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.