M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

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:

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.

  1. 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.)
  1. 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.)
  1. 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.
  1. 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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