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Sweet
Words to Live By
By
C.S. Bezas
We
just witnessed an historic general conference. What can we do to
remember these moments and important messages? Time for some FHE
Fun in ways that will simplify remembering and help children hearken
to the general authorities' words!
FHE
Fun!
Opening
Song: #258
O
Thou Rock of Our Salvation
Opening
Prayer:
By invitation
Devotional: Even if it is just
one person who spontaneously shares a scripture for the weekly FHE
devotional, it blesses the family with the Spirit and is a great
way to start this all-important family gathering.
Activity:
Items
Needed:
- pre-cut
pieces of colorful construction paper (approximately 1" squares)
- pen
for each family member
- glue
- full
sheet of paper
Read
the following words spoken by Alma to his son, Helaman:
O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict
are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments
ye shall prosper in the land — but if ye keep not his commandments
ye shall be cut off from his presence (Alma 37:13).
Ask
the family what it means to remember God's word. After everyone
has a chance to share, explain you're going to build a family "totem
pole" to aid remembering the words of the General Authorities
shared during the April 2008 General Conference.
- Pass
out several pieces of colorful construction paper squares per
person, along with a pen. (Feel free to pass out as many squares
as each person would like.)
- Invite
them to record a spoken phrase they remember from General Conference,
or even a principle taught. The more each person can remember,
the better (one phrase per construction paper square). If remembering
is difficult, no problem! Visit http://www.lds.org/conference/apr2008/archive
to browse the topics. (Younger children can draw a small picture
to illustrate what they remember.)
- Once
finished, gather up the squares. Proceed to arrange them in a
totem-pole type line that extends from the top of a full sheet
of paper to the bottom. As you glue each square to the page, invite
the person who wrote on it to share their memory of that particular
principle or statement given by a general authority.
- Once
the family has finished sharing their thoughts (and you've finished
gluing the squares on the page), ask for any final experiences
or testimonies that stemmed from Conference.
Application:
Invite
the family to think during the week about the privilege of hearing
the spoken word of God. What can the family do to remember these
words during the coming months? What changes will this require they
make in the coming weeks so they not only remember, but also hearken
(i.e. Alma 37:13)? How can the family help each other come closer
to God through the words spoken at Conference?
Invite
them to return and report at next week's FHE their essential insights
and suggestions.
Closing
Song:
#78 I'm
Trying to Be Like Jesus
Refreshment:
This
simple fruit
shish kabob recipe, is an easy-to-throw-together treat,
yet fun to talk about while eating (safety tip: not for young children).
Just as each piece of fruit is added to the long line of the kabob
stick in preparation for a feast, so too do our choices get added
to the path of our lives. The more we remember the sweetness of
God's words and place them on the straight path of our lives, the
more our lives will remain sweet and good.
Struggling with your teens? C.S. Bezas'
book has been described as an essential aid for youth leaders and
parents. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers: Helping Youth
Find Their Spiritual Wings is available in LDS bookstores and
by clicking here.
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© 2008 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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