May 24-30
Doctrine and Covenants 58-59
"Anxiously engaged in a good cause"
Materials: Letter Cards (below), scriptures, bowl
Opening Song: "Reverently Quietly" (Children's Songbook, 26)
Opening Prayer:
Attention Activity: Ask a child to show your family what sitting reverently looks like. Remind everyone that sitting reverently is more than just sitting still and quiet--it's trying to feel the spirit. Have another family show what it looks like to walk reverently. Explain to younger children that we walk reverently at church to and from classes and on the temple grounds. How can we be reverent during our classes in church?
Lesson:
Being reverent is an important part of our Sabbath day worship. What is the Sabbath? When Jesus created the world he stopped and rested on the seventh day. He showed us by example that we need to set aside one day out of every week to rest and to glorify God. One of the 10 commandments is to keep the Sabbath day holy. The early saints were reminded to keep the sabbath day holy in Section 59 of the D&C. Read D&C 59: 9-12.
Activity: How to "Keep the Sabbath Day Holy!" Before FHE. Print the cards below. On the back of each card in any order write the letters "K e e p t h e S a b b a t h D a y H o l y !" Tape the cards to a whiteboard or wall to display for your family to see with the letters facing up. Have your family take turns picking cards and discuss how your family can do each thing to keep the sabbath day holy. After each card has been read, fold them and place them into a bowl.
Activity: Sabbath Day Charades
Using the sabbath day cards in the bowl, have your family play a game of charades to act out the ways to keep the sabbath day holy.
Today we've talked about a lot of ways to keep the sabbath day holy. It's also important to note that many families choose different ways to honor the sabbath day. Some families might stay in their church clothes all day, while others come home from church and change to comfortable clothes to rest in. Some families may choose to not watch television, while others might watch a wholesome movie together. It's important not to judge others for the way they choose to keep the sabbath day holy. The activities we talked about on the cards earlier are ways the prophets and other church leaders have encouraged us to honor the sabbath day.
Why do you think keeping the sabbath day holy is so important? Our Heavenly Father gives us so many blessings; he gave us His only begotten Son. Devoting one day a week to worshipping our Heavenly Father is not much to ask. Having a day at home to rest and meditate is also healthy for us. Bear your testimony of keeping the sabbath day holy.
Closing Song: "Remember the Sabbath Day" (Children's Songbook, 155)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Sabbath day Sundaes! Grab your favorite ice cream fixin's for a sundae treat!
