Scripture
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.
Hymn
Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth, Hymn #298
1. Home can be a heav’n on earth
When we are filled with love,
Bringing happiness and joy,
Rich blessings from above–
Warmth and kindness, charity,
Safety and security–
Making home a part of heaven,
Where we want to be.
2. Drawing fam’ly near each week,
We’ll keep love burning bright.
Serving Him with cheerful hearts,
We’ll grow in truth and light.
Parents teach and lead the way,
Children honor and obey,
Reaching for our home in heaven,
Where we want to stay.
3. Praying daily in our home,
We’ll feel His love divine;
Searching scriptures faithfully,
We’ll nourish heart and mind.
Singing hymns of thanks, we’ll say,
“Father, help us find the way
Leading to our home in heaven,
Where we long to stay.”
Lesson
*Suitable for All Ages*
Read aloud: One of the greatest gifts Heavenly Father has given us is our families. Families are designed by Heavenly Father to be a support system, where we love, teach, counsel, and comfort one another. Think of the family as a warm, dry house during a storm. The wind and rain howling outside represent the trials and hardships of the world. When families take care of each other, they can be safe from that storm.
Because they are so important, Satan works very hard to attack the family.
Ask: What are some ways Satan is attacking families today?
Read aloud: When families fight, judge, or ignore one another, they can lose their power to stand strong together. That is one of the reasons the leaders of the Church, one hundred years ago, encouraged families to set aside one night each week to spend together and learn about Jesus Christ. Eventually, the Family Home Evening program was born.
Family Home Evening is a time where we get to strengthen our bond as a family, so when the storms of life come, we can be prepared.
Ask: What are some things you enjoy about Family Home Evening? What are some suggestions you have for our Family Home Evenings in the future?
Read aloud: Elder David A. Bednar has given us three tips to help us improve our Family Home Evenings and every other day of the week.
The first suggestion is to express love and to show it. It is important to tell each other that we love each other. Then, we should show our love by doing kind things and serving each other.
The second suggestion is to bear our testimonies and to live the commandments. When we have Family Home Evening, we are bearing our testimonies each week about things we feel are important. Family Home Evening is the perfect time to talk about our testimonies and to ask questions so our testimonies can be strengthened.
The final suggestion is to be consistent in doing righteous things. This means having family home evening every week, having family prayer, and having family scripture study. These things will help us have the Spirit in our home and to have Christ on our side.
Finish the lesson by choosing one of these three points to work on together as a family. Discuss ways you can do it, and make a plan to report at the next FHE. Bear your testimony about the power of families and why you do your best to have family home evening.
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Treat
TreatJello Shaved Ice or Fruit Kabobs
Jello Shaved Ice
Ingredients:
-1 cup boiling water
-2 cups sprite or similar soda
-1 four serving size any flavor Jello
Directions:
Into a square cake pan, whisk the Jello into the boiling water until dissolved. Stir in the soda pop. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to shave the ice. Serve immediately.
(Courtesy of Tips from a Typical Mom Blog)
Fruit Kabobs
Ingredients:
This recipe uses tropical fruits, but you can choose any fruit you’d like. The fruits suggested are: strawberries, mango, papaya, kiwi, and bananas.
Directions:
Using wooden skewers, cut up your favorite fruits and arrange them on the skewer however you like. This is a great treat to make with older children and teenagers.
(Courtesy of By Stephanie Lynn)
Activity
Family Appreciation Sheets or Family Home Evening Planning Session
Family Appreciation Sheets
Give each member of your family a piece of paper or cardstock. Have them right their name on the top of the paper however they’d like. Then, place all the pieces of paper on a table with pens and markers. Have each member of your family write down something they love or appreciate about that family member. They can illustrate a story, write a favorite memory, or write a note. Keep rotating around the table until everyone has written something on everyone’s paper. Instruct everyone to hang their piece of paper where they will see it often.
Family Home Evening Planning Session
Family Home Evening’s are often more appreciated when your family has helped plan them! Create jars, boxes, or envelopes that are labeled with each job of FHE, such as Treat, Activity, Lesson, Song, etc. Give your family slips of paper to write down ideas of what they’d like to see. Each time someone places the idea slip in the jar, they have to say what it is and why they are interested in doing it. Most importantly, ask what questions your family has about the gospel or which topics they’d like to discuss.
