The End.

Where to begin? 4 years ago at General Conference when they announced the Come Follow Me curriculum, I was... well I was a little shocked and very overwhelmed and intimidated. I had 3 small kids at home and 1 on the way. My husband was in the middle of a demanding residency program and I felt completely inadequate to put one more thing on my plate. I always knew in the back of my mind that my children's spiritual education was mainly my responsibility, but I never had felt how big that responsibility was until that moment. 

I thought that the easiest thing for me to implement this new program would be to think of kid-friendly family home evening lessons that went along with the reading for each week. I knew that if I was going to put something like that together for myself, I might as well make it public and share it with friends and family. 

There was a learning curve at first. I had some major set backs halfway through the New Testament year, but I decided that I might as well keep moving forward, because my family needed it. Then when 2020 came, I realized just how blessed I was. President Nelson was truly inspired by God to implement the Come Follow Me program when he did. It helped so many people, myself included, to feel connected to the Church and each other when we were all "six feet apart." That year was also The Book of Mormon year--which was perfect. I felt so connected to Christ even though everyone around the world was going through so much. 

At the end of 2020, I was burnt out. I did not think I could go on to D&C, let alone Old Testament. I actually decided to just do the first few lessons and then see where my life took me, and through the grace of God, I wrote the Doctrine and Covenants lessons so stinkin' easily. I love learning about church history because I feel like we just keep learning more and more cool stuff about it as research and scholarship continues. It wasn't an area I was invested in until I was a lot older and, now it's one of my favorite things to learn about. 

Old Testament year has been a challenge mainly because there is so much in there. Ever noticed how long the Old Testament is compared to all the other books? Well, I did. Honestly, I have loved learning from the Old Testament. My family lives 2 hours away from the nearest temple, which is a blessing, but every other place I've lived has been a lot closer. It's a struggle for me to not get to go as often as I would like. I have loved studying the Old Testament because it reminds me of the ordinances and covenants of the holy temple. 

I'd like to end this journey by sharing my testimony. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Atonement and, I know that Jesus knows and loves me personally. I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven who gave us the sacrifice of His divine Son. I hope to one day return to live with Him again with my sweetheart and my posterity in the celestial kingdom. 

I have a strong testimony of The Book of Mormon. It is a light and a hope to all those who read it. It has taught me so much about who God is, how he loves, and who I am. I am so grateful to be born at this time so I can literally carry all the scriptures in my hand wherever I go. 

I know the Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, that he really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He translated The Book of Mormon and he helped to restore God's Church to the earth with the power of the priesthood. I testify that President Nelson carries the mantle of God's prophet today. He speaks on God's behalf. As we listen to his counsel, we will come closer to Christ. 

Lastly, I'd like to share my testimony of the temple. I am so grateful for my temple blessings. I am so grateful that I have been endowed with priesthood power. I know that the temple teaches us how to return to our Heavenly Father and receive exaltation. I am so honored that I get to help my deceased family members to make the same ordinances and covenants I have. In a few short months, my oldest will be attending the temple to perform baptisms for the first time. My heart is filled with joy and love as I know that my family can--and hopefully will be--together forever.

I am so unbelievably grateful for the Come Follow Me program. It is amazing and I have loved it. I have learned more about the scriptures in these last 4 years than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for sharing this journey with me! 

Love, 

Kirstie Warr

💜

Lesson 52: Christmas

December 19-25
Christmas
"We have waited for Him, and He will save us"

Materials: a bag, a picture of a lamb or lamb toy, tortilla, water bottle, picture of the brass serpent, a rock, a branch/stick, a lightbulb or flashlight, scripture labels printed, tape, scriptures
Opening Song: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"(Hymns, 207)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Point to the star or angel at the top of your Christmas tree. Remind your family that it represents the new star that appeared to guide the wisemen to Bethlehem, etc. At Christmastime we use symbols to help us remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Lesson:

This year as we studied the Old Testament, we learned a lot about different prophets and the Abrahamic Covenant. We also learned a lot about Jesus. Jesus is never referred to by His first name in the Old Testament, but He is found throughout the whole book. The Israelites referred to Him as LORD or Jehovah. The Old Testament is full of types and symbols of Christ. 

Types of Christ are people whose lives or actions were similar to the Savior's. Prophets like Moses and Joseph helped us to remember Christ as the true deliverer of humanity. 

Symbols for Christ have been scattered throughout the Old Testament let's review some of them now.

Activity: Symbols grab bag

(Before FHE print and cut out the scriptures below and tape the scripture to it's corresponding item.) Directions: Have each family member take out an item from the bag then read the corresponding scripture. How is that item a symbol for Jesus Christ?

Lamb- Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Manna- Exodus 16: 4 ¶ Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Water- Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Brass Serpent- Numbers 21: 8-9  And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Rock- Isaiah 28: 16 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Branch- Isaiah 11: 1-2 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

Light- Psalm 27: 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

After Christmas, we will get to continue learning about Jesus Christ for a whole year as we study the New Testament. We will learn more about Christ's earthly ministry, His atonement, His crucifixion, His Resurrection, and His second coming. 

As we sing carols, eat cookies, and open gifts this year, let's not forget the true gift of Christmas--Jesus Christ. Let's remember not only the manger, but also Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb. Let's remember His visit to the Americas in The Book of Mormon. And let's remember that He will one day come again to reign personally upon the earth as King of Kings. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the Jesus is the Redeemer, the Messiah, the Great Jehovah. 

Bare your testimony of the Savior. 

Closing Song: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Hymns, 208)
Closing Prayer: 
Refreshment: cranberry orange cookies recipe here

Lesson 51: Malachi

December 12-18
Malachi 
"I have loved you saith the Lord"

Materials: Elijah appearing in the Kirtland temple picture, family history video, computer or tablet that has access to familysearch.org
Opening Song: "I love to see the temple" (Children's Songbook, 94)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Tell a story about a relative like a grandparent who has passed away. What did you love about them? Why is it important to cherish the memories of people who have died?

Lesson: 

Congratulations! We have made it to the final book in the Old Testament. This week, we are going to be learning from the prophecies of Malachi. Malachi was a prophet around the time of Nehemiah when the Jews were returning to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. We don't know much about Malachi's life, but his prophecies are very important. Malachi taught about giving our best offerings to the Lord and about tithing. Malachi also prophesied of Christ and the second coming. 

When Joseph Smith was 17, the angel Moroni appeared to him while he was sleeping. Moroni quoted selections form the book of Malachi to him and repeated the same message several times. 

Read Malachi 4: 5-6 and JSH 1:38-39. Who is Malachi prophesying about? Who is Elijah? Elijah was a prophet we learned about earlier this year. He prophesied in the Northern Kingdom and asked the Lord to burn a wet offering to show the priests of Baal who the true God was. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come back to earth prior to the second coming. Has Elijah returned? Show the picture below and ask your family member to recount the story of Joseph Smith receiving the Heavenly Messengers in the Kirtland temple including Elijah as recorded in D&C 110. 

Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland Temple by Dan Lewis

What does it mean that the hearts of the fathers will turn to their children and the hearts of the children will turn to their fathers? Elijah restored the sealing keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. 

Watch: "The Promised Blessings of Family History" from the churchofjesuschrist.org. 

Activity: Go onto Familysearch.org and take a look at your family tree (Note: All baptized members can create a family search account. It helps for this activity to look at the family tree of your children so they can see both sides of their genealogy.) Here are some recommendations of things to do on familysearch.org:

• Look at the pictures and documents for recently deceased family members. 
• Show older family members how to utilize the "hints" under the "tasks" section to link people or documents to your family tree. 
• Under the "Get Involved" tab, explore how to review names and index historical documents.
• Explore the different things to do under the "Activities" Tab
• Show Family members how to print names for baptisms for the dead under the "Temple" tab using the "ordinances ready" link. 

In recent years, people all over the world have gotten involved with family history. People use at home DNA kits to learn about where they came from. Ads for ancestry.com and others like it are frequently shown on tv. Even television programs featuring celebrities learning about their family history have become popular. The hearts of the children are turning to their fathers all across the globe. 

As we learn more about our family history, we feel more connected to our eternal family. That connection is expanded as we take the names of our deceased loved ones to the temple to perform ordinances in their behalf. Malachi's revelation is coming true every day.

Bear your testimony of the temple and your experience with proxy ordinances. 

Closing Song: "Family History" (Children's Songbook, 95)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: my Grandma Evy's Carmelita Bars

50 soft caramels (Brach's are best)
Slowly melt the caramels with 1/2 c light cream or evaporated milk. 

2 cups flour
1 c softened butter
2 c oatmeal
1/2 t salt 
1  1/2 brown sugar
1 t baking soda

Press 1/2 of the above mix into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. While still warm sprinkle 1 package of semi sweet chocolate chips and 1 c chopped nuts on the cooked crust. Spread a bit. Carefully drip the caramel mixture and top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350 for and additional 15-18 minutes. Or until golden brown. Chill 1-2 hours. Cut into 48 bars.

Lesson 50: Haggai; Zechariah 1-3; 7-14

December 5-11
Haggai; Zechariah 1-3; 7-14
"Holiness unto the Lord"

Materials: Paper and pencils, scriptures, picture of Provo City Center Temple, blocks or marshmallows and toothpicks
Opening Song: "I'm trying to be like Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 78)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Give each family member a piece of paper and something to write with. Write down 3 things you would like to accomplish in the next week. Look at the items on your list and number them 1-3 based on what you want to do first. 

When we put an item at the top of our to do list. It is usually because it's important to us or it's something that needs to be done like an obligation. This is called a priority. When we prioritize things in our lives, it means we are putting the most important things on the top of our list. 

Lesson:  

Heavenly Father blesses people who make Him a priority. Think about you list you made. Did you think about putting your personal prayers and scripture study on the list? It is often far to easy to not make the Lord our first priority, but He should be. When we do put the Lord first in our lives, everything else becomes easier to do and blessings follow. Jesus taught about priorities when He said, “Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (JST, Matt. 6:38, in Matt. 6:33, footnote a).

After Persia allowed Israelites to return to their homeland in Jerusalem, there were many things the Israelites needed to do. "But after roughly 15 years had passed since the Israelites’ return, the Lord was displeased that the rebuilding of the temple had not been given higher priority" (Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families, 2022. pg. 217). The Lord rebuked the Israelites and asked them to "consider their ways" (Haggai 1:5). A similar rebuke was given to Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, when the saints procrastinated building a temple there. Read D&C 95: 3-4. Why does the Lord want the building of temples to be a priority for His children?

Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God. That means we have to seek it for ourselves by coming unto Christ through the building of our personal testimonies. It also means we need to build the kingdom of God as we share the gospel with others. We can share the gospel with others in our own families, our church callings, and with friends and acquaintances not of our faith. We can also build the kingdom of God as we participate in proxy ordinances in the holy temple. This is why building temples is such a priority in His church. 

Read Haggai 1:8 and 2:9. The Israelites did build a new temple to replace Solomon's temple that had been destroyed by the Assyrians. This new temple was referred to as the temple of Zerubabbel after its architect. (Show the picture of the Provo City Center Temple from the Manuel on page 219). Sometimes, holy buildings are destroyed. The Provo tabernacle burned down in 2010. Like the temple of Zerubabbel, the tabernacle was later rebuilt into the Provo City Center Temple making the "glory of this latter house... greater than of the former." 

Activities: Choose one of the following

• Using children's blocks or marshmallows and toothpicks, have each family member build their own little temple. 
• Go onto the website temples.churchofjesuschrist.org and look at the list of temples. Click on some of the temples that are currently under construction or have been announced. 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "We also need priorities. Our priorities determine what we seek in life. Most of what has been taught in this conference concerns priorities. I hope we will heed these teachings... As regards knowledge, the highest priority religious knowledge is what we receive in the temple. That knowledge is obtained from the explicit and symbolic teachings of the endowment, and from the whisperings of the Spirit that come as we are desirous to seek and receptive to hear the revelation available to us in that sacred place" ("Focus and Priorities" April 2001, General Conference). 

Bear your testimony of the temple.  

Closing Prayer:
Closing Song: "Help me dear father" (Children's Songbook, 99)
Refreshment: Peppermint Oreo balls recipe here

Lesson 49: Nahum; Habakkuk Zephaniah

November 28- December 4
Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah
"His ways are everlasting"

Materials: a picture of Christ, poster board, markers
Opening Song: "Jesus once was a little child" (Children's Songbook, 55)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show a picture of the Savior. Ask your family to go around the room and share one word that describes Jesus Christ. 

Lesson: 

This week, as we read from the books Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, we will hear prophesies about the destruction and captivity Israel and other nations that failed to keep the covenant. They worshiped false gods, became complacent, became prideful, and failed to trust in the Lord. 

These prophets also encouraged their readers to come unto Christ and that Israel would one day again be gathered. Read Zephaniah 2:3. We all know what it means to seek the Lord--it means to come unto Christ in our hearts and in our actions. What does is mean to seek righteousness? (Choosing the right, keeping the commandments, trying to be good). What does Zephaniah mean when he says, "seek meekness?" What is meekness?

A meek peson is one who is "Godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering." (Guide to the Scriptures, "Meek, meekness." churchofjesuschrist.org) The Savior used the word meek when he chose to describe himself; "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Mathew 11: 29). 

Elder Bednar gave a talk about meekness in April 2018 General Conference. He said, "The Christlike quality of meekness often is misunderstood in our contemporary world. Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash. A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishments of others" ("Meek and Lowly of Heart"). 

Activity: Righteousness/meekness poster 

Before FHE: using markers write the words below all over a standard sized poster board. Tape the pasteboard onto a bank wall with masking tape. 

righteous, responsive, willing, submissive, strong, restrained, active, courageous, modest, gracious, teachable, humble, acknowledging, grateful, god-fearing, weak, passive, prideful, timid, excessive, self-aggrandizing, brash, easily provoked, pretentious, over bearing, apathetic,  stubborn

Directions: Have family members use a marker and come up one at a time to circle words that have to do with being righteous or meek. Have each family member pick one word that has been circled. How can you use this attribute to be more Christlike?

Christ was the ultimate example of meekness. Elder Bendar said, "The Savior declared, 'Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' Meekness is an essential aspect of the divine nature and can be received and developed in our lives because of and through the Savior’s Atonement. I testify that Jesus Christ is our resurrected and living Redeemer. And I promise that He will guide, protect, and strengthen us as we walk in the meekness of His Spirit."

Bear your testimony of the Savior and how you have tried to emulate Christlike attributes. 

Closing Song: "Seek the Lord early" (Children's Songbook, 108)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Eggnog Cheesecake recipe here

Lesson 39: Isaiah 40-49

September 19-25
Isaiah 40-49
"Comfort Ye My People"

Materials: blanket, Isaiah 40 cards printed front and back and cut out
Opening Song: "Redeemer of Israel" (Hymns, 6)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Take turns wrapping a warm blanket around each family member. How do they feel when the blanket is wrapped around them? We sometimes call the Holy Ghost, the comforter. Comfort often comes when we remember our blessings and our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

Lesson:

This weeks' chapters in Isaiah deals with the time that the Jews are taken captive. They had lost their land, their homes were gone, and the temple had been destroyed. It is hard to imagine the pain and suffering they must have felt. They were in despair and yet, they had their faith. Isaiah wrote beautiful passages about the hope and comfort that can come from our faith in the Lord. 

Activity: Hope in Christ Cards

(Before FHE, print out and cut the cards below.) Place the cards words down in front of your family. Have family take turns choosing and card and reading the scripture on the back of each card. How would this scripture have helped the Israelites to have hope during their captivity? How could this scripture give you hope when you face trials?

We might not be driven off our lands and be made slaves and captives like the Israelites had, but we each have challenges and trials that can sometimes make us feel hopeless, discouraged, and depressed. We face so many challenges today. Think to yourself what you have been struggling with? How does your faith in Christ help you to have hope amidst your adversity? 

What are some things we can do to turn to Christ when we are having a difficult time? I encourage each of you have sincere and heartfelt prayers when you are struggling, especially when you are struggling with your faith. Pour your heart out to the Lord. Prayerfully and carefully study the scriptures, especially The Book of Mormon. Look for passages like these in Isaiah that can give you comfort, hope, and counsel. If need be, fast on behalf of your trial. Attending the temple, if you're able, can also bring you peace. 

Another thing you can do is to read recent General Conference messages that are relevant to your trial. Last conference, there were many inspiring messages that can bring us hope like: 

• "Steady in the storms" by President Eyring, 
• "Fear Not: Be Believing" by Elder Holland, 
• "He is Risen with Healing in His Wings" by Elder Kearon,
•  "Lift up your hearts and rejoice" by Elder Aidukatis, 
• "Then will I make weak things become strong" by Elder Hamilton, 
• "Your Devine Nature and Eternal Desitny" by Elder Renlund, 
• "Christ Heals that which is Broken" by Sister Wright, 
• "For God So Love Us" by Elder Ringwood
• "The Power of Spiritual Momentum" by President Nelson

Mortality is hard, but the challenges of this life can be overcome as we come unto Christ. He will be with us and shoulder our burdens if we turn to him. Christ promised to not forget us, "Behold, I have graven the icon the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16). Jesus's atonement is the ultimate example of help and hope. When we remember the love and sacrifice of our Redeemer, we can be comforted in our trials like a warm blanket. 

Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "I Feel My Savior's Love" (Children's Songbook, 74)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Apple Fritters recipe here

Lesson 48: Jonah; Micah

November 21-27
Jonah; Micah
"He Delighteth in Mercy"

Materials: whale visual aide (printed, colored, and folded), video, whales printed and cut out, a stick, a magnet, a string, paper clips. 
Opening Song: "Follow the Prophet" verse 7 (Children's Songbook, 110)
Opening Prayer: 

Attention Activity: Before FHE, print and color the image below. Make a "z" fold along the mouth of the whale so that Jonah appears to be swallowed. Sing "Follow the Prophet" verse 7 again, but this time, on the chorus, sing "swallow the prophet" instead. Have family members take turns with the visual aide "swallowing the prophet".

Lesson:

Watch the video "Jonah and the Fish" video from YouTube. 

Jonah was a prophet during the reign of King Jeroboam around 788 b.c. Jonah's story is one of the most famous in the Old Testament because it is so fantastical. Jonah wasn't the typical prophet. When he received his call from the Lord to preach to the people of Ninevah, he ran away instead of doing what the Lord asks him to do. The Lord sent a storm to Jonah's boat and Jonah offered to go into the sea so the others on the boat may live, only then to be swallowed by a "great fish." Jonah's trial inside the whale lead him to repent and the Lord made it so the whale spat him out. Jonah finally completed his task and taught the gospel to the people of Ninevah, Assyria, and they turned to the Lord and repented. But Jonah, didn't like the fact that these Assyrians were forgiven and became angry with the Lord for forgiving them. God then taught Jonah about mercy. 

Activity: Magnet Fishing--Lessons from Jonah

(Before FHE, print and cut out the whales below. Put a paper clip on each whale. Tape a piece of yarn or string to a long stick or pole to act as a fishing rod. Set the whales in front of your family on the floor.) Have family members take turns fishing for a whale. As they pick one, read the lesson from the book of Jonah below that corresponds to the number on the whale. 

1. We can not hide from God. Jonah thought he could hide from God, but God always knows where we are, what we are doing, and the state of our hearts. He knows us better than we know ourselves. 

2. We shouldn't run from our responsibilities.  "Though most Latter-day Saints may never be called to do anything as dramatic as calling on a whole city to repent or be destroyed, we receive numerous calls of our own from the Lord. Sometimes, like Jonah, we seem to run away or at least to escape our responsibility. Consider the following: 1.A person who refuses to accept a call in the Primary because she would not be able to attend Relief Society meetings. 2. A young man who turns down a mission call so he can accept a scholarship from a university. 3. A family who does not hold regular family home evenings. 4. A person who gets behind on his bills and does not pay his tithing. 5. A young woman too shy to accept a call as a Young Adult Relief Society teacher. We all receive calls, and sometimes we try to escape them. But we can repent, accept the call, and reap joy in our service" (Old Testament Student Manuel, "Jonah: One Should Not Flee From His Responsibilities). 

3. All of God's children need to hear the gospel. Jonah wasn't to keen on preaching to the Gentile people of Ninevah in Assyria. Assyrians were supposed to be the "bad guys" after all. But God doesn't see people that way. All people are God's children and he wants what is best for us all. "We should never set ourselves up as judges of who is ready [to hear the gospel] and who is not. The Lord knows the hearts of all of His children. and if we pray for inspiration, He will help us find persons He knows to be 'in a preparation to hear the word [Alma 32:6]" (Dallin H. Oaks, "Sharing the Restored Gospel" Ensign, Nov. 2016). 

4. God hears and answers our prayers. Jonah spent 3 days praying in the belly of the whale. He "cried" unto the Lord, and the Lord heard him and answered his prayers. “It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come. And at a time and in a manner best for interests of him who offers the supplication” (David O. McKay, Conference Report, Apr. 1969, 152-52).

5. Our actions can have negative effects on others. When Jonah decided to board a ship to Tarshish instead of going to Ninevah, his actions had dreadful consequences on those around him. The great storm that God sent was so terrible that the "ship was likely to be broken" (1:4) We can not assume that action poor choices will only effect ourselves. Those around us, those we love, are effected negatively when we sin. 

6. The Lord is merciful to all who turn to Him. The Ninevites' repentance was immediate, humble, and sincere after they heard Jonah's words. They fasted and prayed for repentance and turned "everyone from his evil way" (3:7). God forgave the Ninevites and spared them their destruction.

7. Jonah's story was used by Jesus Christ to teach about His death and resurrection. Read Matthew 12:39-41. Jonah is a Christ-type because he spent 3 days in the belly of the whale and Jesus spent 3 days buried before He was resurrected. 

Read the words to "I'll go where you want me to go" (Hymns, 270). Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song:  "I'll go where you want me to go" (Hymns, 270)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Cheddar and Bacon Cornbread Muffins recipe here

Lesson 47: Amos; Obadiah

November 14-20
Amos; Obadiah
"Seek the Lord, and ye shall live"

Materials: Paper, writing/coloring utensils, President Nelson's October 2022 Conference Talk, coloring page
Opening Song: "We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet" (Hymns, 19)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Have your family color this coloring page and have them tell you one thing they know about President Nelson.

Lesson:

Amos was a shepherd from the Southern Kingdom of Judah who went North to preach to the people of Israel who had gone astray. He tried to worn all the Israelites of the coming calamities and urged them to repent. 

Amos foresaw the troubles ahead for his people as one of the Lord's prophets. Take turns reading Amos 3: 4-8. Amos uses common analogies to try to get Israel to understand that he is prophesying for a reason. A lion roars when he finds prey. A bird is caught when it takes the bate in a trap. A city should be afraid when it hears a warning trumpet. 

When there are dangerous times ahead, the Lord always warns His people by providing a prophet. The prophet, like Amos, encourages people to repent and make their relationship right with God. 

President N. Eldon Tanner said: “There are many scriptures which assure us that God is as interested in us today as he has been in all his children from the beginning, and thus we believe in continuous revelation from God through his prophets to guide us in these latter days" (In Conference Report, Apr. 1975, p. 52.).

Who is our prophet today? Can you think of any warnings the prophet has given to us recently? What has he urged us to do? 

Activity: Give each family member a paper and writing utensil. Listen to President Nelson's talk from October 2022 General Conference. Everyone should write or draw a picture of one thing President Nelson asked us to do. What are you doing or what will you do to follow this counsel?

Prophets today still give us warnings and encourage us to repent just like the prophets of old. They clarify doctrine and receive revelation that helps the church as a whole and the entire world. In the last 30 years alone, we have seen a clear pattern of divine guidance before troubling times ahead. The Family Proclamation was read in Conference in the 90's and now the family is attacked on every front. Prophets encouraged us to get out of debt during times of economic ease and then the economy floundered shortly after. President Nelson instituted a new program to study the gospel more at home before a global pandemic stuck which closed churches and temples.

The words of President Nelson are just as prophetic as Amos or Abinidi or Nephi or Peter. He leads our church today and He sees what we cannot see. He receives revelation to guide us through the turbulent times of the latter-days. 

Bear your testimony of the prophet. 

Closing Song: "Latter-Day Prophets" (Children's Songbook, 134)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: brown sugar peach crumble pie recipe here

Lesson 46: Hosea 1-6; 10-14; Joel

November 7-13
Hosea 1-6; 10-14; Joel
"I will love them freely"

Materials: video, scriptures, word search
Opening Song: "Come unto Jesus" (Hymns, 117)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Watch the "Parable of the 10 virgins" video. In this parable of Jesus, Jesus teaches that we must always be prepared for His second coming. In the parable, Jesus likens himself to a groom at a marriage. This is a common metaphor the Savior likes to use. He is the groom and we, the Church, are the bride. 

Lesson: 

In the book of Hosea, the prophet Hosea also likens Jehovah to a groom and God's people as the bride. Read Hosea 2: 19-20. Betroth is a word that means to be engaged to be married. Hosea prophecies that when we are righteous and faithful it is like we are betrothed to the Lord. How is our relationship to God like a marriage?

What happens when 2 people get married? In a marriage, 2 people make vows or promises of faithfulness and love to each other. As we make covenants, we make promises to the Lord to love Him and be faithful to Him. 

Ask a member of your family that has been baptized, "What covenants did you make with Heavenly Father when you were baptized?" 

Keep His Commandments-- Just like 2 people in a marriage promise to be faithful to one another, we have promised to be faithful in keeping the Lord's commandments. In Hosea, The Lord uses adultry symbolically for those who are "departing from the Lord" (Hosea 1:2). 

Always Remember Him-- In marriage, 2 people vow to love your spouse "with all your heart" (D&C 42:22).  In baptism, we covenant to always remember Him. Christ said, "Thou shalt ^alove the Lord thy God with all thy ^bheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy ^cmind." (Matt. 22:37). 

Take His Name Upon You-- In marriage, you become one family. In most cases, the wife litterally takes the last name of her husband. As we are baptized, we promise to take His name upon us, meaning to be His disciples or to become the "children of Christ". In Hosea, the Lord says, "Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God" (2:23). 

Activity:

Baptismal Covenant Word Search

When we are baptized, we make a covenants with Heavenly Father. As we keep these covenants, our relationship to God grows stronger. We can renew these covenants every week as we take the sacrament. Bear your testimony of your baptismal covenants. 

Closing Song: "Come Follow Me" (Hymns, 116)
Closing Prayer: 
Refreshment: Cheddar Ranch Cheeseball recipe here