Monday, May 5, 2025

Family Home Evening 2025 D&C 45

 Read D&C 45:32

32 But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.


Discuss

A holy place is a place where we can feel the Spirit speak to us. What are some holy places that God has given us?


Teach

You may have thought of churches or temples, but did you know that nearly any place could be a holy place? In January 2019, we started the Come Follow Me program in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Before its release, President Nelson said this, “As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of “church” as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.” This statement taught us that our homes needed to become a holy place, just like a church or a temple. Our homes need to become a safe place where words of love are spoken, where we can receive personal revelations for ourselves and our family members, where we can grow spiritually and physically. So that when we go to school, work, or other activities, we can make our hearts a holy place, protected from the influence of Satan and his followers.


Discuss

What can you do to make your home a more sacred place? How can this help you to feel the Spirit more when you are not at home, church, or the temple?


Watch

Click on the picture below to see how we did this lesson


Friday, May 2, 2025

Family Home Evening for D&C 41-44

Read D&C 41:5

5 He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not my disciple, and shall be cast out from among you;


Discuss

This scripture tells us that in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, we need to do two things. What are they?


It tells us to RECEIVE His law and DO it. What does this mean to you?


Teach

Imagine it is your birthday party. When it is time to open the presents, your friend goes to the pile of gifts and brings it to you. How do you receive the gift? 


You don’t just take the gift, then set it aside, right? You take it, you open it, and if it means enough to you, you begin to use it or play with it in your everyday life.


This is the same with the Laws of Jesus Christ. When we receive a law or commandment from Jesus Christ, we don’t just think, “Oh that’s cool,” and continue doing what we’ve always done. We hear it, understand it, and make it part of our everyday life. This is the “doing” part of our discipleship.


Only when we receive His laws AND do them, can we become true disciples or followers of Jesus Christ.


Discuss

How are you, individually or as a family, trying to be better disciples of Jesus Christ?


Watch

Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson.


Wednesday, April 23, 2025

2025 Family Home Evening for D&C 37-40

 Read or Summarize D&C 38:7-9

7 But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;

8 But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day.

9 Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome.


Discuss

Have you ever had to prepare for something like a vacation, school project, sporting event, or recital? What did you do to prepare?


Lesson

These scriptures tell us the Lord is watching over us. He is always there, we just can’t see Him, but He also tells us that we will see Him again soon. If we work to prepare ourselves spiritually, keep the commandments, and repent, we will be prepared when Satan and his followers come to tempt us or make us feel like there is no hope. In these scriptures, the Lord tells us that if we are prepared, Satan and his followers will have no power against us.


Discuss

What things can you do to prepare to have the strength of the Lord to help you?


Watch

Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson.


Sunday, April 13, 2025

Family Home Evening for Holy Week Easter 2025

 This is an adaptation of the Easter Holy Week Study Plan from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found here . There is a cute, printable Easter week Journal for kids found here.


*Note* Videos will become public at midnight on the corresponding day of the week for Easter week in 2025


Palm Sunday

When Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on the last week of His life, a crowd of believers welcomed Him joyously, shouting “Hosanna” and casting palm leaves and even their coats on the ground in front of Him. While He was later teaching these followers in the city, the Savior was asked which commandment was the most important. His answer was:


Read Matthew 22:37–40

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart⁠, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind⁠.

38 This is the first and great commandment⁠.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


Invitation

Welcome the Savior into your heart today, and prayerfully ask Heavenly Father to increase your love for Him and for your neighbor. Find a quiet place to pray and ponder, or think. Try to sit quietly and still for 5 minutes as you pray. During this time, try to feel how much you are loved by God and His Son, Jesus Christ.


Discuss

  • What did you experience as you prayed to feel the love of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ?

  • What does this experience motivate you to do for others?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 1: Palm Sunday


Monday

During the last week of His earthly life, the Lord took the time to clear the temple of money changers, restoring its sacred nature as a “house of prayer” (⁠Matthew 21:13⁠)—a place where women and men may commune with God. Once the temple was again a sacred, holy space, Jesus Christ compassionately healed people there.


Read Matthew 21:14

14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.


Invitation

We learn two important lessons from this event. First, we show love for God by honoring sacred spaces—this includes our hearts, our minds, and our homes—and striving to keep them clean from sin and corruption. This week:

  • Think of one thing you can clean up from your life. 

    • Maybe you can clean up your living space so that it is not full of so much stuff and noise

    • Maybe you can clean up a fight you are having with a friend or family member.


God wants to heal us and help us become true disciples of Christ, it can be difficult when we are weighed down by burdens as imperfect people living in an imperfect world.


Discuss

What is one step you can take today to create more holy and sacred spaces in your life?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 2: Monday


Tuesday

Jesus Christ spent His final days in Jerusalem teaching, serving, and showing love for others. He also taught how we can best express our love for Him. In Matthew 25⁠:40 Jesus taught us that everytime we do something nice for someone else, it is like we served Him. He said


Read Matthew 25:40

40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.


Invitation

Do something, today, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, or reach out to someone who may feel lonely or like nobody cares about them?


Discuss

How could regularly serving others with greater love bless your life and the lives of people you love?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 3: Tuesday


Wednesday

A short time before the last week of the Savior’s mortal ministry, Jesus had visited Bethany to see His friends Mary and Martha. They were sad because their brother, Lazarus, had died. Seeing His friends sad, made Jesus sad. 


Read John 11:35-36

35. Jesus wept.

36. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!


Invitation

Today, take some time to rest, remember, and record at least one moment in which you felt or saw God’s miraculous hand in your life.


Discuss

How has Jesus’s divine love helped you to better understand Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?


What does the words belief and faith mean to you?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 4: Wednesday


Thursday

On Thursday, Jesus Christ gathered with His Apostles to honor the Passover. During what we now call the Last Supper, Jesus told His friends how much He loved them. His words hinted at the painful events that would come within hours, when He would suffer for the sins of the world in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. But Christ also told His Apostles that the darkness ahead would soon be made beautiful by a gift of love.


Read John 15:13

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.


Invitation

Think of some ways that you could follow Jesus’s example by expressing love for friends and family today, either in person or from a distance.


Discuss

Is expressing love for those around you easy or difficult for you? What might help you complete this invitation?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 5: Thursday


Friday

On Friday, Jesus was put on trial, condemned, beaten, and crucified by those who hated Him. But on the cross Jesus showed that His compassion was so much bigger than their cruelty. In Luke 23:34⁠, Jesus spoke from the cross, addressing His Father on behalf of those who were wrongly crucifying Him, when He said:


Read Luke 23:34

34 Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.


At a time when it would have been easy to return hate for hate, Jesus Christ taught us how to show greater love through His incredible act of forgiveness. Throughout His ministry, the Lord consistently taught about our responsibility as disciples to let go of past hurt and allow His love, His mercy, and His perfect judgment to guide our lives. He also taught that when we choose to forgive, we will be forgiven of our own wrongdoings and missteps. When we choose forgiveness, He offers His ultimate peace and healing.


Invitation

To honor the Savior’s sacrifice for you, you can try to put an old grudge or your hate and anger to rest this Easter season. It may not happen immediately, but with the help of the Lord, peace will come.


It is important to remember that offering forgiveness doesn’t take away the consequences of a person’s actions. For example, your forgiveness does not require you to put yourself back in harmful situations. Forgiveness is about letting go of bitterness, anger, resentment, and thoughts of revenge as you allow the Lord to heal you. 


Discuss

How does your practice of forgiveness help you to understand and know Jesus Christ better?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 6: Friday


Saturday

On the Saturday after Jesus was crucified, His disciples were extremely sad for the loss of their great friend and Master. But earlier He had told them that He would not leave them comfortless. Jesus had taught:


Read John 14:26-27

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


When life is hard, the comfort and peace of the Holy Ghost can help us feel God’s love, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be. Because of this gift, we can feel hope instead of fear for ourselves and others. Even when there is no peace on earth, there is always peace in Christ.


Invitation

Feel the peace of the Holy Ghost by listening to sacred music or watching uplifting videos about the Savior, and pay close attention to the thoughts and feelings that come to your mind and heart about the Savior and His love for you.


Discuss

What feelings and thoughts did you notice as you listened to music or watched videos about the Savior and His sacrifice for you?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 7: Saturday


Easter Sunday

When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Sunday morning to care for Jesus’s body, one word lifted her from the depths of sorrow to the realization that hope lives. That one word was her name, spoken by the resurrected Son of God:


Read John 20:15-16

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.



Mary didn’t realize that Jesus Christ was there in front of her until she heard Him say her name—but that one word was the beginning of a beautiful celebration of the Savior’s Resurrection. Like Mary, those of us who seek Jesus Christ can discover that He knows each of us by name and that we are invited to see and know Him and His glory. Because of His sacrifice, we can return to live with Him again and all people will be resurrected. Truly, there has never been a greater love.


Invitation

Today, seek the Lord as Mary did by going to a place where He can be found. Celebrate the gift of His Atonement and Resurrection at an Easter church service, and invite others to join you. Sing songs of His redeeming love, and feel the Spirit testify that Jesus Christ knows you personally.


Discuss

What unexpected things did you learn as you studied about Jesus Christ this Holy Week?


Watch

See how we did this lesson by clicking here

Easter Week 2025 Day 8: Easter Sunday



Family Home Evening for D&C 30-36

 Read D&C 30:1-2

1 Behold, I say unto you, David, that you have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought.


2 But your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called; and you have not given heed unto my Spirit⁠, and to those who were set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded.


Discuss

What are some “things of the earth” that can distract us from remembering Jesus Christ and His gospel? How can we keep our focus on Him?


This doesn’t mean that we can only do things like read our scriptures, pray, go to church, and watch church movies all of the time. What we can do is keep our foundation on the gospel of Jesus Christ at all times. 


When we are out playing with our friends, do we do and say good things?


When we play things like video games and board games, do they have things in them that would make you want to put them away if the Savior walked into the room?


When we earn money, do we remember to pay tithing first?


When we make choices to participate in activities and hobbies, always remember that you represent a disciple of Jesus Christ. Always do things and behave in a way that shows Heavenly Father that His commandments and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are important to you.


Watch

Click on the picture below to see how we did this lesson.

 


Monday, March 31, 2025

2025 Family Home Evening for D&C 29

 Read D&C 76:114

114 But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;


Teach

This week, we are learning about the Plan of Salvation also known as the Plan of Happiness. The best summary that I could find was published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You can find it by clicking on the picture below.


Here are some notes that I took from D&C 29 and 76 That summarize what is in the video above, if you would prefer to use them instead. Click here for notes.


What about little children?

Read D&C 29:46-47

46 But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;

47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;


Teach

These scriptures teach us that little children who die, before the age of accountability, are automatically saved through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The age of accountability is 8-years-old, when they are old enough to better understand right from wrong and receive the covenant of baptism.


Watch

Click on the picture below to see how we did this lesson