Prophets, God's Cryptographers (March FHE)

SONGS:
Hymn book:  

• Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice - #21
• Come, Sing to the Lord - #10 
• Praise to the Man - #27
• We Listen to a Prophet's Voice - #22
• We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet - #19   

Children's Songbook

• Follow the Prophet - #110  
• Latter-day Prophets - #134  
• The Fifth Article of Faith - #125
• The Sixth Article of Faith - #126a  
  

Because the March issue of the Ensign was on prophets, we decided to do lessons on prophets for the whole month of March.

Prophets: God's Cryptographers: For the first one, I decided to use President Uchtdorf's article in the Ensign, Why Do We Need Prophets? and the scripture  Amos 3:7.

We talked about how prophets 'decipher' God's messages for His children. We talked about cryptographers and how they decipher secret messages and prophets are like God's cryptographers because He "revealeth His secrets unto His servants, the prophets."

I wrote up an invitation for them (Secret Agents for Good) to join me on a hunt for hidden messages in our house that would help us understand the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW of prophets. We then talked about where we would find words of the prophets (scriptures, Church magazines, Church manuals, LDS.org). I had hidden messages at each of these locations and each message was in a different type of code and each one answered a different question:

Who is a prophet?
Why does God call prophets?
When has God called prophets?
Where can we find the words of prophets?
What does a prophet do?
How do we know a prophet's words are true?

As I said, each message was in a different type of code. For example, I used lemon juice for invisible ink (that took some time to warm up to read), I used a Webdings font to type the message with symbols, I moved my fingers one key to the left and typed my message (because A is at the end, I used the key at the far right for A), I wrote one in pig latin, I wrote one in a coded letter where every fourth word was the message, and the last was a scripture (3 Nephi 14:15-20.)

At different times I read parts of President Uchtdorf's message about prophets.
For example:

"Because Heavenly Father loves His children, He has not left them to walk through this mortal life without direction and guidance. The teachings of our Heavenly Father are not the ordinary, predictable, run-of-the-mill kind you can pick up in paperback at the local bookstore. They are the wisdom of an all-powerful, all-knowing celestial Being who loves His children. Encompassed in His words is the secret of the ages—the key to happiness in this life and in the world to come." - President Uchtdorf

This was a very successful family home evening. Everyone was so excited, even my husband who is sometimes the worst participant (he's been known to nod off). I know we could make it even more of an adventure, but I just thought of it in the morning. I worked on it all day because I was so excited. Hopefully, your family can enjoy it as much.

2. Our second FHE this month was on sustaining our leaders. We used the 5th article of faith and an article from the Ensign in the What We Believe section. The highlight was when my husband, H., did bear his testimony of when President Hinckley died and President Monson was called to be the new prophet. He was not sure anyone could fill President Hinckley's shoes (President Hinckley was the only prophet he had known because he was only baptized in 2002.) Then during the conference when President Monson was officially called and sustained, H. felt the Spirit witness to him that President Monson was indeed God's prophet.

Then we played "Don't Eat the Prophet." It's very simple. Lay out pictures of the prophets and put a cheerio or some small candy or treat on each picture. Send a person out and choose one prophet to be "it". When the person returns, sing "Follow the Prophet" until they pick the cheerio on "it." Then yell, "Don't Eat the Prophet!"

3. This will be on Joseph Smith, tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. So far, I have a timeline and some cute finger puppets I found from the July 2001 Friend. http://www.lds.org/friend/2001/07/for-little-friends?lang=eng. You have to scroll down to find the Joseph Smith Finger Scenes. Wish me luck!

Sometimes We Have To Fight to be Free

We haven't posted for a very long time, and so when I was going through my file cabinet looking for a lesson for Remembrance Day this week, I found this. It's not much and my compadres are all busy working on our next big offering (it will be big!) so it's not full of the fancy links, but here it is. Use it if you can. Add to it if you wish. Regardless, take a moment this week to be grateful for the blessings that are ours to live in a land that is free.


Lest We Forget


Songs: O Canada, "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (Hymns 339)

Objective: To help family members appreciate the sacrifice that soldiers have made to keep our country free. (My own ambivalence toward the current war our country is fighting notwithstanding, I believe that children should learn to respect and honour the sacrifice individual soldiers make when they leave their homes and families to fight. )

Preparation:

• GAK 312 Captain Moroni Raises the Title of Liberty
• Preparation for any craft you choose to do. There are some wonderful activities at DLTK: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/remembrance/index.html
• poppy (or a picture)

Attention Activity: Show the poppy and tell the children that this is a special flower. Not only is it red like blood, but it also grows best in the kind of soil that is created after a battle. People noticed that after a battle, the fields would suddenly be full of poppies. For this reason, it has been chosen to remind us about soldiers who die in wars.(For more information, follow the links at the end of the lesson.)

Lesson: War is terrible and we don't ever want a war to start, but sometimes good people have to fight in war to keep wicked people from hurting us or others. Sometimes these good people die fighting. A long time ago, Canada fought in a war to keep people free. Many soldiers died in this war. One of the soldiers, John McCrae, wrote a poem to remember his friends who died. Read poem

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead, Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

War also happened in the Book of Mormon all the time. One of the biggest wars in the Book of Mormon happened when a group of Nephites wanted to make one man king. They thought that was the best way to run a government and they were willing to force people to accept their king. This made one man very angry. He was a brave soldier and he decided that he would not allow these people, called the kingmen, to win. Show GAK 312 and read the story from the back or tell it in your own words.

Just like Moroni, there are times we may have to fight for our beliefs and our freedoms. This takes a lot of courage, especially when fighting might mean you will die as so many soldiers have done. Heavenly Father wants us to remember these soldiers and to be grateful for their courage and their sacrifice.

Ask: What can we do to remember the soldiers who die and those who are fighting? (wear a poppy, learn about what they were or are fighting for, remember them and tell their stories)

(If possible, tell a story about someone you know or an ancestor who has served in the military. There are many wonderful stories on the Internet or in books about people who have fought bravely. If you can find a personal story, though, no matter how small, it will be more meaningful for your children.)

Heavenly Father also wants us to do our best to prevent wars. We may not be able to stop governments from fighting or bad people from wanting to hurt us or others, but we can help the world be a better and kinder place by our own example and by being kind to others even when they look different or act different than we do. (With older children you can discuss more specific ways they could help the world be a more peaceful place.)

Activity: We did a soldier craft from DLTK last year because it was 2+ and I think we'll brave the fingerprint wreath this year.

History of poppies
http://www.rcl617.com/Poppy.html
http://www.poppies.ws/poppies/the-red-poppy.html

The Prophet Said To Plant A Garden

Song: “The Prophet Said To Plant A Garden” (CS 237)

Scriptures:“…if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” D & C 38:30
           “Plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.” Jeremiah 29:5
Quote: “We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard. Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. Study the best methods of providing your own foods. Make your garden … neat and attractive as well as productive. If there are children in your home, involve them in the process with assigned responsibilities” (Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 170–71; or Ensign, May 1976, 124).

Preparation:

• Cover a shoebox lid with black paper and edge it with green paper slit to look like grass. Cut 9 slits in the top. Colour and copy clip art of the vegetables. (For older children, write a scripture reference to the back of each vegetable – Gen 2:9, Gen 41: 36, Jer 29: 5, Mark 4:28, D & C 38:30, D & C 59: 18-19, D & C 89:10, D & C 89: 14, D & C 89: 16) and affix to Popsicle sticks. Insert a Popsicle stick in each slit.
• Get seeds, soil, shoeboxes for each child  
• Line shoeboxes with black plastic
• Cut out clip art of vegetables and if you are going to use them outside, you may want to laminate them or cover them with clear contact paper. Affix each clip art to a Popsicle stick You will need to make enough of each variety for each child to plant some. They are also set up that you can make a set for a matching game for younger children. Here are links to the Clip Art Veggies: Veggie 1, Veggie 2, Veggie 3

Lesson: Found HERE
Additional Resources:
Story: Patricia Reece Roper, “Ruining the Backyard Grass,” Friend, Aug 2001, 4
Word Search HERE
Gardening Sharing Time HERE
Gardening and Self reliance HERE

More Easter Ideas

What Was In Jeremy’s Egg?
The Lesson of Easter from an Unlikely Child By Ida Mae Kempel

You can find the story HERE

Easter Egg Scripture Countdown
For a unique presentation of the often heard Easter Story, you can use the Easter Egg Countdown to countdown 12 days of Easter and help keep the Savior in the Holiday.

Easter Lesson

The Last Week of Christ’s Life
Songs:He Sent His Son (CD 34)HERE and HERE
      Did Jesus Really Live Again (CS 64)HERE and HERE
      He Died That We Might Live Again (CS 65)HERE and HERE
      Hosanna (CS 66) HERE and HERE
      Easter Hosanna (CS 68) HERE and HERE
      To Think About Jesus (CS 71) HERE and HERE
Preparation:

• Get a picture of Christ, bowl to wash feet, sacrament cup and bread, a rose stem and a nail, a large rock, a plastic egg and some folded up linen
• GAK pictures 223, 226, 227, 228, 230
• Cut out or make visuals. Some suggestions avaliable are Luke Poster, Last Week Poster
• Set up the different stations in your house. You could travel to different rooms or do it all in one room. (1.Palm Leaves; 2. fig tree with leaves; 3. bowl with water and scented oil if possible to wash feet; 4. parable stories; 5. table set with sacrament cup and some broken bread to represent the sacrament; 6. the stem of a rose and a nail; 7. a rock and some figures; 8. an empty egg and some folded up linen.

Scriptures: Matt 21: 1-11, Matt 21: 18-19, Matt 26: 6-13, Luke 24:5-6
Quote: “He is not here: for he is risen.”
“This is the clarion call of Christendom. The reality of the Resurrection provides to one and all the peace that surpasses understanding…. It is a universal truth.
"As the least of His disciples, I declare my personal witness that death has been conquered, victory over the tomb has been won. May the words made sacred by Him who fulfilled them become actual knowledge to all. Remember them. Cherish them. Honor them. He is risen. – Thomas S. Monson, “He Is Risen,” Ensign, Apr 2003, 7.

Lesson: Found HERE

Treat Time: Have fun sculpting your own sepulchre stone, using this easy-to-make candy recipe found HERE

“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it...And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen...” (Matt. 28:2, 5-6.)

Sunshine Or Storm Cloud

Since March is such a moody month, I thought 'attitude' would be a perfect theme. As I was thinking about the theme, I found a great quote:

"Because we have a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that we are spirit children of God, we should be the most positive-thinking people in the world. We know that our loving Father in Heaven has put us on earth to succeed, not to fail." (From "Lesson 31: Your Attitude Makes a Difference," Preparing For Exaltation: Teacher's Manual, 179)

Sunshine or Storm Cloud
By Suzanne Velarde
Preparation: 

• picture of a sunny day and of a cloudy day
• Copy of the smiley/frowny face found here: Smiley/Frowny Face

Songs: “Smiles” (CS 267a); “A Smile is Like the Sunshine” (CS 267b); “Be Happy” (CS 265); Happy Song” (CS 264); “If You’re Happy” (CS 266); “Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam” (CS 60); “When You’re Helping” (198b); “Scatter Sunshine” (H 230); “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” (H 227); “You Can Make the Pathway Bright” (H 228)

Scripture: “…Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order …—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—

“The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.” – Alma 41: 4-5

Quotations: “Because we have a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that we are spirit children of God, we should be the most positive-thinking people in the world. We know that our loving Father in Heaven has put us on earth to succeed, not to fail.” (from “Lesson 31: Your Attitude Makes a Difference,” Preparing for Exaltation: Teacher’s Manual, 179)

“I remind you … that regardless of your present age, you are building your life; … it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations” (Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Oct. 1974, 112–13; or Ensign, Nov. 1974, 80).

Attention Activity: Show the picture of the sun and talk about how the sun makes us feel. Show the picture of the storm cloud and talk about how we feel when the weather is stormy and the sky is gray.
Ask: Which kind of day do you prefer? Why?
Talk about how we can be like a sunny day or a stormy one. Show the smiling/frowning face poster and talk about the difference in expression when the face is smiling or frowning. Sing “Smiles” and use the poster as appropriate.
Ask: How are smiles like sunshine? How are frowns like storm clouds? Which do you prefer?

Remember that the Lord has given you the ability to choose your attitude. You can decide whether you want to spread sunshine through the world with your smiles and good attitude or if you want to be a little storm cloud ranging throughout the world spreading gloom with your frowns and bad attitude. It is your decision.

Game: “Sunshine or Storm Cloud?” (under construction)

Story: Ray Goldrup, “Miles and Miles of Smiles,” Friend, Sep 2007, 4–6;
Resources:
“Lesson 31: Your Attitude Makes a Difference,” Preparing for Exaltation: Teacher’s Manual, 179
“Lesson 19: I Can Be Happy,” Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual, (2008),80–83

Family Treasure Hunt

By Suzanne Velarde

Objective: to reinforce the idea that our family is our greatest treasure, a blessing from Heavenly Father, and we should treat each other likewise

Songs: Families Can Be Together Forever (H 300); The Family (CS 194); Family Night (CS 195); Because God Loves Me (CS 234); Here We Are Together (CS 261); I Love To See The Temple (CS 95); Thanks To Our Father (CS 20); I Thank Thee, Dear Father (CS 21)

Scripture: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. -Matthew 6:21

Preparation: On slips of paper, draw clues depicting activities each person in the family enjoys. Set it up like a scavenger hunt with each clue leading to the next. At each station, put a picture of the family member who enjoys that activity as well as the clue for the next station. Place the first clue inside the box you will use as a treasure chest.

Activity: Introduce the activity by talking about or showing things the children treasure. Ask how they would feel if these things were lost or broken. Ask what sorts of things they do in order to keep their special things from getting lost or broken. Once each child has had an opportunity to speak, say that while those things are wonderful and fun, you are going to talk about much more important treasure. Read Matthew 6:21. (For older children, including verses 19-20 in the discussion would also be interesting.) Tell the story of Cornelia and show the picture found HERE.

Ask: What did the women value most? (their jewels - pic found HERE)

What did Cornelia value most? (her children)

Tell the children that your family has a great treasure, too. Show the treasure chest and the clue inside. Tell them you are going to go on a hunt to fill the chest with the most important treasure of all.

Following the clues, go to various areas of the house where you will participate in activities each family member really enjoys. At each station, collect the picture of the family member that most enjoys that activity. Place it in the treasure chest. The final clue should lead you to a delicious family home evening treat. (Suggestion: set a time limit for each station or you may spend a long time on one station. We spent ½ an hour painting and had to pry our children away in order to complete the rest of the hunt.)

While devouring your delicious treat, discuss how our family is so important because it is forever. Remind them of how they would feel if their special toys or things were broken or mistreated, and suggest that when we are unkind to each other, it is like mistreating our treasures. Discuss how we can treat each other so that we show we are grateful for our most precious treasure (our family). Express how grateful you are for each member of the family.