Sunday, January 25, 2009

* FHE Lesson 5 Super Bowl: Setting Goals




Week 5 February 2009
Super Bowl: Setting Goals

Don't forget to give every family member a part of the lesson! Assignment Planner
Open & Close with Prayer



Scripture
Proverbs 12:24, 'The hand of the diligent shall bear rule."
The Book of Proverbs, in particular, encourages us to check our work habits.


Music Selections
(Use anytime during the lesson! Use the songs throughout the week too!)
Tell the following true life experience:
Just 15 Min-a-Day
by Charlotte Hale Allen
What's the biggest dream of your life?
How important is it?
How much would you give up to make it happen?

Let me pass along to you one of the most powerfully creative facts that anyone ever taught me, and it's astoundingly true. You can do just about anything you want to do, if you spend just 15 minutes a day at it.

Consider this: In three years you can become an expert on any subject you care to study-Chinese art, computer programming, cooking, chess, bridge, bricklaying, anything if you work at is 15 minutes a day.

In just one year or less you can accomplish some tremendous tasks by investing just 15 minutes a day. For example, you could:
1. Read the entire Bible or Book of Mormon
2. Plant and keep up a small garden
3. Become physically fit.
4. Learn to play a musical instrument.
5. Paint a house.
6. Learn foreign language.
7. Write a book.

Remembering the day I discovered the magic of 15 minutes still makes me smile. My husband and I had driven to a small town to call on a friend who was the town's only doctor. He'd recently bought a sprawling Victorian house and we discovered him sitting in the middle of a room surrounded by paint cans and a clutter of tools, gazing toward the ceiling and muttering, "That thing's gotta come down!"

We thought he'd flipped- especially when we learned that George intended to repair, repaint or refurnish every room in that three-story monstrosity by himself.
How long would it take? Where would he find the time? How unrealistic could he get?

A quick tour of the already-completed rooms, however, aroused our interest and excitement. I admired a charming "new" bathroom in which George had lowered the ceiling, installed and painted new storage cabinets, hung wallpaper, changed light fixtures, and even provided heated towel racks.

"I work fifteen minutes at a time, but never stop before my time is up," George explained. "That's the secret: Work fifteen minutes a day, without fail."

Still, I was skeptical, I couldn't believe such a simple plan could possibly help me. I decided to give it a try.

That was more than 20 years ago, and since then I've had great fun with those magic chunks of time.

My first project was to tackle a badly neglected flower garden which was chocked with weeds. Every time I looked out the dining room window, I fretted, because I thought I had no time whatever to try to redeem that impossible garden.
That's when I learned how many weeds I could pull in 15 minutes! It took just one week, snatching a quarter hour here, another there, to get that flower border tidy and ready for new transplants.

The beauty of 15 minutes a day is that it helps me to stop postponing those things I really want or need to do and get them underway. IT banishes discouragement and halts procrastination. The method works on any job or goal that matters to me, whether it's writing a book or cleaning all the kitchen cupboards.

What can you do in 15 minutes time? Setting goals and working for just 15 minutes a day can move life forward. It can strengthen purpose. It establishes habits of industry.
ACTIVITY:
Take 15 minutes right now and ask yourself these questions:
What is my biggest dream?
How can I make it happen?
What if I worked at this important goal every day for just 15 minutes?
Is it worth trying it for a week?

Teens
Ask: How much time do you think the football players who play for the Super Bowl put into playing their best?
How do you think they spend their time?
Talk about, then memorize this poem:
FAME
The heights of great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
TOSS A FOOTBALL (You can wad up a piece of paper and tape it together in the shape of a football if you don't have a football ! )
Toss and catch the ball as a family. Each time a member of the family catches the ball, he/she can tell a goal they have for themself. Another way to play is to have the person who catches the ball help another family member set a goal. Example: "Son, it would be nice if you would keep your floor cleaned up every day by picking up your clothes and putting them in the hamper."

SCORE! Save the goal post above as a picture file.
Save the football as a picture file.
Print the goal post and several footballs for each family member.
Or... Draw your own goal post and footballs.
Write a goal inside the goal posts.
Throughout the week, family members will earn a football each time they invest 15 minutes on their goal. Be realistic in your goals, so that 15 minutes spent each day will show progress by next family home evening.
Post the goals and footballs someplace where everyone can see them throughout the week. ie: Refrigerator.

Young Children
Matt and Mandy
Dad (or Mom) have many responsibilities.
Dad (or Mom) can be an example to us.
Watch your Dad or Mom this week as they put 15 minutes into each day toward his/her goal. Compliment them when you see them working at it.

Activity
Do the activities listed above under teens.

Treat Idea: Nachos - Put corn chips on a cookie sheet and put on shredded cheese we like the four cheese blend the broil in the oven until the cheese is melted. don't bake it too long! hard cheese is not very good. (A super bowl favorite at our house!)

Throughout the week, return to the links as you reflect and re-teach!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

* FHE Lesson 4 Peaches, Prunes & Spiritual Progress










Week 4 January 2009
Peaches, Prunes & Spiritual Progress

Don't forget to give every family member a part of the lesson!

Assignment Planner





Open & Close with Prayer



Scripturehttp://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/18/21


Music Selections (Use anytime during the lesson! Use the songs throughout the week too!)


Dare to Do Right
Do as I’m Doing
Have I Done any Good?



Questions and links to ponder and pray about as you teach your family:
The Ensign January 2009
Peaches, Prunes & Spiritual Progress




ACTIVITY:
Draw a large picture of a tree with many branches. Have family members label the branches with activities in which the family participates. Discuss which family activities might weaken our testimonies or lead us astray. Use scissors to cut off the branches and discuss how pruning can make us stronger. When we have a "bad" branch on the tree it makes it hard for the healthy branches to survive.


Discuss how a tree needs a solid root system.


Encourage your family to include positive and negative activities. Some ideas are:
* Telling a lie
* Taking things that don't belong to us
* Disobedience -- Doing what our parent(s) ask
* Saying our prayers
* Reading our scriptures
* Helping a family member or friend
* Not doing our chores
* Helping a neighbor
* Being on time
* Going to Primary and other church meetings
* What TV programs do you watch?
* What kind of music do you listen to?
* What kind of movies do you watch?
* Do you attend the temple reguarly?
* Giving a talk in primary or sacrament meeting
* Dressing modestly
* No secrets
* Communicating in a loving way
* Loosing our temper
* Singling people out of our group at school or home
* Being a good friend
* Saying bad words
* Saying good words

Teens
SCRIPTURE SEARCH

Search the scriptures to see how many times pruning and trees are used. Ask how the idea of pruning is represented in the scriptures.
ASK:
How does this apply to us as individuals in the family?
The New Era

An Example of Believers

For the Strength of the Youth:
Dress and Appearance
Entertainment & Media
Music & Dance
Language

VIDEO
Staying Strong to the Standards


Young Children

A story from the Friend:
(Includes a beautiful Picture of Jesus and the Children!)
Trying to Be Like Jesus


Do the Activity - Branches on a tree as describe above.


Treat Idea:
Enjoy some ice cream.
Add a plastic toy bug on top!








Throughout the week, return to the links as you reflect and re-teach!




Tuesday, January 20, 2009

* FHE Lesson 3 A Voice of Warning






Week 3 January 2009

A Voice of Warning
***Plan for everyone in the family to participate. Click Here

Open & Close with Prayer





It's highlighted in yellow on the link above:
3Nephi 18:21

Music Selections (Use anytime during the lesson! Use the songs throughout the week too!)




Questions and links to ponder and pray about as you teach your family:
Ensign January 2009 pg.5
Voice of Warning

Preach My Gospel pg 1
Every Member a Missionary:
Your Purpose:

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.


PRAYER Challenge: Pray to Heavenly Father that your family will be an example to others, and ask Him to help you seek for those who are ready to hear the gospel message.
Videos:
God Speaks Today
Jesus Christ is Real

Teens

The New Era January 2009 pg 43
Missionary Service


ACTIVITY
Invite family members to describe people they love and respect. These people could include friends, neighbors, parents, siblings, or Church leaders. Write the words on a piece of paper. On another piece of paper ask family members to describe some of the Savior’s characteristics. Point out similar words on the two lists. Explain that one of the reasons why the people they described are loved and respected is because they have some of the same characteristics as the Savior.
ASK: How can becoming like Jesus Christ help us be an example to others in teaching the Gospel?


Young Children
The Friend December 2008
Listen to the story here:


Growing a Testimony
The Friend Matt and Mandy
October 2008
Questions to Discuss:
*If a friend asks you "What is primary?" What would you tell them?
*How do you know the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church upon the earth today?
*Do you have a testimony of Jesus Christ?
*How can you get answers to your questions about the gospel?
*Is your testimony big like a Redwood Tree, or is it small like a sappling?
*Do you believe you have a Heavenly Father who loves you? How do you know?
*What can you do to help your testimony grow?


Watch the story here:
Being a Missionary


The Friend January 2009
Becoming Like Jesus Christ


Book of Mormon Story:


Lehi Warns the People to Read the Story as a Family


Lehi Warns the People Click on Chapter 2 to Listen to the Story



Do the ACTIVITY listed under Teens.

Treat Idea:
Bake cookies and take them to a neighbor. Be a friend to someone on your street you haven’t met yet!


Throughout the week, return to the links as you reflect and re-teach!

* FHE Lesson 2 Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ


January Lesson 2:
Joseph Smith
***Plan for everyone in the family to participate. Click Here



Open & Close with Prayer





Music Selections (Use anytime during the lesson! Use the songs throughout the week!)


Questions and links to ponder and pray about as you teach your family:

The Ensign January 2009
Joseph Smith An Apostle of Jesus Christ pg. 17
Who was Joseph Smith?
Witnesses of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 10
Who bore witness of Joseph Smith?


Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith
Historical Summary xiv

The Restoration DVD
Online Here

Preach My Gospel
The Great Apostasy pg. 35
The Restoration pg. 36

Teens
The New Era pg. 2
January 2009
The Truth is on the Earth Once More
The Restoration DVD
Online Here
Mormonads: See Above

Young Children
Show a picture of Joseph Smith (Above)

Tell the story of the First Vision. (See Scripture Above)

Discuss how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers.

Bear your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Summarize a few of the testimonies (Witness’ of Joseph Smith) and have your children draw a picture of an event in Joseph Smith’s life. Combine the pictures in a booklet, and have it available for family members to review.
Click on Chapter 1 and Chapter 2

Coloring Page (above):
The Church was Organized

Treat Idea:
Make a Birthday Cake for Joseph Smith. He was born on Dec. 23, 1805

* FHE Lesson 1 FHE The Big Picture



Week 1 January 2009

A Family Home Evening INTRODUCTION

It is important that your family understand your purpose in gathering together as a family each week. Plan for a specific time, day and place.


A special song for parents: How Will They Know?
For the Youth Brand New Year Check it Out!!

***Plan for everyone in the family to participate.



Open & Close with Prayer





Scripture 3 Nephi 18:21


"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed"


Music Selections (Use anytime during the lesson! Use the songs throughout the week too!)



Questions and links to ponder and pray about as you teach your family:
What is Family Home Evening?
How do we plan for Family Home Evening?
What is Our Purpose in Life?



*(Click on each picture for video!)
What is Heavenly Father’s Plan for Us?


An Important Message for Families:
Proclamation to the World
The Family is the fundamental unit of society. We must value and protect it. As a family we study together to learn about the Gospel and how we can make choices that will help us return to our Heavenly Father.

Teens
For the Strength of the Youth: Family
The New Era January 2009:
The Armor of God
Momonad


Don't be a "Missing Person in your family." No Empty Chairs




Activity:


Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith pg.279
Provide a rope for the family to hold onto. What happens if we tug against each other? What happens if we tug in different directions? What happens if we pull together on a straight course with our Savior leading us?

Young Children
The Friend January 2009
A Plan for Me
See Poem and Photo Activity at the top of the page.





Family Home Evening
Color Online



Treat Idea:
Give each member an orange: "Orange you glad you are part of our family?"
LOL!

* FHE Introduction BEGIN HERE

Date: January 1, 2009

I'm going green! No Paper - Electronic FHE

Dear Friends & Family,
THE TASK!!!!

I have pondered and prayed greatly on the task of organizing ideas for Family Home Evening lessons to be used weekly in our homes. I pondered the idea of making packets (as have been done in the past), or going electronic. I decided to go green: Electronic. If you would like to print any part of the lesson, that is something you can do! Whatever works best for you and your family. There may some activities that require printing for your family to participate, ie: coloring pages, games, or other activities.

INDIVIDUAL FAMILY UNITS WITHIN OUR WARD FAMILY
As I gathered, I needed to take into consideration the different family units we live in. I hope I have included something in each lesson that fits your specific family.


A Family Unit may consist of:
Single Family Member
Married Couple Members
Single Parent with Children
Parents with Young Children
Parents with Teen Age Children
Grandparent Members
Empty Nester's
..... and the list goes on.

FHE Family Home Evening.
What is it?

INDIVIDUALIZING THE LESSONS
You will need to prayerfully study and select those parts of the lesson that will best fit your family. Although you may not have a teen in your home, you may feel the spirit to use selections from The New Era, and even though you may not have young children in your home, you may feel the spirit to use selections found in The Friend in your study/lesson. You are responsible to supplement, through the spirit, areas that are not “gathered” in the lesson. You are the person whom your Heavenly Father has called to teach your family. My job is to give you some ideas!


RESOURCES
Ideas for each lesson will be compiled from any combination of the following:
1. The Scriptures
2. Preach My Gospel
3. Ensign
4. The New Era
5. The Friend
6. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church : Joseph Smith
7. The Church Web Sites
(see sidebar links)

8. Church Music Files

Lessons will include links to these amazing sites!

A Brand New Year just launched TODAY, January 1, 2009, and promises to be amazing!!!


ELECTRONIC WORLD
We live in an ever growing and powerful technological world. There is A LOT of GOOD things available for teaching our family on the Internet. The Church is on the “cutting edge” of using these tools to help us learn and teach the Gospel.


In each lesson I have included links to follow allowing you to view media of many types:
Talks
Pictures
Stories
Music
Video

Planning for the Lesson Night
Family Home Evening Planner

This link will take you to a planner which lists a variety of items and activities that might be included in a family home evening. Use it to plan your family home evening and to print an agenda if you like.


Possible Assignments May Be:

Opening Song
Opening & Closing Prayer
Poem or Scripture
Lesson
Activity
Treat

WHERE DO I START?

1. Always begin preparing to teach with Prayer!

2. Gather your family together and determine a time and day of the week that best fits your families needs. The LDS Church has set aside Monday as FHE Night. If Monday doesn't work for you... find a date and time that does. Be consistant each week.

3. Look through the lesson on the blog. Decide which parts of the lesson will fit the needs of your family. The lessons require some reading, and may require simple props or materials. Gather these ahead of time.


4. Make assignments. Who will pray? Who will lead the song? Who will give a scripture?
Who will help with the treat? Who will help with the activity? Try to give everyone a responsibility. Make it FUN. You can make a simple rotating chart or FHE Assignment Board if you choose to, or you can keep a log of how each family member participates each week. Keep the log in a document file... go green!

5. Because everything is easily accessed, you can come back to any link as needed! For example: One of your children (or you) is struggling with a challenge. Pull up the link and review it with the child. Pray together with the child asking Heavenly Father to help the spirit teach as you re-teach. HOW WILL I GET THE LESSONS?

“I’m going GREEN!” (No paper!)

Okay... If all goes as planned, I will email you when a new lesson is posted— 4 per month. If there are 5 Monday’s... you will need to plan something for that extra FHE.


And so...
I felt inspired to begin with the January 2009 Ensign, New Era, and Friend... and spring (bounce, Tiger!!! Wa-ha-ha-hooo) from some of the material there! This makes it easy because we should all be reading these materials every month, and the material is given to us by inspiration from our Prophet and the Leaders of the Church! Feel free to broaden any topic to fit your family’s specific needs.