Family Home Evening for "We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning"

 Read Matthew 13:3-8

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, (click the “by the wayside” link below) and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: (Click the “stony places” link below)

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; (click the” thorns” link below) and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, (click the “soil” link below) and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Discuss

This story is called a parable. Jesus taught a lot of gospel principles, using parables. A parable is a story, used to teach a lesson. The story you just read is not really about planting seeds. It is actually about how you develop your testimony.

Read Matthew 13:19-23 to learn about what each seed represents.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Discuss

Which place do you want to plant your testimony? How can you help each other in “growing” your testimonies?

By the Wayside	Stony Places
Thorns	Soil

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

Christmas 2022 Family Home Evening

 For this week, start (or continue) a Christmas tradition that will help your family come closer to Jesus Christ. Help your children learn and remember the true meaning of Christmas. We give and receive Christmas gifts, because God gave us His Only Begotten Son. Jesus was the first Christmas gift. You might consider discussing as a family some traditions you want to start. Some ideas might include serving someone in need, inviting a friend to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional with you (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts?lang=eng&opt-out-beta=true&video=11519526796484774745&mode=watch), writing your own Christmas song, or finding a creative way to share the message of Christ’s birth. Click this link to take you to the video, we made last year, of a tradition we have done to come closer to Jesus. 

Click the picture below to see our new tradition.

Family Home Evening Lesson fro Malachi

 Read or Summarize Malachi 3:8-12

8 ​​​​​​Will​ a man ​​​rob​ God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ​​​tithes​ and offerings.

​​​9 ​Ye ​are​ ​​​cursed​ with a curse: for ye have robbed me, ​even​ this whole nation.

​​​10 ​Bring ye all the ​​​tithes​ into the storehouse, that there may be ​​​meat​ in mine house, and ​​​prove​ me now herewith, saith the ​​Lord​​ of hosts, if I will not ​​​open​ you the ​​​windows of heaven​, and pour you out a ​​​blessing​, that ​there shall​ not ​be room​ enough ​to receive it.​

​​​11 ​And I will ​​​rebuke​ the ​​​devourer​ for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the ​​Lord​​ of hosts.

​​​12 ​And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the ​​Lord​​ of hosts.

Discuss

What is tithing?

D&C 119:4 simply states that all members “shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, … saith the Lord.”

What is tithing used for?

In Elder David A. Bednar’s talk “The Windows of Heaven” (Ensign October 2013), he said, “These sacred funds are used in a rapidly growing church to spiritually bless individuals and families by constructing and maintaining temples and houses of worship, supporting missionary work, translating and publishing scriptures, fostering family history research, funding schools and religious education, and accomplishing many other Church purposes as directed by the Lord’s ordained servants.”

Share Your Testimony

Share your testimonies with each other of the blessings of tithing. Elder Bednar discussed how his mother recognized that by giving the Lord 10% of their income, they didn’t spend as much money on medical bills. Elder Bednar bore his testimony of tithing by saying, “I testify spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing. I bear witness that such blessings often are significant but subtle.”

Activity 

Look at the following incomes below. Have children identify how much money in each group should be given to tithing. If you give your children an allowance, help them figure out how much money they should give to tithing.

Answers to the activity, and our video for this lesson is in the video, when you click on the picture below.