Wordless Wednesday - FHE at Swig

Ok, nearly worldless, last week for FHE we hit up Swig for drinks and cookies.  The cookies are good and the Dirt Ball is my favorite (Isaac has one in his hand).

Pumpkin Carving for FHE

Last night the kids carved pumpkins into jack-o-laterns for family home evening.  

I was interested to see how Clara would do with cleaning out the pumpkin since she has serious issues with getting her hands sticky and slimy.  She was pretty careful about how she put her hand inside the pumpkin, but seemed to enjoy the whole experience.

Nathan helped Clara carve her pumpkin.

I tried to convince Clara to put her cleaned out pumpkin on her head like a hat, but she refused.  Isaac complied.

Amelia took to longest to clean out her pumpkin and draw the face and cut it out.  She wanted it just right!

I loved that the boys could finally do this type of project with minimal help and guidance from Nathan and I.

Here are the finished masterpieces.

Clara's jack-o-latern.  We've dubbed it "Mike Wazowski".

Amelia's "angry jack-o-lantern".

Jared's "mean guy"

And Isaac's almost finished jack-o-lantern.  His will have pumpkin guts coming out of it's mouth on Halloween night.

Here are a couple of video clips of Clara telling me she is going to use her pumpkin as a pot to make potions to turn into a vampire and witch - complete with evil laugh.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Five Photos for Friday - FHE Ice Cream, Late Game, You Rock, Horse Bite, Clara Selfie

Here's a couple of quick shots from the past couple weeks

This past Monday, Isaac gave a family home evening lesson on ways that we can strengthen our family.  In his lesson, he asked us all to think of things we can do to strengthen our family.  His lesson included the idea that we could increase our family's bond by spend time together by going to get ice cream.  So for our activity we went and got ice cream cones at +Macey's.

Last weekend, Nathan and I, along with the boys, went to a late BYU game.  Although our team did not win, I had a great time hanging out with my main squeeze.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was in between classes at church, one of the young women, who had been in my class before I was released last year, pulled me aside and said she had something for me. She pulled out a small rock that she had written "you" on and gave it to me.  "You Rock"  I almost cried.  She had made enough for all the young women and the current leaders in the ward, but it made me feel special and loved that she would also give one to me also.  It is currently residing on my dresser where I see it everyday.

Recently, Jared got nipped by a horse.  This is on his chest/side.  That'll teach him to get to close to that horse again!

And lastly, it always cracks me up when I find pictures like this one on my phone.  I love this girl!

Faith and Repentance

This past Monday night, we had our Family Home Evening lesson on Faith and Repentance.  I used lesson 5, Faith and Repentance, in the Joseph Fielding Smith manual for my information.

Start out by singing Faith, from the Children's songbook.

I asked the kids what the first two principles of the gospel were, with a hint that the answer was contained in the Articles of Faith.  Isaac came up with the answer pretty quickly - from Article of Faith #4 we learn:

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance...

So, Faith and Repentance.  I told the kids we were going to talk about these two principles. 

I put up my first visual aid. Disregard the background.  Well, don't disregard it entirely; it is after all the Young Women's theme, but look past it for the purpose intended here. I needed something to put my visual aids on and this was the only thing big enough and nearby :)

Then I read this quote from Joseph Fielding Smith:

“Faith without works is dead” [James 2:26]—in other words, it does not exist. I think James’ meaning clearly is, “You show me your faith without your works, and nothing will result; but I will show you my faith with my works, and something will be accomplished.” [See James 2:18.] Faith means action. … Faith, therefore, is stronger than belief. …

We then discussed that in order to have true faith, we must act.  I read this quote to the kids and then explained what it meant in simpler terms:

 Faith cannot be obtained by inaction or through indifference or passive belief. The mere desire to obtain faith will not bring faith any more than the desire to be skilled in music or painting will bring proficiency in these things without intelligent action.

Then I put up my next visual aid.  Faith leads to action.

We talked about the difference between faith and belief and I encouraged the kids to give me examples of believing something and having faith in something.  I also asked them to share things that they cannot become good at unless they do or act upon.

I then explained that it is the same way in the church.  Quoting again from President Smith:

… If we want to have a living, abiding faith, we must be active in the performance of every duty as members of this Church. …

Living means that is it alive.  It grows and changes and becomes stronger.  Abiding means that it has staying power; it doesn't go away.  In order to have a living, abiding faith, we must actively participate in our duties in the church!

I then shared this quote:

Repentance is the second fundamental principle of the gospel and the outgrowth of faith.

Outgrowth means that it leads to something.  When we have faith and we are working and doing and acting with faith, it will naturally lead to repentance.

I then added to our visual.  

Look at how our faith led to action which grew into repentance!

I asked if the kids thought that repentance was a happy thing or a sad thing.  They said it was a sad thing.  I agreed that most of the time when we talk about repentance it is a sad thing or an embarrassing thing, but listen to what Joseph Fielding Smith says about repentance:

Repentance is one of the most comforting and glorious principles taught in the gospel. In this principle the mercy of our Heavenly Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, is made manifest perhaps more strongly than in any other principle. What a dreadful thing it would be if there were no forgiveness of sin and no means for the remission of sin for those who are humbly repentant!

Repentance is not a bad and sad thing!  It is a wonderful GIFT from God to show us his love.

I went on to read:

The scriptures say:

“Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” [D&C 59:8.]

That means repentance.

… Repentance, according to the definition given in the dictionary, is sincere sorrow for sin with self-condemnation, and complete turning from the sin. … There can be no true repentance without sorrow and the desire to be freed from sin.

I spent a little time explaining "broken heart" and "contrite spirit" to the kids.  President Smith explains it really well, but the connection can be easy to miss.  A broken heart means that you are not sorry that you got caught or embarrassment, but real self-condemning sorrow.

A contrite spirit means that you turn from the sin.  You don't want to do the wrong thing anymore.  You have a desire to be free from the sin forever.

Moving on, we read this quote and talked about procrastination.  (Again, I needed to explain what the word meant.)

Procrastination, as it may be applied to gospel principles, is the thief of eternal life, which is life in the presence of the Father and the Son.

At this point, my kids became concerned that they would be kept from eternal life because of sins they had committed, not repented for and then had forgotten about.  This was a perfect opportunity to teach them that is why daily prayer and self-evaluation is so important.  It is much easier to remember the things we do wrong and can try to be better at if we are looking back over one day's time instead of a week or two weeks.  

I briefly summarized a program outlined by Elder David A Bednar from a talk entitled, Pray Always, which I will copy at the bottom of this post for reference.

In closing, I challenged them, and myself, to be more diligent about daily personal prayers as a way of increasing our faith and also becoming better people trough repentance.

Elder David A Bednar: Pray Always

Consider this example. There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. For example, as we pray, we might:

• • 
  Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.

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  Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.

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  Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.

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  Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.

• • 
  Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.

Such a prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day.

During the course of the day, we keep a prayer in our heart for continued assistance and guidance—even as Alma suggested: “Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord” (Alma 37:36).

We notice during this particular day that there are occasions where normally we would have a tendency to speak harshly, and we do not; or we might be inclined to anger, but we are not. We discern heavenly help and strength and humbly recognize answers to our prayer. Even in that moment of recognition, we offer a silent prayer of gratitude.

At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer.

Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to “pray always” (Luke 21:36; 3 Nephi 18:15, 18;D&C 31:12). Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for His faithful children.

A "Love"ly Family Home Evening

This family home evening lesson requires absolutely no preparation.

Start by singing, "As I Have Loved You" from the Children's Songbook.

Then starting with yourself, go around the room and list the reasons that you love each person.  When you have finished sharing, the next person does the same thing until everyone has shared.

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I know that for some people this may seem really foreign and strange at first, but believe me everyone will love it.

Even little ones can join in.  If they are old enough to speak, they are old enough to say something that they love about another person.  If they aren't old enough to speak, they can give hugs or kisses or cuddles.

Just this past Monday night, Clara took her turn and the reason that she loved me was because I was tall.  I am not really sure what that means in her mind or why it is the reason that she loves me, but I'll take it!

We don't do this super often because we don't want it to turn into a monotonous thing, but we have played this "I love you because..." game in the car, at the kitchen table during dinner, and for family home evening.

It's sure to put a smile on everyone's face and bring everyone closer together.

Finish up by singing, "Where Love Is".

How Do the Things I Say Affect Those Around Me? Lesson Handout & FHE Lesson

I mentioned last week, that my Mia Maid advisor related a quote from the talk Thy Speech Reveals Thee by L.Tom Perry about correcting speech habits using a 3-step method.  She was leading our discussion for September's Come Follow Me lesson topic: How Do the Things I Say Affect Those Around Me?

Here is the printable that I made so that I can hang it up and remind myself.

As I have been trying to focus on these 3 steps over the past week, I have found that this method works not only for correcting a swearing habit, but also is a great method to speak more nicely to those around you.

I used the handout I created last night for Family Home Evening.  I gave a lesson on speaking more kindly and using better language within our family.  A couple of great songs to sing with this lesson are, Kindness Begins With Me, Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words, Love is Spoken Here, and Love At Home.

I started out by reading Ephesians 4:29-32 and asked the kids to listen for what we weren't supposed to do and what we were supposed to do.

 29 Let no corrupt ^acommunication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

 30 And ^agrieve not the holy ^bSpirit of God, whereby ye are ^csealed unto the day of redemption.

 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and ^aanger, and clamour, and ^bevil ^cspeaking, be put away from you, with all ^dmalice:

 32 And be ye ^akind one to another, tenderhearted, ^bforgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

We talked about what "corrupt communication" could mean.  We also talked about what being tenderhearted meant.

Then I showed the kids this sign I had printed and framed.

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We talked about each letter and tried to think of examples of when each question would help us decide whether to say something or not.  We are going to put this in our kitchen to remind us to "THINK" before we speak.

Finally, I showed them this printout about the difference between "Informing" and "Tattling".

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Finally, here are the links to my printout.  You can either print the full page version, or 2 per page.

Family Home Evening Lesson: How was the Priesthood Restored?

You can get some great information on this topic from here and here.

I decided to start out by showing parts of this video.

Although the video is very good, I was afraid that my kids might have a hard time understanding some of it.

I decided to play the first segment, titled, "How did the Apostles receive authority at the time of Christ?"  This segment is 1 minute long.  Then I stopped the video and we discussed what we just saw and heard.

After going to a mountain to pray and ponder, the Savior selected and called his 12 Apostles.  When his earthly ministry was over, he bestowed upon Peter all of the keys to lead the church.

The second segment is "How was the authority eventually lost?"  I did not show this segment, I just explained to my children that back in those days there weren't phones or television or magazines.  The only way people learned the gospel or were taught how to be good members of the church, or how to correctly perform ordinances was from face to face contact.  They did write some letters, but it could take a long time for letters to get from one place to another.  If people had questions about doctrine, they were pretty much left to themselves to figure it out.

I gave each of my children a key that I had printed out (see the bottom of this post for the keys).  I explained that when Jesus called his Apostles, he gave conferred upon them the priesthood and gave them keys. After Christ's death, the Apostles tried to teach people the correct way to do things, but because they were unable to meet together often, people changed teachings and changed the way ordinances were performed. Over time, they were killed or died.  (As I explained this, I took the keys away one by one.)

I explained that soon Heavenly Father's priesthood wasn't on the earth anymore.  No one had the priesthood keys to lead and guide the affairs of the church.  Thus a restoration was necessary.

Then I showed the segment that starts at 2:00 (from Elder Perry's video above), "What Led to the Priesthood Being Restored?"

We also watched this video.

I finished up by asking the kids the following questions to make sure they understood what we had learned:

1. Who called and ordained the 12 Apostles during Christ's time on Earth?
2. Before Jesus went to live with Heavenly Father, who did he give the priesthood keys to?
3. When someone holds and can exercise all of the priesthood keys, what position do they hold in the church? (This is technically a review question from other lessons, but it was applicable.)
4. What happened when all of the Apostles died or were killed?
5. How was the priesthood restored to the earth during our day?
6. Why was a restoration of the priesthood necessary?

Finish up the lesson by showing the Priesthood Line of Authority for the patriarch in your family.   This was important  for me to show to my family as Jared would be receiving his own line of authority the next day as part of his 12 Days of Priesthood.

Keys by Wendy H  - I got the clipart for these keys from here.

FHE Lesson: How Does Worthiness Affect Priesthood Power?

Nathan gave this Family Home Evening lesson the other night.  We were a little off on our schedule so he combined this lesson with another topic we wanted to cover, "How does the Priesthood Bless Me?

Since it wasn't my lesson, I am just going to touch on a couple brief points.

To start out his lesson, he showed this video:

Since our boys really like football this video really caught their attention.  Nathan then talked to them about why it is important to live in a way that you can always be worthy to use the priesthood to bless others but also to live in a way that you feel confident using the priesthood.  If young men are gallivanting around, doing who knows what during the week, they will not feel confident in their ability to use the priesthood righteously when called upon to do so.  And rightfully so.  Men and young men can't feel confident in their ability to use priesthood power if they are choosing to not keep the commandments and do as they have been commanded.  

It reminded me of this scripture in D&C 121:45:

45 Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresenceof God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.

During the lesson, Nathan also quoted 1 Corinthians 13:11

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

We discussed what it meant to put away childish things and how this would apply to receiving the priesthood.  This of course doesn't mean that Jared and Isaac need to put away their toys and only "sit around" like adults do.  It's a difference in attitude.  A change in the way one behaves, speaks and thinks. It is an attitude of thinking outside of yourself, outside of your desires and wants and trying to help others.

Nathan closed his lesson by telling us how he feels that the priesthood blesses his life.  His words were sincere and touching.  I am truly grateful to be married to that guy.

family home evening - what are the duties of the aaronic priesthood?

last week for family home evening, i gave the lesson on "what are the duties of the aaronic priesthood?" to help prepare our son for receiving his ordination to the aaronic priesthood in august.  

preparation for the lesson:

• i cut a sheet of poster board in half and wrote "Aaronic Priesthood Duties" on it.
• then i got online and printed out pictures of the following (i just googled these terms adding "lds" top the end):
• a deacon passing the sacrament
• a tithing and fast offering slip
• teachers preparing the sacrament
• a young man home teaching
• priests blessing the sacrament
• a priest baptizing someone
• you could also print out a picture of young men performing service, a young man ushering at the chapel doors, but i wanted to keep it simple
• print out word strips with the 3 priesthood duties listed in the duty to god booklet.
• administer priesthood ordinances
• serve others
• invite all to come unto christ

this was the outline of our family home evening:

• welcome - jared conducting
• opening song: children's songbook #89 - the priesthood is restored
• opening prayer
• wiggle song for clara (we usually let her decide what the wiggle song will be and this time she chose - i am a child of God
• lesson by mom
• testimonies
• closing song: children's songbook #166 - a young man prepared
• closing prayer

after our opening song and prayer, i reviewed what we had learned the week before when dad taught us about what the priesthood is.  we reviewed that the preparatory priesthood is the aaronic priesthood and the higher priesthood is the melchizedek priesthood.

then i had everyone look up doctrine & covenants 107:99

 99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his ^aduty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all ^bdiligence.

we talked about what the word duty means and what diligence means.  i told them that in order to do our duty, or in other words take care of our responsibilities, and to do them diligently (with our whole hearts) we had to know what those duties are and why we are doing them.

i introduced the 3 word strips and taped them on the chart, talking about what each of them meant as i presented them.

then i asked the kids to help me think of specific things we see the aaronic priesthood do.  as they listed them, i taped the picture to the board and we talked about what that ordinance or service was and why it was important.

by the time we were done, this is what our poster looked like. not the prettiest poster in the world, but it got the point across.

lastly, i showed them the back of the duty to god book where it reads...

“Behold, thou art my son; … and I have a work for thee” (Moses 1:4, 6)

we discussed that Heavenly Father loves each of us and want us to help him.  we help him by helping others and the priesthood is all about helping others.

the last couple of days

beautiful teeth with no cavities!!  that's right.... no cavities.  we all (minus dad) visited the dentist yesterday and i am happy to report that there is not a cavity among us.  we commemorated the event with a post-dental photo in the car.

then we went home and enjoyed dinner followed by an excellent fhe lesson given by jared.  the lesson was about how heavenly father and jesus christ love each of us.  he does the lesson about once a month from the nursery manual, "behold your little ones".  i got the idea for this here.  it has taken him a couple few lessons but he is finally getting the hang of how to teach a lesson.  isaac has been asking for a turn to teach as well.

this past sunday while eating dinner, apparently clara decided she had had enough of us and with mouth full of food plugged her ears and started humming.  that girl is gonna be the death of me.

and just in case you need a reason to be grateful today, at least this isn't your car.  now that would ruin your day!