Lesson 1: Moses 1; Abraham 3

December 27- Jan 2
Moses 1; Abraham 3
"This is my work and my glory"

Materials: a mirror with a crown (see below), whiteboard and marker, scene pages printed out.
Opening Song: "I know my Father lives" (Children's Songbook, 5)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Before FHE, cut out a crown shape out of some gold paper. Tape the crown to the mirror so that a person looking at their reflection will see a crown on his or her head. Tell your family that the person in the image has a divine destiny. 

Lesson:

Ask a family member, "Who are you?" For millions of years mankind has sought to answers questions like Who am I? Why am I here? and Who is God? What is God's purpose? (Write these questions on the whiteboard). This week we are going to learn answers to these questions as we study sections of the books of Moses and Abraham. These books were revealed and translated by Joseph Smith and included in the Pearl of Great Price. 

In the first chapter of Moses, Moses describes an experience he has conversing with God and Satan. To learn more about what happened we are going to perform a short scene. 

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Activity: Moses 1 Scene

Directions: Print out scene below. Cast 4 people to act as narrator, Moses, God, and Satan. 

Scene: Moses is on a high mountain when God appears to him. Moses is temporarily transfigured so he can endures God's presence. They speak face to face.

God: Behold, I am the Lord God, Almighty. I am endless without beginning or end. You are my son. Look and I will show you some of what I have created. But not everything, because my works and my words never end. To see all that I have created you must become more than a mortal man. (Looks at Moses lovingly) I have a work for you Moses. Your life is patterned like mine Only Begotten. He is the Savior full of grace and truth. Moses I want to show you the world you are in.

God shows Moses the world upon which he was created. Moses sees the world and the ends thereof and also the people who are and were created for the earth. 

Moses: (in wonder) Wow!

God leaves Moses and Moses falls to the earth. Moses is worn out and tired after talking with God.

Moses: Now I know that man is nothing compared to all of God's creations. My eyes have now seen God--not my natural eyes, but my spiritual eyes. I was transfigured in order to withstand His glory. 

After Moses had said these words Satan came unto him.

Satan: Moses, son of man, worship me!

Moses: Who are you? For I am a son of God, patterned after the Only Begotten. Where is your glory? Why should I worship you? I had to be transfigured to be in God's presence but not with you. Blessed be the name of my God for I can still feel His Spirit! You don't have glory but darkness. I can judge between you and God, and God said serve Him. Get thee hence Satan! Don't deceive me. For God said unto me, 'thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten. He gave me commandments, and I will not stop calling to Him in prayer. I can judge between Him and you. Depart hence Satan!

Satan: (angrily) Arggh! (commanding) I am the Only Begotten, worship me!

Moses begins to fear as he see the bitterness of hell. He falls to his knees praying.

Moses: God give me strength. (He stands.) Depart from me Satan, for I only worship one God--the God of glory. 

Satan begins to tremble with fear. The earth shakes. Moses appears mighty.

Moses: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.   

Satan: (throwing a temper tantrum) Argh! 

Satan leaves. Moses looks up to heaven and feels the Spirit. He sees God again.

God: Blessed are you Moses. I have chosen you and you will be stronger than many waters for they shall obey your commands. I am with you, even until the end of your life. For you will deliver my people out of bondage. 

God shows Moses all the earth and all of the souls on the earth. He sees many lands and peoples.

Moses: (in wonder) What is the purpose of all this? How did you make all of this?

God: For my own purpose have I created them. I have created worlds without number through my Son, my Only Begotten. I created the first man called Adam. I have created many worlds that have passed away and worlds that are. 

Moses: Be merciful and tell me more about this earth, its people, and the heavens and then I will be content. 

God: The heavens are many. This earth shall pass away and another shall come, for there is no end to my work. For my work and my glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. And now Moses, my son, write down my words. They will be put in book which will be read by all that believe. 

Moses does as God commands and writes about God in the Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 

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Refer back to the whiteboard from the beginning of the lesson. Did we answer all these questions in the play? What lessons can we learn from Moses interactions with God and Satan? How does Moses feel towards God? Moses is humbled by being in God's presence and he is eager to learn from God and keep His commandments.

How does Moses react to Satan's presence? Moses recognizes Satan's lies and deceit. He tells him to go away.

In the first chapter of Moses, we get a glimpse of how Heavenly Father feels about each of us. He calls Moses, my son, multiple times. He explains Christ's role as our Savior and that He has a plan for each of us. Heavenly Father's purposes is to enable us to have immortality and eternal life. 

Satan on the other hand does the opposite. He calls Moses a "son of man" and demands Moses worship him. He tries to deceive Moses and acts out in anger when he does not get his way. 

We are all like Moses, each of us is a child of God with a divine destiny. We can each have a special relationship with our Father in Heaven. We each have the potential to inherit eternal life. Tonight for our closing song, we will sing, "I am a Child of God." As we sing, think about the words and how they relate to what we learned tonight. 

Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "I am a child of God" (Hymns, 301)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: New Years Pretzel Sparklers

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 48: D&C 135-136

November 22-28
Doctrine and Covenants 135-136
He "has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood"

Materials: pencils and paper, video clip 
Opening Song: "We thank thee oh God for a prophet" (Hymns, 19)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Use this link from The Friend to do a tutorial on how to "Draw Joseph Smith." Have family members create their own drawing with pencils and paper. 

Lesson:

In June of 1844, Joseph was once again locked up in a jail for crimes he did not commit. He was in a Carthage Jail with his brother Hyrum as well as John Taylor and Willard Richards. Joseph had encountered hard times in the past, but he knew somehow that this time was different. He had a feeling he would not return alive saying that he was like a lamb going to the slaughter. 

The mob came in the afternoon on June 27th and gunshots were heard by the men from the upper floor of the jailhouse. To learn more about that fateful day, we will watch a video. 

Show "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration" from time stamp 00:55:25-1:00:00 (length 5 min 35 seconds)

or

"Carthage Jail: The Martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Carthage, Illinois" from BYU journey publications (This is a more detailed description; length 15 min. 35 seconds)

After the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the saints were in mourning for many weeks. William W. Phelps wrote a poem published in the Nauvoo newspaper entitled, ''Joseph Smith" which we now know as "Praise to the Man." You can see the original poem here. 

John Taylor had been in Carthage Jail with Joseph that day and witnessed the death of the prophet. He wrote his account of events now included as D&C 135. Read D&C 135: 3. President Taylor remarked, that Joseph Smith is second only to Jesus Christ in the work of salvation for this world. 

This year we have talked a lot about Joseph Smith. We have heard stories, watched videos, and read revelations given to him. What have you learned about Joseph Smith? What have you learned from his teachings?

Activity: Using the back of the paper you drew on earlier, take a few minutes to write your testimony of the prophet, Joseph Smith. Keep this written testimony in your scriptures or another special place. 

Bear your testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel. 

Closing Song: "Praise to the man" (Hymns, 27) 
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Pumpkin spice cupcakes recipe here

Lesson 47: D&C 133-134

November 15-21
Doctrine and Covenants 133-34
"Prepare ye for the coming of the Lord"

Materials: posterboard, 26 plastic cups, scissors, tape, printout strips, tissue paper (in country colors), tape
Opening Song: "The Eleventh Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 130)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Have your family recite the 12th article of faith. 

Lesson:

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in being good citizens. We believe in being obedient to laws including God's eternal laws and the laws of our government. Why is it important to be a good citizen?

Historically, the early saints had a tricky relationship with government. Joseph Smith and other leaders had been arrested numerous times on false charges. The saints had been illegally driven from their homes and suffered unimaginable violence with no help from the government. After all this hardship, church leaders were inspired to make a declaration clarifying the Church's beliefs on government. D&C 134 was not revelation received by Joseph Smith but was written by Oliver Cowdery.

D&C 134 can be broken down into 3 categories: the government's rights responisibilities, mankind's rights and responsibilities, and religions rights and responsibilities. To learn more about what D&C 134 teaches, we're going to play a game. 

Activity: D&C 134 Punchboard

Directions: Before FHE prepare a punch poster board with 26 cups. Print and cut out the strips below and place into the cups. For a good tutorial on how to make a punch poster board click here. 

Have family members take turns punching the cups and reading the passage inside to learn about the truths taught in D&C 134.

·              Governments were made for the for the benefit of mankind.

 

·              Government requires people like police officers and judges to enforce and administer laws. 

 

·              Laws should be administered in equity and with justice.

 

·              Government has no right to interfere in how people worship God, as long as that worship is not infringing on the rights of others.

 

·              Officers of the law should restrain crime, not control freethinking. They should punish the guilty, not suppress freedom.

 

·              Government should protect the inherent and inalienable rights of the people.

 

·              Government has the right to punish acts of sedition and rebellion.

 

·              Government should enact laws that protect the public while respecting personal freedom. 

 

·              Government should protect the innocent and punish the guilty. 

 

·              Government should protect religious freedoms and beliefs, as long as religious opinions aren’t supporting sedition or conspiracy. 

 

·              Punishments should fit the nature of the crime committed. 

 

·              Government should not mingle with religious influence or show favoritism to religious sects. 

 

·               Mankind should be held accountable for the actions in relation to the law. 

 

·               Mankind has individual rights of conscience (freethinking), property, and protection of life. 

 

·               Mankind should sustain and uphold their government and respect the law. 

 

·               Mankind should show respect to rulers and magistrates in government. 

 

·               Mankind should step forward and bring offenders against good laws to punishment.

 

·               Mankind should make appeals to the law for civil disputes.

 

·               Mankind has the right to defend themselves, their friends, their property, and their government from unlawful actions when immediate appeal to the law cannot be made. 

 

·              Religion is instituted by God. 

 

·              Divine laws are given of heaven for spiritual concerns and are administered by God.

 

·              Religious opinions cannot infringe on the rights and liberties of others, nor promote sedition or conspiracy. 

 

·              Religious influence should not interfere with civil government. 

 

·              Religious societies have the right discipline their members for religious matters through disfellowship or excommunication. They do not have the right to punish members by taking away property, taking their life, endangering them, or physically harming them.

 

·              Religions have the right to preach the gospel to all the nations of the earth. 

 

·              Religions do not have the right to promote unlawful or unjust actions. 

Laws are an innate part of Heavenly Father's Plan. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to satisfy the divine law of justice. Laws and government here on earth are also necessary to live in a peaceful society. People have the responsibility to keep laws. However, governments have the responsibility to make and enforce good laws that protect people's inherent rights. One of those inherent rights is the right of religion. 

The United Nations, which is a collective body of different countries has agreed, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18).

Why is Freedom of Religion important to you? Share you're testimony on religious freedom. 

Closing Song: "My Country Tis of Thee" (Hymns, 339) or a patriotic song from your nation. 
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Patriotic Fruit Skewers recipe here

 

Lesson 46: D&C 129-132

 November 8-14
Doctrine and Covenants 129-132
"When We Obtain Any Blessing From God, It Is By Obedience"

Materials: Paper Doll printout (print and cut out), paper (1 half sheet per family member), art supplies
Opening Song: "Families can be together forever" (Children's Songbook, 188)
Opening Prayer: 

Attention Activity: Can you describe what happens at a conventional wedding? What do the bride and groom wear? Where do they stand? What do they say? Who marries them? etc. 

Conventional weddings are often big glamorous affairs where two people make vows to each other "till death" or "for as long as [they] both shall live." 

Lesson:

The Lord values marriage and family. Families are a main part of Heavenly Father's Plan. Because they are so important, Heavenly Father wants our families to last forever--for time and all eternity. 

In D&C 132, the Lord revealed important truths about eternal families. All eternal families start with marriage. When two people decide to be married in the temple, it is called being "sealed" because they are sealed to each other and to Christ. Blessings are promised to those who faithfully keep the covenants they make in the temple in accordance to receiving highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom.  

Activity: 

Directions: Before FHE, print and cut out the image below onto card stock. Have your family take turns selecting wedding apparel to put on the bride and groom. As they choose each piece, read the corresponding passage below to learn more about the blessings of temple sealings. 

 Groom's Hat- Eternal Marriages are meant to be performed by "whom I [the Lord] have anointed...appointed on the earth to hold this power" (D&C 132:7). Marriages performed in holy temples are done by temple sealers. Sealers are men who have been ordained to perform sealings under the direction of the President of the Church who holds the keys of the sealing power. Joseph Smith was given the keys to the sealing power by the prophet Elijah in the Kirtland Temple. Activity: If you know a couple who has been sealed for time and all eternity, ask them who their sealer was and what they remember about him.

Groom's Shirt- All eternal marriages must be sealed upon by the Holy Spirit of Promise. What does that mean? In essence, The Holy Ghost puts a "stamp of approval" on the relationship, saying that couple was faithful to their covenants. Without this, marriages--even temple marriages--cannot last after death, "because [of] the angels and the gods are appointed there [in heaven], by whom they cannot pass" (D&C 132: 18). Angels will act as guards to celestial glory. In contrast, if they Holy Spirit of Promise does seal your covenant, "they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things..." (D&C 132:19). Activity: Draw a picture of an angel.

Groom's Pants- Those who are sealed in eternal families have been promised by the Lord, "Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection" (D&C 132:19). Being in the first resurrection is a high honor and means we have lived worthily of the celestial kingdom. Activity: Sing "Choose the Right" (#239)

Groom's Jacket- We want our family relationships to last forever. We want to live with our family through eternity. The Lord said in D&C 132: 19 that this is possible through making and keeping ordinances and covenants. Eternal families will last for "time and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world..." (D&C 132:19) Because we want our relationships to last forever, we should try to be loving to our family members. Activity: What is one thing you can do to be more loving towards your family?

Bride's Veil- Heavenly Father has said that if we faithfully keep our temple covenants we will "inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities and powers, dominions, all heights and depths..." (D&C 132:19) Those are some pretty amazing blessings. Activity: Call your family member "king" and "queen." How does it feel knowing Heavenly Father wants to give you all those blessings?

Bride's Dress- One of the biggest blessings of marriage is having children. Families grow through having children. Marriages who obtain the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom will be blessed with "a continuation of the seeds forever and ever" (D&C 132:19). On the other hand, those who do not receive the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom "cannot have an increase" (D&C 132: 4). Activity: On a piece of paper, draw a picture of your future family. What do you think your family will look like in twenty years?______________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, family relationships on earth can be messy. Many members of the church experience being single, divorce, or having unhappy or unfulfilling relationships with family members. President Eyring counseled those individuals, "You just live worthy of the celestial kingdom, and the family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine" ( "A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells," General Conference, April 2019). 

Heavenly Father's Plan was to send us to earth to gain a body, to learn to become like Jesus, and to make the ordinances and covenants necessary to be able to return to Him again after we die. He wants to give us eternal life and exaltation and that can only be done as a family. President Nelson 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 eternal families. 

Closing Song: "The Family is Ordained of God" (Additional Songs, Gospel Music App)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Caramel Puppy Chow Recipe here

Lesson 45: D&C 125-128

 November 1-7
Doctrine and Covenants 125-128
"A voice of gladness for the living the dead"

Materials: Computer or tablet with Family Tree app installed, chain, Come Follow Me: For Individuals and Families 2021, Construction paper cut into strips, stapler, art supplies.
Opening Song: "Family History" (Children's Songbook, 94)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: 

Show your family a chain (a bike chain, necklace, etc.). What do chains do? Chains link two separate things together. Chains are made up of individual links. Each link is important because it lengthens the reach of the chain. 

Lesson:

In August of 1840, the saints were settling into Nauvoo and constructing the temple. When Joseph Smith attended a funeral, he felt impressed to share what the Lord had revealed about those who died before being baptized. Joseph's own brother, Alvin, had died before the church had been organized and Joseph always felt very deeply on the subject of his salvation. Joseph revealed that family members could be baptized on behalf of their deceased relatives. The Lord's plan is to give every soul who has ever lived the opportunity to hear the gospel and let them decide whether or not to accept or reject it. This new revelation excited the saints, bringing them hope and unsurmountable joy! 

Read Phebe Chase's account from the CFM Manual (pg. 192). The saints in Nauvoo were eager to be baptized on behalf of their family members. The proxy baptisms were first performed in the nearby river. Then later, when the basement of the temple in Nauvoo was complete, they were baptized their in a pine wood font carved to look as though 12 oxen were holding a great bowl. This was later replaced with a similar one made of limestone. Show the picture below. 

(2002) Nauvoo Temple Baptismal Font 

When Joseph Smith was teaching people about baptism for the dead in section 128, he likened baptisms for the dead as "the welding link... between the fathers and the children." How is baptisms for the dead like the link of a chain? 

Baptisms for the dead link us to Christ. We take His name upon us when we are baptized, and He in turn, promises that His spirit will always be with us. Temple ordinances performed for the dead have "binding power"--when we make covenants in the temple, they are recorded in heaven. We are bound to the covenants we made; we are bound to God. They are also like the link of a chain in the essence that temple ordinances can link or seal us to our loved ones, our ancestors and our progeny. 

Activity (older children):

Using Family Search or the Family Tree app. Show your family your family tree. Tell them about one of your deceased ancestors. Show your family how to find a name and request it for the temple to perform a baptism. Here is a link with more information. If you're family would like additional help, talk with your ward family history leader. 

Activity (younger children):

Using Family Search or the Family Tree app. Show your family your family tree. Tell them about one of your deceased ancestors. 

Using construction paper, a stapler, and art supplies, make a family chain. Cut the construction paper into strips. Have everyone write their name on a strip and staple the strips together in a link patter. Using names of relatives on family tree, make the chain longer and longer. Tell your family that this chain can stretch back for thousands of years and each one of the links represents a family member, as we go to the temple and perform work for the dead, the links are stapled together as we are all linked together in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Read D&C 128: 18. Joseph Smith said, "For we without them [our ancestors] cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect." We need to help our ancestors. As we perform ordinances for them, we will be reminded of the covenants we made. We humble ourselves as we serve others and we help in the great work to gather Israel. Our ancestors need us too. They cannot be baptized without our help. They are patiently waiting on the other side of the veil to receive the ordinances only those with bodies can perform. 

If you have a family member who has recently been to the temple to do baptisms, let them share their testimony of the experience. Encourage all those who turn 12 this year or older to receive a limited use temple recommend. Perhaps you could schedule a date to go as a family to do baptisms or go walk the temple grounds. 

Closing Song: "I Love to See the Temple" (Children's Songbook, 95)

Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Sweet Potato Pie recipe here