Family Home Evening for Ether 6-11

 Continue Teaching

Last week we learned about how the Brother of Jared pleaded with the Lord, and He didn’t confound his language, his brother’s language, and the languages of some of their other friends and family members. This week, we are learning about when the Lord commanded them to cross the ocean and go to the Promised Land. The same Promised Land that Lehi and his family were commanded to go to.

The Lord told the Brother of Jared to make some barges, or nut shaped boats that were “tight, like unto a dish,” meaning no water would be able to get into them. The Brother of Jared had a couple concerns when building these barges, and just like we can do when we have concerns, the Brother of Jared prayed to the Lord. As we read what he said to the Lord, find the 3 things that the Brother of Jared was concerned about. This is what he said:

Read Ether 2:19

19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.

The Lord answered his 3 concerns in this way

How will we breathe? Read Ether 2:20

20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.

How will we steer? Read Ether 2:24

24 For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth.

How do we get light? Read Ether 2:25

25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?

Teach

This set of scriptures is amazing, because it demonstrates in one story three different ways that the Lord answers our prayers. 

1. Sometimes the Lord answers our questions and blesses us with guidance on what to do, such as telling the Brother of Jared to put air holes in the top and bottom of the boat and adding a plug to keep the water out.

2.  Sometimes He blesses us by solving our problems for us, just like He guided the barges across the ocean. 

3. Finally, sometimes the Lord wants us to bring a solution to Him, and He works through our problems with us. As He did with getting light in the barges.

The Brother of Jared went and got 16 stones, 2 for each of the 8 barges, and he heated them until they were so hot that they became transparent or see through, like glass. He took these stones back to where he prayed to the Lord and said:

Read Ether 3:4

4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

Teach

When the Lord reached forth His finger and touched the stones, they glowed like a bright lamp, without using fire. So they were able to cross the ocean with light, air, and being steered by the power of the Lord.

They spent 344 days in their barges or boats. At times, they were scared, because the waves were so big and their boats were thrown all over, but they sang praises to God and never complained. When they arrived on the shores of the promised land, here is what happened:

Read Ether 6:12

12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.

Discuss 

What are some tender mercies that you have received from the Lord? As you recognize these, remember to thank Him for the small and big things that He blesses you with everyday.

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Family Home Evening for Ether 1-5

 Teach

One of the things that Mormon told Moroni to do was to finish abridging the Book of Ether. The Book of Ether was found by the people of Limhi, and translated by the power of God through Mosiah. You can read about when they were found in Mosiah 21:26-27.

The Book of Ether actually took place before Lehi left Jerusalem with his family. Ether begins at the time of the Tower of Babel. This is a time when all the people were so wicked that God confounded the languages. Meaning He made it so everyone spoke a different language so that nobody could understand each other.

In Ether, we read about how the Brother of Jared asked Jared to plead with the Lord not to confound their languages and the languages of their close friends.

Activity

To help children understand why this was so difficult. If you speak another language (or use Google Translate for a decent translation), use this foreign language to ask your children to complete a simple task. If possible, give the same directions in a few different languages.

Discuss

After the activity we just did, why do you think the Brother of Jared didn’t want their languages changed?

Teach

When Jared prayed to God, here is what happened.

Read or Summarize Ether 1:35 and 37

35 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon Jared; therefore he did not confound the language of Jared; and Jared and his brother were not confounded.

37 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon their friends and their families also, that they were not confounded.

Discuss

How did God respond to Jared’s prayer? How do you think He responds to yours? 

Share your testimonies of times when God showed you compassion.

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Family Home Evening for Mormon 7-9

 Teach

Moroni was the son of Mormon. This is the same Moroni that we refer to as “Angel Moroni,” that is blowing a trumpet on the tops of many temple spires. He is also the same Moroni who appeared to Joseph Smith and told him where the gold plates were buried and gave him instructions on how to receive them.

When Moroni was a mortal man, he was the last Nephite on the earth. He watched all of the Nephites get destroyed, including his own father, Mormon, the captain of the Nephites. This is how he felt, in his own words.

Read or Summarize Mormon 8:1-4

1 Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.

2 And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.

3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.

4 Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.

Teach

Moroni wrote the last bits of things his father asked him to, before his death. Moroni watched his people, the Nephites get chased down and killed by the Lamanites, and he barely had the tools needed to finish the Book of Mormon. He had no idea what would happen to him, but he didn’t care, as long as he could just fulfill what Heavenly Father needed him to do. He wrote:

Read or Summarize Mormon 8:5-7

5 Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.

6 Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior.

Teach

It had finally happened. The destruction of the Nephites was prophesied from the very beginning of the Book of Mormon. Now we learned how it happened. It was only 400 years from the birth of Jesus Christ. This was only about 364 years after the Resurrected Jesus Christ walked among them, taught them, and blessed them. These people’s great grandparents most likely were among the children who were called and personally blessed by Jesus Christ. 

As his father, Mormon, abridged the Book of Mormon, he taught Moroni all of the words of the prophets that we’ve read about this year. Imagine the pain and the sorrow that he felt as he realized that he was alone.

Discuss

 If you were in this situation, how would you feel? What would you write if there was only a little bit of space left for you to write on the Gold Plates?

Teach

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Moroni decided to give advice to us. The Lord showed him our day, and he wanted to warn us and teach us of the importance and goodness of God. He wrote:

Mormon 8:34-35

34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

Teach

When we go through hard things and feel alone in our sufferings, we can be like Moroni and teach others about Heavenly Father’s Great Plan of Happiness that includes the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We can feel better as we serve others.

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Family Home Evening for Mormon 1-6

 Discuss

Today, we are going to learn more about the Book of Mormon prophet, named Mormon. He has his own book in the Book of Mormon that he wrote, and he helped Heavenly Father and Jesus by taking all of the words that the other Book of Mormon prophets wrote, finding the important information, and putting it together into the Book that we read, known as the Book of Mormon. Because Mormon followed Jesus Christ, he was given opportunities to serve and bless others, and his obedience continues to serve and bless others, every time someone reads the Book of Mormon.

By the time he was only about 10 years old, Mormon was remarkably different from the people around him. As you read the following verses, look for ways that Mormon’s faith in Jesus Christ made him unique and gave him opportunities to serve and bless others.

Read

Mormon 1:1-3

1 And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.

2 And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;

3 Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.

He continued to be different as he grew up in the wicked, Nephite nation. Most of the people were so wicked, that they didn’t turn to God for help anymore, but not Mormon.

Mormon 1:15-16

15-years-old

15 And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus.

By the time Mormon was 16-years-old, the Lamanites began to try to completely destroy the Nephites. Though he was young, he had a huge responsibility.

16-years-old

Mormon 2:2

2 Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away.

By his late twenties to early thirties, Mormon and his son, Moroni, were the last of the Nephites to believe in God and follow His commandments. Though they refused to listen, Mormon loved the people so much, he refused to give up on them.

Late Twenties-Early Thirties 

Mormon 3:2-3, 12

2 And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared.

3 And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God.

12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts.

Discuss

You live in a world much like Mormon did. What can you do to serve others and show them the same love of God that Mormon showed his people?

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Family Home Evening for 3 Nephi 27-4

 What question did Jesus’s Disciples have?

Read or summarize 3 Nephi 27:3

3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.

Discuss

Why are our names important?

Talk about your children’s names and why they were chosen.

Read or Summarize Jesus’s Response 

4 And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?

5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.

7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.

8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

Discuss

Just as Jesus Christ asked His disciples in the Book of Mormon to call His church after His name, He asked the prophet, Joseph Smith, to do the same in the Latter-days. Many people refer to members of  the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Mormons, because we are the only church to study scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Although Mormon was a great prophet of old, we do not worship him. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and He is the Son of God. This is His church, and it is important that people understand this. Our Latter-day prophet, President Nelson has said, 

“Thus, the name of the Church is not negotiable. When the Savior clearly states what the name of His Church should be, and even precedes His declaration with, 'Thus shall my church be called,’ He is serious. And if we allow nicknames to be used and adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, He is offended.”

“"If someone should ask, 'Are you a Mormon?' you could reply, 'If you are asking if I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, yes, I am!'

"If someone asks, 'Are you a Latter-day Saint?' you might respond, 'Yes, I am. I believe in Jesus Christ and am a member of His restored Church.'”

If Jesus sees it important to tell His prophet to tell the members of His restored church to call the church by His name, then He sees it as important, and we should too. 

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Family Home Evening for 3 Nephi 20-26

 Read or Summarize 3 Nephi 25:5-6

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Discuss

Who is Elijah and what power does he have?

In his day, Elijah ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He had great faith in the Lord and is noted for many miracles. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that Elijah held the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood and was the last prophet to do so before the time of Jesus Christ. He appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:3). He appeared again, with Moses and others, on April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland Ohio Temple and conferred the same keys upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (D&C 110:13–16). All of this was in preparation for the Second Coming of the Lord, as spoken of in Malachi 4:5–6.

The power of Elijah is the sealing power of the priesthood by which things that are bound or loosed on earth are bound or loosed in heaven. Chosen servants of the Lord on earth today have this sealing power and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead (D&C 128:8).

Why is the sealing power important?

To make valid in heaven the ordinances performed by priesthood authority on earth. Ordinances are sealed when they receive the approval of the Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the Holy Ghost. This means that as we gather our ancestors and those we loved on earth, we bind them to us. Think of this bond as the links in a chain. Each family member you find and seal to you, gets added to the chain. Only this chain is not a chain that gets broken when we die. The Holy Ghost seals those bonds beyond death, so that we will never be separated again. Families are meant to be eternal. We are meant to be together forever.

What do we have to do to be sealed to our ancestors?

1. Visit familysearch.org. This is a free website that anyone can enjoy. Type in the name of at least one of your known ancestors who have passed away. One cool note is that if people have discovered this ancestor before you, they may have added pictures and stories about them. If you have pictures and stories, you can add these treasures for other people to find. For a guide on how to build your tree, go here. 

2. Continue searching and working backwards to expand your family tree and to discover ancestors who do not have their temple work done for them.

3. Print their ordinance card.

4. Give this card to a person who holds a temple recommend, or if you do, take this card with you to the temple.

5. In the temple, you can perform the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, initiatories, endowments, and sealings on behalf of your relatives.

6. Your relatives will have the opportunity to decide if they want to accept or reject the ordinances that you performed (Agency is eternal!).

7. Your eternal family just got bigger!

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Family Home Evening for 3 Nephi 17-19

 Read 3 Nephi 18:18-21

18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

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

Discuss

When Jesus visited the Nephites, after His resurrection, He administered the Sacrament and taught them the importance of prayer. Read the scriptures above and discuss the reasons why we should pray, according to what Jesus taught. Discuss how we should act during prayer and bare testimony of how prayer has blessed your lives.

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Family Home Evening for Mosiah 29-Alma 4

 Read Alma 1:2

2 And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength.

Tell your children that this man’s name is Nehor. As you read these next verses (Alma 1:3-4), have your children find the false teachings of Nehor. Help them to understand the real truth to these teachings.

3 And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.

4 And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.

Example

1. Every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.

1. Disciples of Heavenly Father and Jesus are humble and serve others. We shouldn’t expect people to pay us for service. We also should never think that we are better than anyone else because of how much money we have or what position we hold in the church.

2. All mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble.

1. Only those who have faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, repent, take upon them the name of Jesus Christ (through baptism), receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end will be saved at the last day.

3. The Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.

1. As we have learned in previous lessons, all people will be resurrected and never die, but eternal happiness is for those who make sacred covenants with Heavenly Father, accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ, repent, and follow His teachings.

Closing

Warn your children that often others will mix scriptures with things that are not true. They will use this to try and make you feel like the truths you know are not real, and that you have been misguided by the scriptures, by what you have learned at church, and the things that the Holy Ghost has confirmed to you are true. If ever you are not sure if something is true or not, pray and Heavenly Father will tell you what is true by the Power of the Holy Ghost.

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Family Home Evening for Mosiah 25-28

 Read or Summarize Mosiah 27:8-24 (Great Summary of this set of scriptures is found here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/book-of-mormon-stories/chapter-18-alma-the-younger-repents?lang=eng)

8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.

9 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.

10 And now it came to pass that while he was going about to destroy the church of God, for he did go about secretly with the sons of Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or even the king—

11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;

12 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them.

13 Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.

14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.

15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from God.

16 Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.

17 And now it came to pass that these were the last words which the angel spake unto Alma, and he departed.

18 And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder.

19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father.

20 And they rehearsed unto his father all that had happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the power of God.

21 And he caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him.

22 And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God.

23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:

24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.

Discussion

Ask your family what Alma and his people did to help Alma the Younger. 

What is fasting? 

Fasting is a commandment from the Lord where we humble ourselves before Him by voluntarily refraining from eating and drinking, usually 2 meals in a 24 hour period. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught: “Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. (“The Law of the Fast,” Apr. 2001 general conference).

Have you ever fasted and prayed for someone? Share your experience with your children, and let them share theirs

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