Family Home Evening for Isaiah 40-49

 Read Isaiah 40:3-4

3 ​The ​​​voice​ of him that crieth in the wilderness, ​​​Prepare​ ye the ​​​way​ of the ​​Lord​​, make straight in the desert a ​​​highway​ for our God.

​​​4 ​Every ​​​valley​ shall be ​​​exalted​, and every ​​​mountain​ and hill shall be made ​​​low​: and the ​​​crooked​ shall be made straight, and ​​​the rough places plain​:

Discussion and Activity

As you discuss these things, you could straighten something that is crooked, clear a cluttered floor, or make a clear path in rocky ground (we used kinetic sand).

These scriptures asked us to prepare the way of the Lord. We have had many great examples of men and women who have prepared the way of the Lord. Two of them that come to mind, as especially instrumental, are John the Baptist and Joseph Smith.

How did John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus Christ?

John came before the ministry of Jesus Christ. John testified of Jesus Christ. He taught people that there would be a Savior and Redeemer that would come and redeem all people. He prepared them by preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Luke 3:3). He taught them to be baptized and be prepared for when Jesus came. Many wondered if he was the Christ that they had been taught about. He said that he can only baptize with water, but Jesus would be able to baptize them with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

How did Joseph Smith prepare the way for Jesus Christ?

D&C 135:3 teaches us that he brought forth the Book of Mormon, which He translated by the power of God. He also sent forth the fulness of the everlasting gospel to the four quarters of the earth, brought forth revelations and commandments that helped people learn about Christ and how to become like Him, and helped to establish and restore the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth again.

Both John the Baptist and Joseph Smith died for their missions and testimonies of Jesus Christ.

How can you prepare the way of the Lord?

D&C 33:10 says, “Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled.” We might not always know exactly what to do or what to say, but if we are the valley, talked about in the Isaiah scripture, we will be able to take down the mountains of the world, build up the mountain of Zion, and make a straight path to and for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson

Family Home Evening for Isaiah 13-14; 24-30; 35

 Read 

Isaiah 25:8-9

8 ​He will swallow up ​​​death​ in ​​​​​victory​; and the Lord ​​God​​ will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the ​​​rebuke of his people​ shall he take away from off all the earth: for the ​​Lord​​ hath spoken ​it.​

​​​9 ​​​And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this ​is​ our ​​​God​; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this ​is​ the ​​Lord​​; we have ​​​waited​ for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his ​​​salvation​.

Discuss

Tell the children about someone you know who has died. How do we feel when someone we love dies? Explain that the loved one that died is not dead forever, because of Jesus. Just like your loved one, Jesus died and was buried. His loved ones cried as they burried Him in a tomb. Three days later, Jesus was resurrected, and He lived again! It was hard for people to believe, because this had never happened before.

The scriptures we just read say that Jesus “swallowed up death in victory.” This means that because Jesus was resurrected, everyone will have the same opportunity to be resurrected. 

Explain that when your loved one died how it made you feel, and how you reacted. Many people cry when their loved ones die, because they love and miss them. What did the scriptures say that Jesus will do with our tears?

We don’t have to be super sad when someone dies, because we know that they are not dead forever. As part of our eternal family, we know that we can all be resurrected and be together again someday, because of Jesus Christ. 

This scripture also said that we will rejoice in His salvation. How do you rejoice in his salvation?

Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson

Family Home Evening for Isaiah 1-12

 Read Isaiah 1:16-18

16 ​​​​​​Wash​ you, make you ​​​clean​; put away the ​​​evil​ of your doings from before mine eyes; ​​​cease​ to do evil;

​​​17 ​​​​Learn​ to do ​​​well​; seek ​​​judgment​, ​​​relieve​ the oppressed, ​​​judge the fatherless​, plead for the ​​​widow​.

​​​18 ​Come now, and let us ​​​reason​ together, saith the ​​Lord​​: though your ​​​sins​ be as scarlet, they shall be as ​​​white​ as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Discussion and Activity

Sister Sharon Eubank, in her April 2019 General Conference talk, explained the meaning of these versus. She explained that, “The scarlet dye of the Old Testament was not only colorful but also colorfast, meaning that its vivid color stuck to the wool and would not fade no matter how many times it was washed.  (Get a white towel or old, white t-shirt. Pour cranberry juice on the white material.)

Satan wields this reasoning like a club: white wool stained scarlet can never go back to being white. (Rinse the towel in just water and show that it doesn’t come out)

But Jesus Christ declares, “My ways [are] higher than your ways,” and the miracle of His grace is that when we repent of our sins, His scarlet blood returns us to purity. It isn’t logical, but it is nevertheless true. Christ is the one that makes wool white.” (Add bleach or another stain remover to the towel, rinse in the water and show that it is white again)

She goes on to say, “I testify you are beloved. The Lord knows how hard you are trying. You are making progress. Keep going. He sees all your hidden sacrifices and counts them to your good and the good of those you love. Your work is not in vain. You are not alone. His very name, Emmanuel, means “God with us.” He is surely with you.”

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