Lesson 34: Psalms 49-51; 61-66; 69-72; 77-78; 85-86

August 15-21
Psalms 49-51; 61-66; 69-72; 77-78; 85-86
"I will declare what He hath done for my soul"

Materials: unshelled peanuts (or another unshelled nut), Paper heart cut in half (large), Small paper hearts cut broken, video (link provided), scriptures 
Opening Song: "I stand all amazed" (Hymns,  193)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Set out a bowl of nuts with a shell like peanuts. Have your family open nuts to get to the nut inside. How are hearts like nuts? 

Lesson:

Show the paper heart. Most of the time, when we think of a broken heart, we think of it as a bad thing. We don't want to feel sad or heartbroken. But today we are going to talk about having broken heart in a different way. Read Psalms 51: 17. Here in Psalms, we read that the Lord wants us to have a broken and contrite heart. When the Savior appeared to the Nephites after his resurrection, he said, "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit" (3 Nephi 9:20). 

Why does the Lord want us to have a broken heart? What does he mean by have "a broken heart and contrite spirit?"

In Psalm 51, David asks the Lord for forgiveness. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to they lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. David, had made a terrible mistake, but David is a powerful teacher of what it means to be truly sorry. When we make a mistake, we have to let go of our pride and knowledge that we need the Lord's forgiveness. We have to have a broken heart for our sins. 

Watch "Daily Bread: Change" video from the church website

Activity: Broken heart journaling.

Using paper and art supplies, have everyone make a broken heart. On the broken heart have, your family write out their testimony of repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ or have them draw a picture of Christ. Have them place their heart in a special place like in their scriptures.

Joseph Smith said, “Our Heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive.” Heavenly Father wants us to come unto him and repent, but it's up to us to humble ourselves and come unto Him so that we can receive his grace. We have to be ready to repent, we have to feel sorry for what we have done and be willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. That is what it means to have a contrite spirit and a broken heart. Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "Help me dear Father" verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 99)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: heart-shaped raspberry rolls recipe here