Family Home Evening for John 7-10

 Read or Summarize John 10:1–18, 27–29 (see Activity below, before reading)

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the 

door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Activity

Have your children draw pictures of a shepherd, hireling (worker that helps the shepherd), lamb, wolf, and robber. If they are too young to draw, just print the pictures below and let them color them.

Create a sound or sentence for each character, for example, “baa” for the sheep or “come” for the shepherd. As you read or summarize the story, have the children hold up their picture and say the sound to their picture, everytime it is read.

For example, if reading verse 11: I am the good shepherd (“come”): the good shepherd (“come”) giveth his life for the sheep (“baa”).

Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson

Family Home Evening for Matthew 18; Luke 10

 Read or Summarize Luke 10:25-37

If you would like, you could view this Bible Video, as you read.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Discuss

Who does the man on his way between Jerusalem and Jericho represent?

Who does the Levite and the priest represent?

Who does the Samaritan represent?

Activity

Think of some situations in your children’s lives today that could be compared to this parable. How could they be like the Good Samaritan?

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

Family Home Evening for Matthew 15-17; Mark 7-9

Read Matthew 15:17-20

17 ​Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

​​​18 ​But those things which proceed out of the ​​​mouth​ come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

​​​19 ​For out of the ​​​heart​ proceed evil thoughts, ​​​murders​, ​​​adulteries​, ​​​fornications​, thefts, ​​​false witness​, ​​​blasphemies​:

​​​20 ​These are ​the things​ which ​​​defile​ a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Discuss

Talk about what things we can put into our bodies that are healthy? Would you eat dirt? Why or why not? What about fruit and vegetables? Why or why not? Why are we careful about what we put into our mouths? 

Based on what Jesus taught in these verses, why should we be even more careful about what comes out of our mouths—and out of our hearts? President Nelson taught us a great lesson on the importance of being careful about how we talk to and about others. He taught us the proper way to treat those that we interact with everyday. Listen to his talk here. As you listen, take notes of ways that you can keep your hearts pure?

Watch the video below to see how we did this lesson

 

Easter Family Home Evening for the New Testament Come Follow Me

 Read “The Living Christ” as you read, underline the phrases that relate to Easter.

The Living Christ

The Testimony of the Apostles

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

Discuss

In the April 2023 Conference President Russell M. Nelson said, “Easter is the most important religious celebration for followers of Jesus Christ. The main reason that we celebrate Christmas is because of Easter.” This is because without the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, He would have been just a normal man, but He was not a normal man. He was and is the Son of God. He bore our sins, our iniquities, our sufferings, and our sorrows.

Activity 

Make a poster or display of the things you highlighted to help your family remember the Savior throughout this week.

For the rest of this week, read about the events of the Savior’s final week of mortality. For an outline, click here. 

You could also read 3 Nephi 11 to teach your family about the resurrected Christ’s visit to the Nephites in the  Americas.

Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson