Lesson 14: Exodus 7-13

March 28- April 3
Exodus 7-13
"Remember this day, in which ye shame out from Egypt"

Materials: paper and crayons, construction paper, scissors, printout (see below), video clip (link below), fresh parsley, pita bread 
Opening Song: "Tis' Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love" (Hymns, 177)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Have family members draw a picture of a nightmare and a hero that could save the day. 

Lesson:

Moses had been called by the Lord to ask Pharaoh to free the Hebrews from slavery, but Pharaoh refused. The Lord was not happy with Pharaoh; he said, "For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servant, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that i may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth" (Exodus 9:14-15).

Activity: 10 Plagues Reveal

Directions: Print the picture below. Using construction paper, cut circles of the same size as those in the image. Tape the construction paper circles over the pictures circles and number them 1-10 accordingly. Have family members take turns taking off the circles in order. Describe each plague as you go using your own words or the passages below. 

1: Waters to Blood: The first thing the Lord did to get Pharoh's attention was to have Moses and Aaron (his brother) turn all of the streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds in Egypt to turn from water into blood. All the fish died in the water and it stunk. It lasted for 7 days. 

2: Frogs: Read Exodus 8:3 

3. Lice: The next plague to come to the Egyptians was lice. Lice are tiny bugs that live in your hair and cause you to itch. Exodus says that all the dust in Egypt was turned to lice that infested all the people and animals in Egypt. 

4. Flies: Even after the water was ruined and frogs and lice infested Egypt, Pharaoh still refused to free his Israelite slaves. So the Lord sent swarms of flies into the homes of the Egyptians. 

5. Sick Cattle: Read Exodus 9: 6-7

6. Boils: Moses took ashes and threw them in the air in front of Pharaoh. When the ashes drifted down large painful sores called boils appeared on the skins of all the Egyptians including Pharaoh's magicians.

7. Hail and Fire: Pharaoh still wouldn't listen, so the Lord sent a storm--a massive hail storm. Hail is ice that rains from the sky. Sometimes hail can be very large and dangerous like ice cubes the size of baseballs raining from the sky. Along with the hail storm, fire rained down upon the earth.

8. Locusts: Locusts came next to the Egyptians. They are big huge crickets. The Lord sent so many locusts they covered the entire land so you could not see the ground and the sky seemed dark because there were so many flying around. The locusts ate all of the crops that had not already been destroyed in the storm, so the Egyptians had absolutely no food to eat. The locusts filled the houses of the Egyptians. 

9. Darkness: For 3 days a thick darkness covered the land in Egypt. The darkness was so bad no one could see each other or light lanterns.

These plagues mainly effected the Egyptians; the Israelite slaves God protected. Moses came to Pharaoh before each plague and begged him to let the Lord's people go free, but Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused. 

10. Death of the Firstborn: Moses came to Pharaoh one last time and said, if you don't let the Israelites go, all of the firstborn children and beasts will die. But Pharaoh again didn't listen and threw Moses out. 

Activity: Watch The Prince of Egypt passover clip 

How did the Lord protect the Israelites from the plague of the firstborn? The Isrealites were told to take a lamb and use its blood to mark their doorways. The lamb would be eaten for dinner along with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The bitter herbs (show parsley) were to remind them of the bitterness of the captivity and the unleavened bread (show pita bread) was to remind them that there was not time for their bread to rise before they fled their captivity. They had to be ready to go with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staff in their hand. They did this and were safe from the plague. Pharaoh, grieving the loss of all the firstborn children finally let the Israelites go. 

Every year the Jewish people celebrate the passover. The day before Jesus was crucified, he celebrated the passover meal in what we now call the Last Supper. What did Jesus do at this meal? At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the sacrament. He told the disciples to drink wine in remembrance of his blood and to eat bread in remembrance of his body. 

The passover meal and the sacrament have a lot in common. In the passover, blood of the lamb is meant to protect from death. In the sacrament, we drink water to remember the blood that was shed by Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Israelites ate the flesh of the lamb in the passover meal just like we eat the bread to help us remember the body of Christ that died for us. Read Exodus 12:14. 

Bear your testimony of the atonement and the sacrament. 

Closing Song: "He sent his son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Matzah bread recipe here

Lesson 13: Exodus 1-6

March 21-27
Exodus 1-6
"I Have Remembered My Covenant"

Materials: mason jars or clear plastic cups, craft tissue paper (red, orange, yellow), bush cut outs, mod podge, foam brushes, battery operated tea lights, 
Opening Song: "He Sent His Son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Guess who? 

Read the following clues below. Ask you family to raise their hand when they think they know who the mystery person might be.

1. When I was a baby, the king tried to kill me by ordering that all the male infants in the land should be slaughtered, but I escaped thanks to my family. 
2. I spent time in the wilderness before my ministry.
3. I fasted for 40 days.
4. I showed power over the waters.
5. I was a deliverer of Israel. 

This was kind of a trick question. If you thought these things applied to Jesus Christ, you were right. But these statements also could be applied to a man who lived over 1000 years before Christ. They also apply to Moses. 

Lesson:

Moses and Jesus Christ's lives had a lot in common. Moses is what is called a "Christ type." Events the happened to Moses would later happen to Jesus Christ. Studying Moses's life the next few weeks should help us to remember the Savior. Moses is one of the most famous Old Testament persons. He is revered by both Christians and Jews as a great prophet. The book of Exodus tells Moses's story.

Have a family member summarize Moses's life up to the point where he asks Pharoh to let the Israelites go. Or you can watch the animated Old Testament stories using the links below. 

• "Baby Moses" (1:36)
• "Moses the Prophet" (1:26)

Moses received his calling to serve as God's prophet in a very unconventional way. The Lord spoke to Moses out of a bush burning with heavenly fire. He told Moses he had heard the cries of the Israelite slaves in Egypt and wanted Moses to ask Pharaoh to free his people. 

 

Activity:

Make the burning bush mason jar lanterns with your family. Instructions can be found in the link below. 

Burning Bush lantern instructions

Like we talked about earlier, Moses's and Jesus's lives had lot in common. Moses acted as the Israelites deliverer out of the bonds of slavery in Egypt. Jesus Christ is likewise our deliverer. We might not be physically in slavery like the Hebrews were, but our sins can hold us in bondage. One of the names for Jesus that we use is redeemer; redeemer means to "buy back." Christ is our redeemer because he bought us back with his own blood. Christ delivers us from spiritual slavery and bondage. 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, "The Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure. “For behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam”("Redemption," General Conference April 2013). 

Bear your testimony.

Closing Song: "I stand all amazed" (Hymns, 193)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Shamrock Shake lasagna layer dessert

Lesson 12: Gen. 42-50

 March 14-20
Genesis 42-50
"God meant it unto good"

Materials: sack, books that are labeled (see below), video
Opening Song: "Help me fear Father" (Children's Songbook, 99)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: using items from around your home, make a simple obstacle course. Have each family go through the obstacle course backwards. What would have made that easier? When we only focus on what is behind us, it makes it harder to see obstacles ahead. Living in the past only hurts us. When we forgive and learn from the past, we can look ahead to the future. What does it mean to forgive? 

Lesson:

Have your family watch the video "Joseph and the Famine" from the church website. How did Joseph react to seeing his brother's again after 14 years? Did he forgive them?

Activity: 

"Fill a bag or sack with five heavy objects (such as books or rocks) that have each been labeled with one of the following words: revenge, hurt, hate, resentment [bitterness about being treated unfairly], and anger.  Have each family member take a turn trying to carry this heavy load. Explain that carrying those feelings in our hearts is an even greater burden than carrying the heavy bag. When we really forgive, we forget all of these feelings and are free from the burden of carrying them" (Family Home Evening Resource Book, pg. 186). 

Joseph forgave his brothers but it wasn't immediate. Sometimes it takes time and the Lord's help to soften our hearts enough to forgive people who have wronged us. When we feel hurt or wronged, we can take comfort in the fact that our Lord and Savior knows exactly how we feel. He was betrayed by one of his closest friends and then crucified by his own people. He also is the ultimate example of forgiveness, pleading on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." We can always pray to the Father for help to find peace and forgiveness with others in our lives. 

Closing Song: "Lord, I would follow thee" (Hymns, 220)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: whipped hot chocolate recipe here

Lesson 11: Gen. 37-41

March 7-13
Genesis 37-41
"The Lord was with Joseph"

Materials: trials cards (printed and cut out), "You know better than I" video (link below), "After the storm" video (link below)
Opening Song: "I need thee every hour" (Hymns, 98)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show the video from Joseph King of Dreams "You know better than I" (3:50) 

Lesson:

What are some of the bad things that happened to Joseph? [Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers; he worked as a slave in Potiphar's house; he was harassed by Potiphar's wife and cast into prison for a crime he didn't commit.) Joseph had run into some pretty bad luck. Regardless of all his misfortune, he kept making good choices, sticking to his values, and always trying to make the best of his bad situation. 

Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers, by Ted Henninger

Read Gen. 39:21. Even though Joseph had everything taken from him physically, the Lord never left him. The Lord has promised us in the scriptures that he will be with us during the hard times in our lives. 

Activity: TRIALS scriptures card

Directions: Print and cut out the cards below. Lay the cards scripture side down and have your family members take turns reading each scripture. 

Christ has promised to help us in times of trials. He asks us to put our burdens on him and sends the Holy Ghost to comfort us. Sometimes our trials can feel too big for us to handle. Part of mortality is learning to endure through seemingly unfathomable pain and suffering. 

Watch the video "After the storm" from this weeks lesson in the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families. (5:12) What stuck out to you in the video? Have you ever felt the love of the Lord when you were having a hard time? What gives you hope when you are struggling?

Bear your testimony of how the Lord has helped you during a difficult time. 

Closing Song: "A Child's Prayer" (Children's Songbook, 12)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Apricot Oat Bars recipe here

Lesson 10: Gen. 28-33

February 28 - March 6
Genesis 28-33
"Surely the Lord is in this place"

Materials: video (link below); Emoji page printed, cut out, with emojis taped to popsicle sticks.
Opening Song: "Love One Another" (Hymns, 308)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show video about "Jacob and Esau" from churchofjesuschrist.org (2:05)

Lesson:

Esau and Jacob Embracing, by Robert T. Barrett

Activity: Emoji Story

Print and cut out the emojis on the page below and paste to popsicle sticks. Distribute the emojis to your family members and have them hold up the corresponding emojis as you read the lesson. 

When Esau lost his birthright to Jacob👱, he was very angry😡. In Genesis 27 it says, "And Esau hated😡 Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then😡 I will slay my brother Jacob🔪" (v.41).  After talking with his his mother, Rebekah, and his father, Isaac, Jacob 😬 decides to flee from Esau and leave his home🏃. He also wants to find a wife👰 for himself while he is away. 

Jacob👱 journeys until he comes to the house of a man called Laban and he falls in love 😍with Laban's daughter Rachel👩. Laban agrees he can marry Rachel if he works for him for 7 years👷. Jacob 👱agrees and works hard for 7 years👷. On the day of the wedding👰 Laban tricks Jacob 😈and marries his other daughter, Leah 👰to Jacob instead. Still in love😍 with Rachel, Jacob agrees to work 👷another 7 years to marry her. Jacob does and eventually, Jacob 👱 and Rachel are married👰. Jacob ends up having the large family 👪 that the Lord had always promised. Jacob👱 had 4 wives, including Leah and Rachel👩, and he had 12 sons👦. 

Jacob felt it was time to return to his family in Canaan🏃, but he was nervous😬. The last time Jacob had been in Canaan, Esau had been plotting to kill him🔪. Jacob heard on his journey that Esau was going to come meet him with 400 men😱. Jacob decided to pray for help🙏. "Deliver me, I pray thee😔, form the hand of my bother, from the hand of Esau for I fear him😬, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother👰 with the children👦" (Gen. 32:11). Jacob felt inspired to prepare a gift 🎁 for peace ☮ for Esau of sheep and goats🐑🐐. The Lord then appeared to Jacob and blessed him😔. He told him he would be a great leader and he changed Jacob's👱 name to Israel🧔. 

--How do you think Esau will react when he sees Jacob again for the first time over 14 years?

Take turns reading Gen. 33:1-12.

1 And Jacob 🧔lifted up his eyes👀, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men😱. And he divided the children👦 unto Leah, and unto Rachel👩, and unto the two handmaids.

2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel👩 and Joseph hindermost.

3 And he passed over before them, and ^abowed himself🙇 to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 And Esau ran to meet him🏃, and embraced him🤗, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept😂.

5 And he lifted up his eyes👀, and saw the women and the children👦; and said, Who are those with thee? 😮And he said, The children 👦which God hath graciously given thy servant🧔.

6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children👦, and they bowed themselves🙇.

7 And Leah also with her children👦 came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel👩, and they bowed themselves🙇.

8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove🐐🐑 which I met? And he 🧔said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself😁.

10 And Jacob👱 said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee🐑🐐; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it🎁.

12 And he said, Let us take our journey🏃, and let us go, and I will go before thee😁.

How did Esau react to seeing his brother again? Esau embraced Jacob and accepted him back into his life and his family. The two brothers were reconciled, meaning they "made up." Have you ever had a fight with a family member? 

Elder Holland said, "Surely each of us could cite an endless array of old scars and sorrows and painful memories that this very moment still corrode the peace in someone’s heart or family or neighborhood. Whether we have caused that pain or been the recipient of the pain, those wounds need to be healed so that life can be as rewarding as God intended it to be. Like the food in your refrigerator that your grandchildren carefully check in your behalf, those old grievances have long since exceeded their expiration date" ("The Ministry of Reconciliation" General Conference, Oct. 2018).

The Lord wants us to love and care for our family members, but sometimes the people we love the most hurt us the deepest. Sometimes it is hard to forgive. What helps you forgive someone when they've hurt you? 

Elder Holland continued, "My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify that forgiving and forsaking offenses, old or new, is central to the grandeur of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I testify that ultimately such spiritual repair can come only from our divine Redeemer, He who rushes to our aid 'with healing in his wings'" ("The Ministry of Reconciliation" General Conference, Oct. 2018).

Bear your testimony of how forgiveness has brought you peace and healing. 

Closing Song: "Love at Home" (Hymns, 294)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

Lesson 9: Genesis 24-27

February 21-27 
Genesis 24-27
The Covenant is renewed 

Materials: paper, pencils, video (optional)
Opening Song: "I love to see the temple" verse 2(Children's Songbook, 95)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: What do you think is the most important decision you will ever make? The most important choice you will make in your entire life is marrying the right person, in the right place, at the right time. Does that surprise you? Why do you think marriage is so important?

Lesson:

Marriage is essential in God's Plan for his children. Only through an eternal marriage, can we gain all the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us. 

Tell the story of Rebekah and Isaac or watch this video from youtube.

As Abraham's son, Isaac, grew into a man, Abraham knew he would need a wife. The Lord had promised great blessings to come to Isaac's posterity. But, there was a problem, Abraham and his family lived in the valley of Canaan. The Canaanites did not believe in the God like Abraham did; they weren't members of the church. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite. Why would it be important to marry someone who has the same beliefs as you?

Abraham decided to send one of his servants into his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. The servant took some men and 10 camels and went to the valley of Nehor to find Isaac a wife. The servant was a little nervous; he did not want to disappoint his master. He stopped at a well outside the city and decided to offer a prayer. The servant prayed for the good will of Abraham and he asked the Lord for help in identifying the correct woman to be a wife for Isaac. He asked the Lord to make her known by offering him a drink of water from the well and then offering a drink to his 10 camels. 

Before the servant was through praying, a woman came down to the well and filled her jug--no easy task. The servant asked her for a drink and she gave him one. She then offered to draw more water up from the well for his camels. The servant knew this was the woman the Lord wanted for Isaac, so he asked if he could stay at her house and meet her family. 

The servant met Rebekah's family, and told them about Abraham, and Isaac's need for a wife. The brothers believed the servants words about the Lord indicating Rebekah was the right woman. Rebekah also heard of the servant's prayer and the next morning she told them "I will go."  Back in Canaan, Isaac accepted the servants story also. Rebekah and Isaac were married, "and he loved her." Isaac and Rebekah had a beautiful loving marriage.

Obviously, this isn't the way we go out finding spouses in 2022. But what can we learn from the story? The story of Isaac and Rebekah reminds us how important marriage is and how important it is to receive promptings and personal revelation from the Holy Ghost. 

Have a family member read the following quote from President Hinckley: “There is no substitute for marrying in the temple. It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat your companion. Don’t shortchange your lives. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Life’s Obligations,” Ensign, Feb. 1999, 2).

Activity:

Pass out a piece of paper and pencil to each family member. Tell them to describe their ideal future husband or wife. (If they are already married, have them right down good qualities about their spouse). Take turns having everyone read an item or two from their list. 

There's an old saying that goes, "if you want to have a good friend, then be a good friend." The same could be true in finding someone to marry. If you want to find a good person to marry, then be a good person to marry. You might not be ready to look for a spouse right now, you might not even be old enough to date, but it's never too early to start becoming the kind of person you want to be. 

Rebekah, for example, had good qualities that the servant noticed. What do you think were some of Rebekah's good qualities? [Rebekah is described as very fair (pretty), she was also a virgin meaning she was virtuous in keeping the commandment of chastity. Rebekah also was a hard worker who did her chores by fetching water in the large pitchers from the well for her family. Rebekah was also kind to the servant, offering him and his camels drinks and a place to stay for the night. Rebekah listened to Holy Ghost, it must have taken great courage and faith to agree to marry a man she hadn't met, but she did it because she had faith in the Lord.] 

Look back at your list for your spouse. Now ask yourself if you embody some of the qualities on that list? 

Marriage is an important part of Heavenly Father's plan. Marriage isn't always easy, but it is easier if you've chosen the right person and work together to come closer to the Lord. This week, let's try to be a little bit more like Rebekah. Let's practice a little faith, kindness, and let's listen for the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives. 

Closing Song: "Families can be together forever" verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 188)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Berries and cream angel food cake

Lesson 8: Genesis 18-23

 February 14-20
Genesis 18-23
"Is any thing too hard for the Lord"

Materials: "Abraham and Isaac" Video on youtube (link below)
Opening Song: "Tis' sweet to sing the matchless love" (Hymns, 177)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Attention Activity: 

Tell the following story to your family:

 Tyler had always wanted a toy drone to play with. He had seen the other kids his age play with their drones and had longed for one of his very own. His friends would let him come over from time to time to play but it wasn't the same because he could never take it home. Then, on his birthday, Tyler opened a special gift from his parents--his own drone. It was so cool. It could fly very far and high without loosing range, and it even took pictures. His drone had been worth waiting for; it was a lot nicer than he could have imagined. 

A few weeks after his birthday, his mom picked him up from school. He could tell she had been crying. She told Tyler that his aunt and uncle's home had burned down the night before. Everyone was safe but his aunt, uncle, and cousins had lost everything. They had no clothes, or toys, or house. Tyler felt very sad for his cousins. His family decided to put together boxes of things that they could give their cousins. Tyler went through his clothes and picked out several that could fit his cousin, Greg. Tyler also put some legos, stuffed animals, and action figures in the box for Greg. He thought about Greg's last visit a few days after Tyler's birthday. He and Greg had flown his drone together all day long. Greg had such a big smile on his face that day. Reluctantly, Tyler took his drone off the shelf and put it into the box to give to Greg. 

As Tyler's mom was loading the boxes into the car, she noticed Tyler's drone tucked into the box. She took it out and her eyes filled with tears. She was touched by Tyler's selfless sacrifice and love for his cousin. Before she took the boxes to her sister's house, she went to the store and bought another drone to give to Greg. She told Tyler that because he was willing to sacrifice his most prized possession, she had decided to buy Greg his own drone. Tyler gave his mother a big hug. He was excited that Greg and he would each have their own drone to play with. Tyler was so happy he made his decision to think of Greg before himself. 

Lesson:

Today we are going to talk about sacrifice. From the days of Adam and Eve, Heavenly Father commanded people to offer animal sacrifices to the Lord as a way to repent for their sins. This was because Christ had not come to earth yet. Abraham the prophet and his family faithfully offered sacrifices to the Lord. 

Last week, we learned Abraham made a covenant with Abraham. Part of the promise was Abraham would have many descendants, and that his wife Sarahi, who was very old, would have a child. She did a have a child, a son called, Isaac. 

Activity:

Watch the video below about Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac starting from the timestamp 13:21 to the end. 

Why would the Lord ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? The Lord wanted to test Abraham's obedience. He wanted to see if Abraham was willing to give up the one thing he had waited so long for--a son. The Lord also wanted to show Abraham that he was a devoted and righteous servant of the Lord. Abraham's sacrifice to Isaac was also meant to teach the world about Heavenly Father's sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, we no longer offer animal sacrifices, but we are still asked to keep the Law of Sacrifice. When Jesus visited the Americas, he told the Nephites the commandment for animal scarifies was over. In 3 Nephi 9:20 it says, "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit." This means we need to be humble and receive the will of God and the council of his prophets. 

When we enter the holy temple to receive the endowment, we make a covenant with God to keep the law of sacrifice "doing all we can to support the Lord’s work and repenting with a broken heart and contrite spirit" ("About the Endowment," churchofjesuschrist.org/temples).

What are you willing to sacrifice for Heavenly Father? Could we sacrifice more time by working on our church callings, attending the temple, or studying the scriptures. Could we sacrifice our worldly possessions by giving to charity? Could we show more humility and love towards our family members?

Bear your testimony of the Law of Sacrifice.

Closing Song: "He sent His Son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Mini doughnut hot buttered cheerios recipe here

Lesson 7: Gen. 12-17; Abr. 1-2

 February 7-13
Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2
"To be a greater of righteousness"

Materials: a posterboard or whiteboard, card printouts (see below), tape
Opening Song: "Follow the prophet" verse 4: Abraham (Children's Songbook, 110)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Bring up a member of your family tell them to hold out their hand for a pinky promise. What is a pinky promise mean? A promise is a commitment to do or not do something. What is it called when we make a promise with the Lord? It is called a covenant.

Lesson:

We know that a covenant is a sacred promise you make with Heavenly Father. We make our first covenant when we are baptized. In Old Testament times, a covenant was actually more than just  a promise. A covenant is a relationship of trust with God. God trusts you to keep the commandments and you trust him to bless you. 

Abraham was a prophet who desired to be in a covenant relationship with God. He wanted to be a "follower of righteousness" and tried very hard to be good (Abr. 1:2). God loved Abraham and was pleased with him. The Lord made a special covenant with Abraham called the Abrahamic Covenant or sometimes just called The Covenant. 

Even though God made this covenant with Abraham, it affects the whole world. It has special meaning for us because we receive blessings because of the Abrahamic Covenant. 

"Abraham on the Plains of Mamre" is by Grant Romney Clawson

Activity: Abrahamic Covenant Sort

Before FHE, print and cut out the cards below. Take a poster board or white board and split it into 3 categories. Color coat and label these categories: the promised land, the promise of descendants, the promise of blessings and redemption. Each family member will take turns reading each card and then placing it in it's corresponding category. 

The Lord blessed Abraham with some pretty wonderful promises and these promises apply to us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When we look at the promises Heavenly Father blessed Abraham with, think about how they can apply to you. 

The promised land for Abraham was an actually piece of property where his children and grandchildren could grow up. We also believe in a promised land. Last year, we learned that Zion will one day be built in Jackson County Missouri, so that is a promised land. Also, in Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families it says, "When you read about the promise of a land of inheritance, don’t think just about the land promised to Abraham. Think also about the celestial destiny of the earth itself—an inheritance promised to the 'meek' who 'wait upon the Lord'" ("Thoughts to Keep in Mind: The Covenant," pg. 28).

The promise of descendants also can mean a great deal to us a members of the church. We believe the power of families and seek to multiply and replenish the earth. We know that families are essential to God's plan. God has promised us that families can be eternal and we can continue to grow our families in the celestial kingdom. 

The promise of blessings and redemption is an essential part of the Abrahamic Covenant. We not only can receive blessings of God but also, be a blessing from God to others. The priesthood and the blessings of temple are part of the Abrahamic Covenant. As we preach the gospel and do temple work we can be part of the Abrahamic Covenant as we bless others by helping them come unto Christ. 

Read Abraham 2:10. When you choose to be baptized you are become a member of the family of Abraham and are able to receive the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant. When you are ready (usually in your teenage or young adult years) you will be able to receive your patriarchal blessing. This blessing is special because it tells you what Abrahamic tribe you belong to. Each tribe is blessed with specific talents from the Lord to help in the Kingdom of God. 

Bear your testimony of the Abrahamic Covenant and possibly how the knowledge from your patriarchal blessing has been a blessing to you. 

Closing Song: "Israel, Israel, God is calling" (Hymns, 7)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Valentines whoopee pies recipe here

Lesson 6: Genesis 6-11; Moses 8

 January 31-February 6
Genesis 6-11; Moses 8
"Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"

Materials: video, link below, Quote page (printed and cut out), tin foil, markers, cardboard, popsicle sticks
Opening Song: "Follow the prophet" verse 3 (Children's Songbook, 110)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Play the video below and sing along to the "Arky, Arky" song. 

Lesson:

 The people of Noah's day had become very wicked. Noah repeatedly had asked the people to repent and the mocked him and did not listen to his council and repent. The Lord said he would destroy the people with a flood. Because Noah and his family were righteous, they were spared from the destruction. Noah built an ark or large boat as commanded by the Lord. What did Noah bring on the ark? Noah, like Adam before him, had stewardship over the animals. The Lord wanted the animals and Noah's family to be safe and sheltered from the storm. 

Noah's ark has been depicted in books, television, movies, and toys. A vast majority of the Earth knows the story. But what can we learn from Noah? 

The scriptures and modern prophets suggest that we can learn from the story by likening the ark to places of spiritual safety. What are places that offer spiritual safety? In 2nd Nephi 9 :7-13, Nephi speaks of the safety we can find in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His grace is like the ultimate Noah's ark, saving us again and again from our own mistakes. In D&C 115, we read that our stakes and wards can be "refuges from the storm." Lastly, President Nelson has stated that the temple can be a place of spiritual safety as we make and keep sacred covenants ("Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints" General Conference, October 2018).

From Noah's story, we can definitely learn to "follow the prophet" as the primary song suggests; we can listen to his council and repent. What is some counsel that President Nelson has given us recently?

Activity: Boats and Quotes

Directions: Before FHE gather the following items: tin foil, popsicle sticks, cardboard, makers, and printed and cut out quotes from below. Using the foil and other items, have each family member create a small boat. Next, place a cut out quote from President Nelson and place it inside the boat. Put the boats into a sink or bathtub filled with water and watch how they float! (Options: make it a contest, you can see which quote gets the least wet when put into the water. You could also load the boats up with small toys like lego mini figures or small animals; whoever can fit the most on their boat before it sinks, wins!)

Optional Activity: If you have a Disney+ account, you can watch Disney's version of Noah's ark in Fantasia 2000, starring Donald and Daisy Duck. 

Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet" (Hymns, 19)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Noah's Ark Treat Mix. Remind your family that God promised to never flood the entire earth again. The rainbow is symbolic of this promise. The skittles represent the rainbow; the animals represent the animals on the ark; and the marshmallows represent the rainclouds. 

Mix together in a bowl:

• 4 cups animal crackers
• 15 ounces skittles (share size bag)
• 8 ounces mini marshmallows (half a bag 

Lesson 5: Moses 7

 January 24-30
Moses 7
"The Lord called his people Zion"

Materials: A large paper heart, scissors, markers/coloring crayons, glue, cards below (printed, cut out, and glued together)
Opening Song: "We will sing of Zion" (Hymns, 47)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show your family a  large paper heart. Write the word "Zion" on the heart. What is Zion?

Lesson:

We talked a lot about Zion last year as we studied the Doctrine and Covenants. The people of the early church wanted to build a city of Zion in Missouri and become a Zion people. They wanted to model themselves like the people of Enoch. 

Enoch was a prophet in the book of Genesis and we learn more about him in the book of Moses. Enoch felt he was a weak man and felt overwhelmed with the responsibilities God had given him. But, with help from the Lord and courage, Enoch became a mighty prophet. His people listened to him and he built a city, the city Zion. 

We don't know a lot about the city of Zion itself. We don't know how large it was or how many people it had. We don't know how many buildings there were or if it had parks. But what we do know is that it's people were righteous. 

Activity: Enoch cards

Before FHE, print out both sets of the cards below and paste together so that the Enoch picture is on one side and the words on the other. Set the cards out on the floor or table picture side up. Have your family members take turns choosing a card, reading it, and answering the question on the back. 

"Zion is not just a  city--it is a condition of the heart and spirit. Zion, as the Lord has taught, is 'the pure in heart' (D&C 97:21) So perhaps the best way to build Zion is to start in our own homes" (Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families 2022 The Old Testament, page 19).

Activity: Zion heart/Zion home

Take the heart from the beginning of the lesson and cut it into pieces--one piece per family member and give each piece to a family member. What are some things that we can do in our home to be a more Zion-like people? Discuss with your family things you might do to become more united as a family in heart and mind. Write down or draw a picture of one thing you will do to help the family become more Zion-like on the piece of the heart.

Collect the heart pieces and glue them to a piece of paper. Hang the heart in your home to remind your family what they are focusing on this week. 

Bear your testimony.

Closing Song: "Love at Home" (Hymns, 294)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Banana Bread Cookies recipe here

Lesson 4: Gen. 5; Mos. 6

 January 17-23
Genesis 5; Moses 6
"Teach these things freely unto your children"

Materials: "Mom's Many Hats" youtube video, a large bag, a picture of Christ, a CTR ring/picture of CTR shield, a picture of a child getting baptized, a picture of a child receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, a picture of child praying
Opening Song: "Teach me to walk in the light" (Children's Songbook, 177)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Watch the youtube video "Mom's many hats". What are some of the hats that moms and dads wear? One of the many hats that parents wear is a teacher's hat. Parents have to teach their kids a lot of different things. What did your parents teach you?

Lesson:

Heavenly Father wants parents to love and teach their children. The very first parents were Adam and Eve and Heavenly Father made it clear that He wanted them to teach them important lessons. What kinds of things do you think God wants parents to teach their children? In Moses chapter 6 we read of several things that God wanted Adam and Eve to know and to teach to their children. 

Activity: 

(Before FHE, place the following items in a large bag, a picture of Christ, a CTR ring/picture of CTR shield, a picture of a child getting baptized, a picture of a child receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, a picture of child praying)

Directions: Have your family members take turns pulling the items/pictures out of the bag. As they each take a turn do the corresponding activity below.

Picture of Christ: Heavenly Father wants parents to teach their children to have faith in Jesus Christ. Sing "I'm trying to be like Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 78)

A CTR Ring: Read Moses 6:56. In Moses we read the God wants us to teach children wrong from right--good from evil. Parents are supposed to teach their children to obey God's commandments.

A child getting baptized: Moses 6: 52 reads, "And he also said unto him: if thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe. and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men..." Parents are supposed to teach children about baptism and encourage them to be baptized. How did you parents help prepare you for baptism?

A child receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost: Read "ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given unto you" (Moses 6:52).  Along with baptism, parents are also supposed to teach their kids about the Holy Ghost. Parents can help children identify the Holy Spirit and how it communicates with us. They should teach their children to rely on the guidance of the Holy Ghost. 

A child praying: Read Moses 6:57 "Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, myst repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence..." Repenting is saying sorry to Heavenly Father in prayer for a bad thing you have done and then trying to change your behavior. Why is it important to teach children how to repent? 

As we have talked about the things Heavenly Father wants all parents to teach their children you may have recognized a pattern. We teach our children to choose the right; have faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ; repentance; baptism; and the gift of the Holy Ghost. What does that sound like? The Fourth Article of Faith! So from the beginning of mankind, Adam and Eve down through the generations, parents have been asked to teach their children right from wrong and the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. This is often called "the doctrine of Christ." Each book of scripture, the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price all teach the doctrine of Christ. 

Bear your testimony of the doctrine of christ and how parent's teaching gospel principles has blessed you.

Closing Song: "The Fourth Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 124)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: hot chocolate bombs recipe here