Frustrated with not having enough time . . . or enough money . . . or even enough love? The Brother of Jared and his experience holds out great hope with how to change the story of your life. Time for some FHE Fun!

Opening Song:  #118 Book of Mormon Stories 

Opening Prayer:  By invitation.

Emergency Preparedness Tip:  Carolyn Nicolaysen’s article, “Surviving the Unthinkable,” provides excellent things-to-think-about for this week’s FHE emergency preparedness tip. Spend a little time weekly (whether before, during or after FHE) and your family will be better protected and safe if sudden disaster strikes!
Devotional:  Devotionals are a great time for individuals in the family to share an "aha" moment from the past week, based on a scripture they read out loud to start off the spiritual portion of each FHE. It can be a beautiful time as family members become accustomed to sharing deep feelings with each other. Over time this brief moment can become more and more spontaneous, rather than assigned.

Activity: 

Items Needed:

• Scriptures per person
• Paper and pen (or pencil) per person

There is a power that comes into a home when a family takes the time to read from the living word of God. The scriptures can become a family’s best friend during good times and bad times. For tonight’s FHE activity, take turns reading out loud the following scripture story as a family—one verse per person, going around the room. Read the following account from the Book of Mormon: Ether 3:1-19. Invite the kids to imagine this as if it were a movie!

Here are a few questions to ask the kids, once the family is done reading the story:

• What problem did the Jaredites have with their boats?
• How did the Brother of Jared propose to solve that problem?
• Did the Lord listen?
• Why does the Lord help us when we ask for help—if we’re well-prepared?

Pass out a piece of paper and pen (or pencil) to each person in the family. Remind them the Brother of Jared had a problem (no light for the boats). What problem do they each have right now? Ask them privately to write it down on one side of the paper.

Then ask the family to write down numbers one through sixteen on the other side of the paper. Invite them to come up with 16 symbolic “stones” they would like to present to the Lord to touch and to prosper in their lives that could help solve their problem. For example, if a youth wrote as his problem “math grades”, a sample list of his “16 prepared stones” might be:

• Get to bed on time.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Ask for tutoring help.
• Do my homework early.
• Ask the teacher for help.
• Ask the teacher for extra credit work to help my grade.
• Maybe change where I sit so I can hear better.
• Remember to bring my math book home so I can study in a quiet place.
• Organize my backpack so I don’t lose my assignments.
• Ask for and receive a priesthood blessing.
• Stop passing notes to my friends during class.
• Try not to say negative things about myself.
• Forgive myself for not studying harder before.
• Be nicer to myself when I have a hard time understanding a math concept.
• Realize that I am gifted in other areas and to stop being so hard on myself.
• Celebrate when I’ve done five days of studying in a row.

Although these “16 stones” might be one youth’s Brother of Jared approach to his own math struggles, these “16 stones” illustrate what we can do to approach the Lord like the Brother of Jared did. We can go to the Lord with personal offerings of effort, perfected in the faith and knowledge that He too can touch our own “stones” with His power. He can help each one of us achieve the light we seek.

Application:  Give the family five minutes or so to brainstorm their individual “stones” they could present to the Lord regarding their own problems. Let them know that—if they need it—they can finish brainstorming before going to bed.

Testify to your family that the Lord responds to all efforts of consistent faith. It took the Brother of Jared some time to molten those stones. Share with your family that the Lord also will hear each of your family members, and respond, when they come to Him in faith and with the same consistent effort that the Brother of Jared did!

Closing Song:  #96 Faith 

Closing Prayer:  By invitation.

Refreshments:  These “White Chocolate Coconut Balls” would be a fun treat to finish off this week’s FHE lesson. They remind me of the molten stones the Brother of Jared presented to the Lord. You’ll have to let me know what you think!