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: 52 Christmas

December 20-26
Christmas
"The Matchless Gift of God's Divine Son"

Materials:  The Living Christ, video
Opening Song: "Away in a manger" (Children's Songbook, 42)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show your favorite picture of the Savior. Jesus Christ has had many names and titles. Can you name some?

Lesson: 

The year 2000 marked a new millennium for the world. On January 1, 2000 the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 Apostles released a document called, "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." This written testimony speaks of Jesus Christ and His role as Savior for the world. 

Show a copy of the Living Christ and point out the signatures at the bottom of the document. President Nelson was one of the apostles that signed this message. 

To learn more about "The Living Christ," we will watch a video. As we watch try to listen carefully to the words and think about the Savior and what he means to you. 

"The Living Christ- The Testimony of the Apostles" video (5 min.)

This time of year, we talk about Jesus a lot. We sing about Jesus as a baby and honor his miraculous birth. But there is a lot more to celebrate about Jesus than just His birth. He is our Redeemer; He saves us from our sins. He died for us and was resurrected so that we could be resurrected. We owe Him everything, and yet all He asks us for is our hearts. This Christmas, as we sing about the "baby Jesus" let's not forget the man Jesus who atoned for us--the Son of God who enabled all of us to return again to our Heavenly Father's presence. 

Bear your testimony of the living Christ. 

Closing Song: "Joy to the World" (Hymns, 201)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Pecan Pie Bars

Lesson 51: The Family: A Proclamation to the World

 Decemeber 13-19
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
"The family is central to the Creator's plan"

Materials: paper, art supplies, print outs, black pieces of paper, family proclamation
Opening Song: "Family is of God" ("Additional Songs for Children," Gospel Music App)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Using paper and art supplies, have everyone draw a picture fo their family. 

Lesson:

One of the things that makes our church different from most other church's is we believe in continuing revelation from God. Our scriptures and our gospel doctrine can be added to as we gain further knowledge and direction from the Lord. 

On September 23, 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley was speaking at the General Relief Society  Meeting when he read a proclamation that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had written to the world. This proclamation is called, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and is regarded as official church doctrine. 

The Family Proclamation did not teach new doctrine, but it did clarify to the whole world what we believe in regards to the family. To learn more about the truths contained in the proclamation, we will do an activity. 

Activity: Proclamation Sort

Directions: Before FHE, print the document below as well as a copy of the family proclamation. Cut each paper of the printout in half and tape a piece of black paper to cover the caption under each image. Cut each paragraph of the family proclamation. Set them in two piles in from of your family one pile with the pictures and covered captions and the other with the paragraphs of the family proclamation. 

Have your family sort each paragraph of the family proclamation with its corresponding picture. When all family members have agreed, they can check their answers by uncovering the captions under the pictures. 

The family proclamation may have seemed to speak to very basic doctrine back in 1995, but since then, Satan and his adversaries have fought hard to ruin marriage and distort the family in the eyes of the world. Now more than ever, Heavenly Father's plan for eternal families is under attack. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is important for us to understand and stand-up for these basic doctrines of the church. 

In the Plan of Happiness, the family is the vehicle that will get people to exaltation. President Nelson has said, "In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter" ("Salvation and Exaltation, General Conference, April 2008). 

Bear your testimony of The Family Proclamation and eternal families. 

Closing Song: "Families Can be Together Forever" (Children's Songbook, 188)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Crockpot peppermint hot chocolate recipe here

Lesson 50: The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 & 2

December 6 -12
The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 & 2
"We Believe"

Materials: Scriptures, Jeopardy game (link below)
Opening Song: "The Church of Jesus Christ" (Children's Songbook, 77)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Imagine I'm one of your friends at school that doesn't go to our church. What would you say if I asked you, "What do you believe?"

Lesson:

"What does your church believe?" is a very common question for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith was asked this same question numerous times. 

"In the spring of 1842, John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, asked Joseph Smith to provide him with a sketch of ‘the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-Day Saints’ [“Church History,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 706]. … Joseph complied with this request and sent Wentworth a multi-page document containing an account of many of the early events in the history of the Restoration, including the First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The document also contained thirteen statements outlining Latter-day Saint beliefs, which have come to be known as the Articles of Faith (Pearl of Great Price Student Manual, "The Articles of Faith"). 

Wentworth never did publish the Articles of Faith, but the Nauvoo newspaper, The Times and Seasons, did in March of 1842. In 1851, the Articles of Faith were included in the first edition of the Pearl of Great Price. And, in 1880, they were canonized as official church doctrine. 

Activity: Articles of Faith Jeopardy Game 

To learn more about the principles in the Articles of Faith, we will play a jeopardy game. Click on the link below to play.

https://jeopardylabs.com/play/articles-of-faith-fhe

How have the Articles of Faith strengthened your testimony? What can we better do to learn the Articles of Faith? 

Elder L. Tom Perry said, “I encourage each of you to study the Articles of Faith and the doctrines they teach. … If you will use them as a guide to direct your studies of the Savior’s doctrine, you will find yourselves prepared to declare your witness of the restored, true Church of the Lord. You will be able to declare with conviction, ‘We believe these things’” (“The Articles of Faith,”Ensign, May 1998, 23–24). 

Bear your testimony of the Articles of Faith and how they have shaped your testimony of the principles of the gospel.

Closing Song: "The Fourth Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 124)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Christmas Ornament cookies recipe here

Lesson 49: 137-138

November 29 - December 5
Doctrine and Covenants 137-138
"The vision of the redemption of the dead"

Materials: Joseph F. Smith Photo, plan of salvation print out, missionary name tags printed and cut out, art supplies, scriptures
Opening Song: "I love to see the temple" (Children's Songbook, 95)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Print out the plan of salvation picture below and have your family label the different parts of the Plan of Salvation. Point out the Spirit World circle. Today, we going to talk about the spirit world. The spirit world is where everyone goes after they die. 

Lesson:

Show a picture of Joseph F. Smith like the one above. Joseph F. Smith was the prophet in 1918. He was son of Hyrum Smith and Joseph Smith Jr.'s nephew. At General Conference in 1918 Pres. Smith announced that he had seen several visions over the past few months. He wrote an account of his visions. It was reviewed by the first presidency and quorum of the twelve apostles, and added as Section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

President Smith's vision was about the Spirit World. The first part of his vision (verses 11-28),

President Smith describes a vision of the Savior visiting the spirit world. After Jesus died on the cross and before he was resurrected, His spirit went to the spirit world. The spirit world was full of people who had already died. Have a family member read D&C 138: 15-17. The righteous people who had lived were excited for Jesus to come to the spirit world. Jesus came to them in the spirit world and "there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind form the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance" (verse 19). 

While Jesus was in the spirit world, He did not visit the wicked, unrepentant, or rebellious. But the Lord did not forget about them. In the second part of D&C 138 (verses             29-60), President Smith describes the missionary work going forth in the spirit world "among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them" (verse 29). Have a family member read D&C 138:30-31. Who teaches the wicked in heaven? (photo credit: Robert T. Barrett, Jesus Teaching in the Spirit World)

All of the righteous people that Christ taught while He was in the spirit world were essentially called as missionaries to proclaim the gospel to those "who had died in their sins." Through this revelation we learn that missionary work is happening on both sides of the veil or before and after we die. When those who are being taught in heaven accept the gospel and are repentant of the sins, they are ready for the baptismal ordinance to be performed, but they no longer have a body. In the temple, we perform priesthood ordinances in their behalf so that they can receive those ordinances and blessings. 

Activity: Missionary Name Tags

Directions: Print and cut out  the name tags below and have family members decorate a missionary name tag. Have everyone pin them on their shirts when they are finished.

Whether in this life or the next, everyone of you will get to be a missionary. We have been asked by our prophet to join the Lord's battalion and help gather Israel. This is what we talked about today, the work that we do as missionaries and as temple patrons enables us to help those to accept Christ as their savior and receive the ordinances necessary to return to Heavenly Father. President Joseph F. Smith's vision tells us that all of Heavenly Father's children will have the chance to accept the gospel. Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "Teach me to walk in the light" verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 177)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Holliday sugar cookie bars recipe here

Lesson 50: Christmas

 December 21-27
Christmas
"He shall come into the world to redeem His people"

*Every family has their own Christmas traditions this time of year. So, instead of giving a word for word lesson, I'm encouraging you to celebrate the birth of our Savior in your own unique way. Page 199 of the CFM Manual gives some amazing examples of Christ- centered family activities. Below I will also link to some other helpful things you might like to share with your family. 

"Teach The Children"-- A story where Santa teaches how all the symbols of Christmas are centered in Christ.

"Luke II"-- This is an older nativity video produced by the church. I grew up on this one and I love it.

Santa and the Christ Child  by Nicholas Bakewell-- Children's book where Santa visits the nativity 

Lesson 49: Moroni 10

 December 14-20
Moroni 10
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him"

Materials: 6 wrapped boxes or gift bags prepared with papers inside (see below), a Christmas tree
Opening Song: "The Seventh Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 126b)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Point to your family Christmas tree. What things are found under the tree? Gifts are a tradition of Christmas. We give gifts at Christmas to our loved ones to help us remember how the wisemen brought gifts to the Christ child. Gifts also remind us how Jesus is the ultimate gift from a loving Heavenly Father. His sacrifice enables us all to receive eternal life. Gifts at Christmas can also remind us of all the things Heavenly Father has blessed us with. What are some "gifts" Heavenly Father has given you? 

Lesson:

Moroni also talks about gifts in the very last chapter of The Book of Mormon. He talks to us about spiritual gifts or spiritual attributes we receive from Heavenly Father. 

Activity: "Gifts" of the Spirit

Instructions: Before FHE, print the 6 numbered selections below and the list of spiritual gifts. Place each into a gift box or bag and wrap. Number the outside of each box to correspond to the number on the paper inside. Family members will take turns unwrapping the boxes in numerical order and reading the paper inside. 

1- Read the list of spiritual gifts below taken from "Gospel Topics" on churchofjesuschrist.org. As you read, have your family members ask themselves if they have any of these spiritual gifts. 

2- Read Moroni 10: 8 Where do spiritual gifts come from? What do they do? How do spiritual gifts help us? "Spiritual gifts are blessings or abilities given by God to His children through the power of the Holy Ghost. Gifts of the Spirit are given to bless and benefit those who love the Lord and seek to keep His commandments" ("Spiritual Gifts" Gospel Topics, churchofjesuschrist.org)

Dallin H. Oaks said, "Spiritual gifts come to those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. As the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, the gifts of the Spirit “are obtained through that medium” [the Holy Ghost] and “cannot be enjoyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost. … The world in general can know nothing about them.”("Spiritual Gifts", speech at Women's Conference, March 1986)

3- How could we deny our spiritual gifts? "There are many ways a person might “deny … the gifts of God” (Moroni 10:8). Some people deny that these gifts even exist. Others might deny that they have spiritual gifts but recognize them in other people. Still others deny their gifts by simply neglecting them or failing to develop them" (CFM Manual, 195).

4- Elder John C. Pingree Jr. said, “So how do we come to know our gifts? We can reference our patriarchal blessing, ask those who know us best, and personally identify what we are naturally good at and enjoy. Most importantly, we can ask God (see James 1:5; Doctrine and Covenants 112:10). He knows our gifts, since He gave them to us” (“I Have a Work for Thee,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 33).

5. Read D&C 46:8-9 Each faithful member of the Church has at least one spiritual gift, and the Lord encourages His children to “seek … earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.” We should not use our spiritual gifts for selfish or prideful reasons. Our gifts should be used to help us come closer to Christ and help others come unto Christ. 

6. Elder Bruce R. McConkie affirmed, "Where spiritual things are concerned, as pertaining to all of the gifts of the Spirit, with reference to the receipt of revelation, the gaining of testimonies, and the seeing of visions, in all matters that pertain to godliness and holiness and which are brought to pass as a result of personal righteousness in all these things men and women stand in a position of absolute equality before the Lord. He is no respecter of persons nor of sexes, and he blesses those men and those women who seek him and serve him and keep his commandments.” (Ensign, Jan. 1979, p. 61.)

Spiritual gifts are another wondrous blessing given to us by our Heavenly Father. Each of us is blessed with at least one of these gifts. These gifts are precious tools that help us come unto Christ. Moroni wanted us to recognize these gifts in ourselves so we can "come unto Christ and be perfected in Him." (Moroni 10:32)

Closing Song: "Away in a Manger" (Hymnal, 206) 
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Frosted Eggnog Cookies recipe here