Just how hard is it to tell the truth? Try this zany Family Home Evening lesson to find out. Time for some FHE Fun!

Opening Song:  #211 My Dad 

Opening Prayer:  By invitation.

Devotional: Devotionals are a great time for individuals in the family to share a spiritual "ah-ha" moment from the past week. You may want to pre-assign this periodically. It can be a beautiful time as family members become accustomed sharing deep spiritual feelings with each other. Over time this brief moment can become more and more spontaneous.

Activity:

Items Needed:

• Index cards
• Pens or pencils for everyone

Pass out an index card for every family member plus a pen or pencil. Tell the family that they are to think of three truths about themselves and one lie. Once they can think of those four things, they are to write them down on the index card (you may need to help younger children record their ideas).

Once everyone is finished writing and mixing up their three truths with one lie, have them take turns -- with straight faces -- reading from their own card. The point is to see if the others in the family can tell which statement about the person was false and which three statements were true.

Then ask them how a person that lies must feel at night, privately, when they go to bed. Also, how hard does it become to keep lies straight and to remember them all, if a person keeps lying?

Application:

Read the following quote from the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet printed by the Church. Ask your family to count the different ways honesty blesses a person:

"Be honest with yourself, others, and the Lord. When you are honest in every way, you build strength of character that will allow you to be of great service to God and others. You will be blessed with peace of mind and self-respect. When you are honest, you will be trusted by the Lord and by those around you."

Allow your children to share what they heard. Then ask them to notice what DIShonesty does to a person as you read the following:

"Dishonesty hurts you and usually hurts others as well. When you lie, steal, shoplift, or cheat, you damage your spirit and become less able to do good things. Be honest in your job, giving a full amount of work for your pay."

What did your family notice? What ideas do they have regarding how dishonesty damages a child of God?

Finally, ask your family their thoughts about this final paragraph from "For the Strength of Youth":

"Don't rationalize that wrong is right, even though many people around you may think there is no harm in being dishonest. Being honest requires courage and commitment to do what you know is right."

Finish off by reading Alma 27:27. Share your testimony of the diligence that honesty requires, but the tremendous blessing of peace that an honest person carries. Ask for brainstorming ideas of how to strengthen each other in honest choices.

Closing Song:  #149 I Believe in Being Honest 

Closing Prayer:  By invitation.

Refreshments:  Surprise your family by making their most favorite treat of all time. While enjoying its yumminess, why not chat about how yummy an honest lifestyle. Although there may be difficult moments here and there, the joy that comes from integrity is more "delicious" than dishonest people may ever know!