Family Home Evening for Hebrews 1-6

 Read Hebrews 2:9-10

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Lesson

Ask your children to tell you what a captain is. They may think of Captain America, the captain of a ship, the captain of a sports team, etc. What characteristics does a captain have? Make a list of these attributes. 

The scripture above says that Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation. How do the attributes that you listed above compare to the attributes that the Savior has? Verse 9 lists some special attributes that help us understand how Jesus is the Captain of Our Salvation. Discuss these as a family.

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Family Home Evening for 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon

 Read 1 Timothy 4:12

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Lesson and Activity

This scripture teaches us that even though you are young, you can be an example of a believer of Jesus Christ. Talk about or act out ways that you can be an example of a believer. Use the ways, given in the scripture, for guidance.

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Family Home Evening for 1 and 2 Thessalonians

 Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14-25

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

25 Brethren, pray for us.

Activity

Have each family member find a phrase that the family could focus on. Find creative ways to display these phrases in your home as a reminder. For example, each person might find or draw pictures that illustrate or reinforce the phrase he or she chose.

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Family Home Evening for Philippians and Colossians

 Read or Summarize Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Lesson

Sometimes, life gets really hard. It can feel like we are being pushed beyond what we are capable of handling. It feels like we are pushing a giant rock up a hill, or carrying a heavy burden, while blindfolded, so we can’t see where we are going or how much longer we have to endure our suffering. We can find strength in remembering the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We can find strength in knowing that Jesus suffered all things, and endured all of our trials to the very end. He is there, cheering us on and lifting us up, and encouraging us to endure just a little longer. 

In trials, I like to think that Jesus says to me, as he did to Joseph Smith, in Liberty Jail, “ My [child], peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” (D&C 121:7-8)

President Russell M. Nelson said, “When the focus of our lives is on … Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy.” (“Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82).

Discuss

When have you found strength through Christ to do hard things?

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Family Home Evening for Ephesians

 Read or Summarize Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Activity

Use household items and/or cardboard boxes to make the Armor of God. Have one of your children dress in the Armor of God. As you dress your child, discuss the different parts of the armor and what they represent. Have the other family members throw “fiery darts.” This could be foam darts, wadded up paper, or some other projectile. As they throw them at the person in armor, point out that with the armor on, they are fully protected, just as we are fully protected from Satan.

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Family Home Evening for Galatians

 Read or Summarize Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Lesson

Look at this picture pair, can you tell which one is fruit and which one is not? How do you know?

What about this one?

In the scripture above, we read that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Things of the Spirit are super easy to recognize when we are choosing the right and doing good things. When we choose the right, the Spirit helps us to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong, just like it was easy for you to spot the real fruit in the first group of pictures. 

Sometimes, when we don’t choose the right and listen to the Spirit, it becomes a little bit tougher to tell what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes, what is wrong tries to look like what is right. Just like in the second group of pictures 

When you walk in the Spirit, by choosing the right and praying to Heavenly Father, you will be able to overcome temptations and tell what is right and wrong.

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Family Home Evening For 2 Corinthians 8-13

 Read or Summarize 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Lesson

Often, we think that service is something big like cleaning someone else’s house, doing someone else’s yard work, visiting the elderly, or fixing someone's dinner. All of these things are great acts of service, but did you know that the dictionary defines service as “the action of helping or doing work for someone.”

The “someone” in this definition could be anyone. It could be as big as the whole world, your country, your state, your community, your neighborhood, or even as small as your house, your parents, your siblings, or your pets.

Think about it, if your mom or dad are busy, and you decide to serve them by cleaning the toys up in the family room. You just served them! The action you did was cleaning up. You helped your parents, because you did work for them. If you didn’t clean up, then they would have to do it themselves later.

If your little brother is crying and you ask him what is wrong and help him feel better, you just served your brother. The action you did was offering help and showing you cared, and the work you did was finding out a solution to the problem that made him sad.

The scriptures above teach us that God wants us to be a cheerful giver. If you complain, yell, or stomp your feet when you serve or are asked to serve, then you are not being a cheerful giver. One way that helps me to be a cheerful giver is I think of how surprised or happy I will make the person I am serving. I also think about how happy Heavenly Father is when I do nice things for His children.

Discuss 

What are some ways that you can change your thinking so that you can become a more cheerful giver?

Activity 

Think of some ways that you can serve. Think of one thing at each level of service, mentioned above (family members, home, neighborhood, community, area, and world),  and do them! As you do them, be cheerful in your service.

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Family Home Evening for 2 Corinthians 1-7

 Read 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Activity 

Show your children the following pictures and ask them to identify which one is different from the others, in each group.

Lesson

In the first 5 groups, it was very easy to spot the different one. In the next 4 groups it was a little more difficult, the next group it was a lot harder, and by the last one, it was only a teeny, tiny, little difference. In the scripture, at the beginning of the lesson, Heavenly Father said that he wants us to “come out from among them, and be ye separate.” This does not mean that God wants us to put ourselves above others and believe that we are better than anyone else. Just like you were able to look at the pictures above and spot the difference, people will look at you and know that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, by the way you act, the things you say, and what you do. 

Here is a story that President James E Faust told in October 2005 General Conference that demonstrates this principle:

I recently recalled a historic meeting in Jerusalem about 17 years ago. It was regarding the lease for the land on which the Brigham Young University’s Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies was later built. Before this lease could be signed, President Ezra Taft Benson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of Brigham Young University, agreed with the Israeli government on behalf of the Church and the university not to proselyte in Israel. You might wonder why we agreed not to proselyte. We were required to do so in order to get the building permit to build that magnificent building which stands in the historic city of Jerusalem. To our knowledge the Church and BYU have scrupulously and honorably kept that nonproselyting commitment. After the lease had been signed, one of our friends insightfully remarked, “Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes?” He was referring to our students who were studying in Israel.

What was that light in their eyes which was so obvious to our friend? The Lord Himself gives the answer: “And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings.” Where did that light come from? Again the Lord gives the answer: “I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” The Lord is the true light, “and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” This light shows in our countenances as well as in our eyes.

Discuss

How brightly would you say that the Light of Jesus Christ shines in you? Are you like the last group of pictures where it is super hard to see, or are you like the first 5 groups of pictures where it is super easy to see? If it is not as bright, what things can you do to help it get brighter? If it does help you stand out in a crowd, then how can you continue to keep that light?

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Family Home Evening for 1 Corinthians 14-16

 Read 1 Corinthians 16:3

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Activity

Make a small circle or boundary on the ground and instruct a family member to “stand fast” inside it with his or her eyes closed (or blindfolded). Then others could try to push or pull him or her from the circle. Repeat the activity with the blindfold off. 

Discuss

What difference does it make when the person in the circle has his or her eyes open and can “watch”? What can we do to “stand strong” when we are tempted to make bad choices?

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Family Home Evening for 1 Corinthians 8-13

 Find a fun way to read, draw, summarize, or act out 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them  in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Discuss

How can your family apply Paul’s teaching to unity in your family? To unity in your church ward community? To unity in the world around you?

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Family Home Evening for 1 Corinthians 1-7

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Lesson

In this scripture, Paul describes our bodies as a temple. (Show your children a picture of a temple or several temples) Ask your children what they notice about the temples. Point out that temples are beautiful, unique, clean, well kept, and strongly built.

Just like temples are beautiful, God created us to be beautiful and unique. Just like every temple looks differently on the outside and the inside, every person is different from every other person. 

Also just like temples are clean, well kept, and strongly built. We should take good care of our bodies. We can do this by staying clean, keeping our hair cut nicely, combing or brushing our hair, brushing our teeth, eating good foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising. 

 Most importantly, the outside of every temple has the inscription “House of the Lord Holiness to the Lord.” This means that the temples belong to Heavenly Father and Jesus. 

Our bodies also belong to Heavenly Father and Jesus. Paul reminds us that God gave His Only Begotten Son and Jesus gave His life as the price for your body. Because of Their sacrifices you have been given your body, and you will keep it forever, after you are resurrected. 

We should also keep in mind Paul’s reminder that our bodies are a house for the Holy Ghost to live in. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell in an unclean temple. So we need to keep our mind and heart clean and allow the Holy Ghost to guide our actions, so that we can always feel His influence.

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Family Home Evening for Romans 7-16

 Read or Summarize Romans 8:35-38

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lesson

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Heavenly Father gave you His Son, when He allowed Jesus Christ to suffer and die for not only all of your sins, or wrong things that you do, Christ also suffered for all of our pains and afflictions. This means that when you feel sad, hurt, sick, or overwhelmed, Christ felt it and suffered through it, and He knows exactly how you feel. 

In the scriptures, this week, we learn that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become “more than conquerors” through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This means that we don’t just make it through our hardships. When we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ to give us strength, courage, and power we can completely conquer anything. Paul bore his testimony that when we do this, nothing could separate us from the Love of God.

Discuss

When have you felt the love of God in a trial?

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Family Home Evening for Romans 1-6

 Read or Summarize Romans 3:23-28

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Activity 

Place a toy on a high shelf and ask your child to get it down. If they ask if they can get a chair or stool to help them. Say that they can (place it high enough that they still won’t be able to get it while standing on the object). Tell them that if they will give you a hug, tell you that they love you, and promise to listen to you that you will help them get the toy down. After they do those three things,  lift them up, so that they can reach the toy.

Lesson

Tell your child that the toy represents eternal life. Grace is “divine … help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.” Through grace, all people will be resurrected and receive immortality. In addition, “grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.” We do not earn grace through our efforts; rather, it is grace that gives us “strength and assistance to do good works that [we] otherwise would not be able to maintain.” No matter what we do, we can not receive eternal life, just like no matter what you did, you could not reach the toy. In this scenario, I (the parent) represented Jesus Christ. Eternal life is always there, just like the toy was always there, but in order to receive eternal life, we need to use the Grace of God, given to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Just like when you promised to love me and do all that you can do to show that love, by listening to me, then I used my strength to get the toy.  When we repent, love the Lord, and listen to and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to the best of our ability. We receive the divine help and strength necessary to receive eternal life.

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