May 3-9
Doctrine and Covenants 46-48
"Seek ye earnestly the best gifts"
Materials: languages picture, welcome video, paper and pens
Opening Song: "Hello Song" (Children's Songbook, 260)
Opening Prayer:
Attention Activity: Show the picture below and have your family practice saying hello in different languages.
Lesson:
"Hello" can be a powerful word. It expresses kindness and welcome which is why it is usually the first word you learn to speak when you learn a new language. Being kind and welcoming is an important part of becoming more like our Savior Jesus Christ.
"Meetings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be among the most welcoming and inspiriting gatherings in the world" (Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families: 2021). Did you know that our sacrament meetings are open for everyone in the entire world to attend? Read D&C 46: 3-5. Our sacrament meeting and even our other church meetings are open to all who feel inspired to come--even if they are not members of the church. Even people who do not believe as we do or live the same standards as we do are still welcome to come and enjoy our church services on Sunday.
Do we know of any families in our neighborhood or community that we might welcome to church? What could we do to invite these families to come to church?
Activity: "Welcome" Video
What stood out to you in that video? Encourage your family members who have social media accounts to share this message on social media.
Occasionally, some members of the church stop coming because they do not feel welcome. That should make us sad because we want everyone to have the desire to return to church. What could we do to make everyone who comes to our church meetings and activities to feel welcome?
Church is a place where everyone should be able to feel the spirit. Did you feel the spirit this past Sunday? What could you have done to better feel the spirit at church? The Holy Ghost should reside at all our church meetings enabling us to feel the spirit and to learn. Class teachers and speakers should seek to teach through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. If the Holy Ghost is truly in attendance in our meetings and in the hearts of all those in attendance, it will be easy for visitors to feel the spirit and feel welcome at our church.
Activity: Goal setting
Have each family member take a piece of paper and write down a goal focusing on welcoming others at church. (Examples: I will invite Annie to come to primary with me, I will text my ministering families to remind them of the activity this week, I will be friendly to the new kid in the ward, I will try to listen better in Sunday School, I will tell the teacher thank you, I will invite Liam to come hear me play the musical number.)
Bear your testimony of how you feel as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Closing Song: "We are different" (Children's Songbook, 263)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Brookie Recipe here
