? or how do we sacrifice? (time, tithing, church callings, missions, etc)

Testify of the importance of sacrifice and challenge family members to make at least one sacrifice this week.

Treat

Candy Apple Cookie Pops or Lovely Ladybugs

Candy Apple Cookie Pops

Ingredients:

9 pretzel sticks
green fruit chew candies (such as Jolly Ranchers)
18 round sandwich cookies (such as Oreos)
red meltable candy wafers
vanilla frosting
brown mini chocolate candies (such as M&Ms)

Instructions:

1- Snap the tips of 9 pretzel sticks into 1/2- to 3/4-inch pieces and set them aside.

2- Flatten several green fruit chew candies and snip them into 18 leaves, as shown. Shape the leftover candy into 18 mouths and set all the pieces aside.

3- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Insert a popsicle stick into 18 round sandwich cookies by gently pressing each cookie between your fingers as you slide in the stick.

4- Melt a 14-ounce bag of red meltable candy wafers in a microwave-safe container according to the package directions (do not overcook the wafers; the heat will cause the cookies to fall off the sticks when you dip them).

5- Working in batches of five pops or less, dip each cookie pop into the melted candy until well coated, then transfer it to the parchment paper. Alternately, you can spoon and spread the candy onto the pops. If needed, reheat the candy wafers as you work.

6- While the candy coating is still wet, add a pretzel stem and a fruit chew mouth and leaf to each pop as shown. Let the treats cool completely, then finish them by attaching brown mini chocolate candy eyes with vanilla frosting.

Lovely ladybugs

Ingredients:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons softened butter
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
15 black jelly beans
1 cup red candy chips (we used Wilton Candy Melts)
Toothpicks (optional)
Black decorators’ gel

Instructions:

1- Mix the peanut butter, butter, and confectioners’ sugar together until well blended. Roll the mixture into about 30 (1-inch) balls.

2- Place the balls on waxed paper and gently flatten their bottoms.

3- Slice the jelly beans in half and push one half into each ball to make the ladybug’s head.

4- Melt the red candy chips according to the package directions. Spoon the melted candy over each ball. If you need to, use a toothpick to evenly distribute the candy coating.

5- After the coating hardens, use the decorators’ gel to add a stripe and spots to each bug.

(Recipes taken from Familyfun.go.com)

Scripture

Enos 1:1

7- Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—

Hymn

My Dad–Primary Song #211 or I Know My Father Lives Hymn 302

My Dad

1. My daddy is my fav’rite pal,
And I help him ev’ry day.
It’s plain to see I want to be
Like him in ev’ry way.
He teaches me that honesty
Is best in all I do.
I’m very glad that he’s my dad,
And I know he loves me too.

I Know My Father Lives

1. I know my Father lives and loves me too.
The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true,
And tells me it is true.

2. He sent me here to earth, by faith to live his plan.
The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me that I can,
And tells me that I can.

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Read “The Father’s Day Surprise Cake” by Mella Bedell (June 1983 Friend). Discuss the importance of  fathers and all that they do for us. (You may want to use clipart to help tell the story.)

Alisa helped her younger sister, Mikki, comb her long black hair. Then they hurried downstairs and ate breakfast. Tomorrow was Father’s Day, and the two girls were going shopping today for the ingredients to make a cake for their father. It was not going to be an ordinary cake—it would be filled with surprises!

As soon as they came home from the store, they took their aprons from the closet and helped each other tie them. Next they got all the ingredients out for the surprise cake and put them on the table. While Mikki greased and floured the cake pans, Alisa turned on the oven. Then, carefully measuring and stirring, the girls soon had the batter ready. Alisa spooned it into the cake pans while Mikki watched to see that both pans had the same amount.

At last the pans were in the oven, and the best part of making the cake batter had arrived. Alisa and Mikki each got a spoon and sat at the table and scraped the bowl.

Soon the cake layers were cooling on racks and the dishes were done. The girls ran up to their room to make the “surprise” part of the cake.

First they cut a piece of paper into several narrow strips. Then on each strip they wrote one thing that was special about their dad. Next they folded the strips and went back downstairs and wrapped each one in aluminum foil. With a knife Alisa carefully made little slits in the cake, and Mikki poked a wrapped strip into each slit.

Mother frosted the cake for them. She made pretty swirls around the edges and wrote “Happy Father’s Day” in the middle.

The next day after church they had a Father’s Day party. They sang Father’s favorite songs and played some games. When Mother cut the cake, she gave everyone a big piece. Father, of course, got the biggest one.

“What’s shining in my piece of cake?” he asked.

Alisa and Mikki looked at each other and grinned.

“That’s our surprise for you!” Alisa said.

“Yes,” Mikki told him. “You’re supposed to unwrap the foil and read the note out loud. Then we’ll take turns reading ours.”

Each person found and excitedly unwrapped the foil-covered surprises that had been hidden in the cake. Father’s face beamed as he read the first strip. It said, “We love you because you read stories to us.”

Mikki opened the next one and read, “We love you because you take care of us.”

Mother’s strip said, “We love you because you do things with us.”

Alisa had two surprise strips in her piece of cake. “We love you because you laugh a lot” was on the first one.

Alisa, Mikki, and Mother read the last one together: “We love you because you love us.”

“I really do,” Father said. “Thank you for a wonderful Father’s Day.”

*Discuss these questions as a family*
1- What did Mikki & Alisa make for their dad?
2- What did they stick in the cake?
3- Did their dad like it?
4- What are some things that dad &/or grandpa does for us?

Testify of the importance of fathers (be sure to also testify of the love Heavenly Father has for each of us).

*For Teenagers or Adults* Brainstorm and create a list of fathers that are mentioned in the scriptures. Discuss together the story of Alma the younger. Discuss fathers and what they have taught us.

Brainstorm and make a list of fathers that appear in the scriptures. Here are a few examples: Eli, Noah, Adam, Lehi, Alma, Mormon, Heavenly Father, etc.

Discuss the story of Alma the Younger (Mosiah 27). Alma the Elder never gave up on Alma the Younger. (The same is true with our earthly & Heavenly Father.)

What are things your father has taught you?
What are things your father has done for you?
How can we show appreciation?

Treat

Happy Father’s Day Cake or A Grate Gift for Dad

Happy Father’s Day Cake

Ingredients:

9-by-12-by-2-inch cake, store-bought or homemade from scratch or a mix
Pastel icing the color of dad’s favorite shirt
Cardboard shirt box (ask at the drycleaner’s), lined with waxed paper
White paper for making a shirt collar and two cuffs
Colorful frosting for the tie

Instructions (How To Video):

1- Bake a cake in a 9-by-12-inch cake pan, remove from the pan, cool, and place on waxed paper.

2- Start by lining a 9-by-12-inch cardboard shirt box with tissue paper. Cover with a larger piece of waxed paper and flip the cake over and set it bottom-up in the box.

3- Frost with a pastel-shirt colored icing. Cut a collar and two cuffs out of white paper. The collar is a strip, rolled into a ring and taped, with a small V cut out of the center. The cuffs are rectangles with candy cufflinks.

4- Add a colorful frosting tie below the point where the collar will be placed. Just before serving, trim away the waxed paper and add the collar and cuffs.

A Grate Gift for Dad

Ingredients:

Brownie batter
Black food coloring
White frosting
Orange sugar
Caramel creams
Red, yellow, and green candy fruit slices
Hot Tamales candies

Instructions:

1- To make a batch of 12, place liners in a muffin pan, oil them, and fill them two thirds full of your favorite brownie batter, then bake according to the recipe directions. Let the brownies cool.

2- In a small bowl, mix one or two drops of black food coloring with 1/4 cup white frosting. Transfer the frosting to a ziplock bag and snip a small section from the corner. Pipe grate lines onto each brownie and let them set for 20 minutes. Add embers with a sprinkle of orange sugar.

3- Prepare the grill food as instructed below and press it in place atop each brownie.

Kebabs = A caramel cream and red, yellow, and green candy fruit slices, cut into small pieces + toothpick skewers
Pork chop = two thirds of a caramel cream, molded with fingers + black food coloring, applied with a toothpick
Hot dogs = Hot Tamales candies + black food coloring, applied with a toothpick.

(Recipes taken from Familyfun.go.com)

Scripture

Exodus 12: 14

14- And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Hymn

I Have a Family Tree–Primary Song #199 or Faith of Our Fathers Hymn 84

Faith of Our Fathers

1. Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word.

[Chorus]
Faith of our fathers, holy faith,
We will be true to thee till death!

2. Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee,
And thru the truth that comes from God,
Mankind shall then be truly free.

3. Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life.

I Have a Family Tree

1. I have a fam’ly tree
With branches by the dozens.
I have grandpas. I have grandmas.
I have uncles, aunts, and cousins.

2. When it’s reunion time,
No matter what the weather,
It is such a happy day
When the fam’ly gets together.

Lesson

*For Younger Children* Read “A Single Piece of Paper” by Afton Wade (Jan 1993 Friend) and discuss the importance of ancestors. (You may want to use clipart to help tell the story.)

A pedigree chart! I knew that horses, dogs, and maybe even cats had pedigrees, but here was Sister Jones handing out pedigree charts for us to take home and fill out. Now I had heard everything!

I folded the paper and quickly thrust it into my pocket. Mom and Dad were always busy working and probably wouldn’t even have time to look at it, but Sister Jones had said that it was very important to know who our ancestors were. Well, I’d try my best. After we all filled out our charts, she was going to take us to the family history library for a tour. And after that, we were going for ice cream! I love ice cream.

Opening the gate, I ran up the stairs, waving the paper, exclaiming, “Mom, Dad, look what I got in church today!”

Dad lowered the volume on the television. He’s a great sports fan and never misses his games. That’s why he doesn’t get to church very often—the meetings are at the same time as the games.

“See, Dad, it’s a pedigree chart. Sister Jones says it’s important to find out about our families—where they lived, and when, and anything interesting we can find out about them, like the stories Grandad tells us.”
Mom came through the back door just then, smiling and brushing dirt from her knees. She had been planting new flowers. She loves working in her garden. Dad said that our home was a showplace because of the flowers blooming everywhere. Sunday was the only day Mom had to tend to her garden. She wished she had more time for church—maybe one day she would, and then she’d go, she said.

We sat on the porch steps while I explained my assignment to fill in the pedigree chart. To my surprise, Mom and Dad both began helping me, and we had a grand time!

Mom told me how her grandparents had come across the Atlantic Ocean when they left Sweden to come to America. The ship they were sailing on almost went down in a sudden, violent storm. How thankful they were to reach land and begin their new lives.

Dad’s grandparents had lived in a tiny log cabin in Kentucky. They became friends with the Indians, who helped them through the first cold, bitter winter.

The more they remembered, the more excited they became. They got out the old picture album, which had pictures of stern-looking men—some with curly mustaches—often holding canes and wearing hats, and women in long dresses, some holding fat little babies and surrounded by children. We were having such a good time that Dad even forgot his football game! And instead of going back out to her flowers, Mom began writing letters to her sisters and brothers for any information they had about their ancestors.

The next Sunday I could hardly wait to show Sister Jones my pedigree chart. And Mom had given me a note saying that she’d so enjoyed filling out the sheet that she wanted to help take our class to the library.
That afternoon, Dad phoned his mother in Kentucky, and they talked and talked about his family. Do you know—Dad’s great-grandfather had known Brigham Young!

That was just the beginning. We’re now planning a huge family reunion this summer with aunts, uncles, and cousins of all ages and sizes coming from all over. Dad says that there may be even a hundred! I can hardly wait to meet so many of my family.

Oh yes—I overheard Mom and Dad talking the other day, and miracle of miracles, they’re going to start coming to church with me. They said, “It’s about time to get our priorities in place.” Now, I’m not sure what “priorities” are, but I am sure that we’ll have plenty of room for them. And to think it all started with that single piece of paper!

*Discuss these questions as a family*
1- What was Dad doing when he came home from church?
2- What was Mom doing?
3- What was the paper that was brought home from church?
4- Are our ancestors important? Why?

Testify of the importance of ancestors and honoring them on Memorial Day.

*For Teenagers or Adults* Watch the video on the History of Memorial Day. Discuss the importance of Memorial Day & the various things our ancestors have done for us.

History of Memorial Day (video)

(taken from History.com)

What have our ancestors done for us?
Do we have relatives that have served or are serving in war?
What sacrifices did they make?

Testify of the importance of ancestors and honoring them on Memorial Day.

Treat

Balloon Cupcakes or Best Fudge Brownies

Balloon Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Baked cupcakes
Frosting (equal amounts of yellow, green, blue, and red)
Curling ribbon (yellow, green, blue, and red)

Instructions:

1-Frost the cupcakes yellow, green, blue, and red and arrange them on a large platter or cake cardboard.

2- Tape a length of ribbon to the bottom of each cupcake.

3- Tie all the ribbons together and curl the ends as shown.

Best Fudge Brownies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions:

1- Cut the butter into 1/2-inch pieces and place them in the top of a double boiler in which the water is barely simmering. (No Double Boiler? No Problem. The trick is to find a heatproof bowl that fits about halfway inside one of your medium-size saucepans. A glass bowl or a metal mixing bowl with a handle works well. Be sure to fill the pan with only 1 or 2 inches of water – your bowl should always rest above the water, never in it.)

2- As the butter melts, sprinkle the chocolate evenly into it. Leave the mixture over the heat for 5 minutes, then stir or whisk it until smooth. Transfer the top of the double boiler to a cooling rack and let the chocolate cool to room temperature.

3- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350º. Lightly butter a 9- by 9-inch square cake pan (do not use a smaller pan) and dust it with flour, knocking out the excess.

4- Combine the sugars in a large mixing bowl, using your fingers to break up any lumps. Add the eggs. Beat the eggs and sugar until well blended – about 30 seconds – with an electric mixer set on medium-high speed. Blend in the vanilla extract. Add the cooled chocolate (which should still be liquid) and mix on medium speed just until evenly blended.

5- Sift the flour and salt into a medium bowl, then stir them into the chocolate mixture, about half at a time, until no streaks of flour remain. Stir in the nuts. Then scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it with a spoon.

6- Bake the brownies on the center oven rack for 30 to 35 minutes. When done, the brownies will have risen slightly and the top will have a thin, brittle crust. Do not overbake. For the best results, use 3 toothpicks to test for doneness. Insert one into the brownies about 1 inch from the side; it should come out clean. A second toothpick inserted 2 inches from the side should have a little batter stuck to it, and a third, inserted in the center, should be coated with a bit more batter than that.

7- Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool the brownies thoroughly. To get the cleanest cuts, cover and refrigerate the brownies for several hours before slicing (provided you can resist that long). Serve slightly cool or at room temperature. Makes 12 to 16 brownies.

(Recipes taken from Familyfun.go.com)

Scripture

Alma 56 : 48

48. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

Hymn

Love at Home Hymn 294 OR Mother Dear–Primary Song #206

Love at Home

1. There is beauty all around
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in ev’ry sound
When there’s love at home.
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on ev’ry side.
Time doth softly, sweetly glide
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide
When there’s love at home.

2. In the cottage there is joy
When there’s love at home;
Hate and envy ne’er annoy
When there’s love at home.
Roses bloom beneath our feet;
All the earth’s a garden sweet,
Making life a bliss complete
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Making life a bliss complete
When there’s love at home.

3. Kindly heaven smiles above
When there’s love at home;
All the world is filled with love
When there’s love at home.
Sweeter sings the brooklet by;
Brighter beams the azure sky.
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.

Mother Dear

1. Mother dear, I love you so.
Your happy, smiling face
Is such a joy to look at;
It makes home a lovely place.

2. Mother dear, I love you so.
Your lovely, shining eyes
Are just like stars that twinkle
Way up in the bright blue skies.

3. Mother dear, I love you so.
I’ll try the whole day through
To please our Heav’nly Father.
I’m so glad he gave me you.

Scripture

D & C 59:7

7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

Hymn

I am Glad for Many Things Primary Songbook pg 151

I am Glad for Many Things, Many Things, Many Things.
I am Glad for Many Things That are Mine Today.

Thank you, Thank you, My Heart Sings, My Heart Sings, My Heart Sings.
Thank you for the Many Things That are Mine Today.

Count Your Many Blessings Hymn 241

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

[Chorus]
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Lesson

What holiday is on Thursday?
What do we do on Thanksgiving?
Why do we have Thanksgiving?

*For Younger Children* (Share this story)

Aaron watched the snowy scenery whiz by the car window. His family was returning home after spending Thanksgiving with their grandparents and cousins. Soon he fell asleep in the backseat, along with his two sisters.

Suddenly the car swerved, and Aaron jerked awake. The car rolled over once and then came to a stop with a jolt.

“What happened?” Aaron asked.

“I fell asleep at the wheel,” Dad said in a shaky voice. He reached out to touch Mom’s cheek. “Are you all right?”

Mom nodded and turned to look at Aaron and his sisters.

“We’re all right, Mom,” Aaron said. He was grateful his parents always insisted that everyone wear seat belts and that Kaitlyn was in her car seat.

Nicole reached for his hand. Aaron squeezed her hand in return.

The family sat huddled in the car, waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

When the paramedics arrived, they examined everyone. “It’s a miracle that your family came through alive,” one of the paramedics said.

“It is a miracle,” Mom said.

The ambulance took Aaron’s family to the nearest hospital. Mom got six stitches on her cheek, but no one else needed treatment.

Then they took their car to a service station to have it checked out. The car was safe to drive, so Aaron’s family resumed their trip. When they finally got home, it was just before midnight. Everyone felt tired and shaken.

“There is something we need to do,” Mom said.

They all knelt on the living room floor. Dad paused a few moments. Then he began, “Father, we come to thee in thanksgiving.”

After the prayer, everyone remained on their knees. Then Mom got up and headed to the kitchen. “I think we all need something to eat,” she said. She pulled meat and bread from the refrigerator and started making sandwiches.

Aaron thought it was funny that they were having dinner at midnight. Then he realized they hadn’t eaten anything since lunch. “Is this like a second Thanksgiving?” he asked.

Dad smiled for the first time since the accident. “That’s right, Aaron. We have more than usual to thank Heavenly Father for.”

(Jane McBride Choate, “A Second Thanksgiving”, Friend, Nov. 2010, 36–37)

*For Teenagers* (Share this story)

It was written by Gordon Green and appeared in an American magazine over 50 years ago.

Gordon tells how he grew up on a farm in Canada, where he and his siblings had to hurry home from school while the other children played ball and went swimming. Their father, however, had the capacity to help them understand that their work amounted to something. This was especially true after harvesttime when the family celebrated Thanksgiving, for on that day their father gave them a great gift. He took an inventory of everything they had.

On Thanksgiving morning he would take them to the cellar with its barrels of apples, bins of beets, carrots packed in sand, and mountains of sacked potatoes as well as peas, corn, string beans, jellies, strawberries, and other preserves which filled their shelves. He had the children count everything carefully. Then they went out to the barn and figured how many tons of hay there were and how many bushels of grain in the granary. They counted the cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and geese. Their father said he wanted to see how they stood, but they knew he really wanted them to realize on that feast day how richly God had blessed them and had smiled upon all their hours of work. Finally, when they sat down to the feast their mother had prepared, the blessings were something they felt.

Gordon indicated, however, that the Thanksgiving he remembered most thankfully was the year they seemed to have nothing for which to be grateful.

The year started off well: they had leftover hay, lots of seed, four litters of pigs, and their father had a little money set aside so that someday he could afford to buy a hay loader—a wonderful machine most farmers just dreamed of owning. It was also the year that electricity came to their town—although not to them because they couldn’t afford it.

One night when Gordon’s mother was doing her big wash, his father stepped in and took his turn over the washboard and asked his wife to rest and do her knitting. He said, “You spend more time doing the wash than sleeping. Do you think we should break down and get electricity?” Although elated at the prospect, she shed a tear or two as she thought of the hay loader that wouldn’t be bought.

So the electrical line went up their lane that year. Although it was nothing fancy, they acquired a washing machine that worked all day by itself and brilliant lightbulbs that dangled from each ceiling. There were no more lamps to fill with oil, no more wicks to cut, no more sooty chimneys to wash. The lamps went quietly off to the attic.

The coming of electricity to their farm was almost the last good thing that happened to them that year. Just as their crops were starting to come through the ground, the rains started. When the water finally receded, there wasn’t a plant left anywhere. They planted again, but more rains beat the crops into the earth. Their potatoes rotted in the mud. They sold a couple of cows and all the pigs and other livestock they had intended to keep, getting very low prices for them because everybody else had to do the same thing. All they harvested that year was a patch of turnips which had somehow weathered the storms.

Then it was Thanksgiving again. Their mother said, “Maybe we’d better forget it this year. We haven’t even got a goose left.”

On Thanksgiving morning, however, Gordon’s father showed up with a jackrabbit and asked his wife to cook it. Grudgingly she started the job, indicating it would take a long time to cook that tough old thing. When it was finally on the table with some of the turnips that had survived, the children refused to eat. Gordon’s mother cried, and then his father did a strange thing. He went up to the attic, got an oil lamp, took it back to the table, and lighted it. He told the children to turn out the electric lights. When there was only the lamp again, they could hardly believe that it had been that dark before. They wondered how they had ever seen anything without the bright lights made possible by electricity.

The food was blessed, and everyone ate. When dinner was over, they all sat quietly. Wrote Gordon:

“In the humble dimness of the old lamp we were beginning to see clearly again. …

“It [was] a lovely meal. The jack rabbit tasted like turkey and the turnips were the mildest we could recall. …

“… [Our] home … , for all its want, was so rich [to] us.”

(Thomas S. Monson, “The Divine Gift of Gratitude”, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 87–90)

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude and recognize all of our blessings.

Treat

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats or Tepee Treats

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

Ingredients:

24 chocolate-striped shortbread cookies
12-ounce package of chocolate chips
24 marshmallows
tube of yellow decorators’ frosting

Directions:

1- Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper-covered tray, spacing them well apart.
2- Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler.
3- One at a time, stick a wooden toothpick into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and promptly center it atop a cookie.
4- Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick.
5- Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then pipe a yellow decorators’ frosting buckle on the front of each hat.

Tepee Treats

Ingredients:

Sugar cones
Confectioners’ sugar
Unsalted butter
Vanilla extract
Cake-decorating icing
Decorative candies
Toothpicks

Directions:

1- In a mixing bowl with an electric beater set at low speed, mix 2 cups of sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1/4 cup of softened, unsalted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and spread able. Stir in a bit of milk, if needed.
2- Use the icing to lightly frost eight ice cream sugar cones, then place them in the freezer for a few minutes until the icing hardens.
3- Now use tubes of cake-decorating icing to draw linear patterns and images and glue on decorative candies. For lodge poles, insert toothpicks into the tip of each cone.

(Recipes taken from FamilyFun.go.com)

Scripture

I Timothy 6:19
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

D & C 4:4
4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

Hymn

“Come Ye Thankful People” Hymn 94

1. Come, ye thankful people, come;
Raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come;
Raise the song of harvest home.

2. All the world is God’s own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield,
Wheat and tares together sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade, and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear.
Lord of harvest, grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.

Lesson

Read or tell the story of Joseph in Egypt Genesis 41-43 (can also include Genesis 37, 39-40)

*(Joseph in Egypt Clip-art for younger children can be found at LDS-Clipart.com)*

Discuss why Egypt did not have to worry during the time of famine.

Why did they not have to worry?

Talk about farms, gardens and harvesting. People today (just like Joseph in Egypt) set aside some of their crops for later.  The prophets have commanded us to be self-reliant and to set things aside for later. We have been commanded to start and maintain a food storage.

What is food storage?

What foods are important to have in food storage?

Briefly discuss and set goals for your family’s food storage. (ie. What are you doing good? What can you do better?)

*Please note and discuss that it is important to build and maintain a food storage, however, we are advised to be prudent. Do not go into debt in order to obtain a food storage all at once*

*For Teenagers* You may consider going over the church pamphlet: All is Safely Gathered In.

Some great Ensign Articles you may want to read or use to add to your lesson:

Home Storage–How to Begin April 1986 Ensign, pg 64-66

Food Storage: Where and How Aug 1981 Ensign, pg 53-55

Spicing up Your Food Storage June 1990, Ensign, pg 72

Mmmmmm! This Couldn’t Be Food Storage March 1990 Ensign, pg 71-73

Treat

2- Cut a sugar wafer in half. Add a dollop of frosting to the top edge of thecookie and stick a wafer half to it for a hat top, as shown.

3 oval shortbread cookies