Deseret Book

Packet #080405

Family Home Evening Materials

Theme: 8th Article of Faith

5 tips for successful Family Home Evenings

1. Pray. Pray about the needs of your family as you consider topics for home evenings, and pray as you prepare. 3. Involvement. Involve everyone in the family; help little children take part.

2. Prioritize. Make Family Home Evening a priority; learn to say no to other activities. 4. Commitment. Be committed and be consistent. Set a designated time and stick to it. Holding Family Home Evening on a weekly basis takes dedication and planning on the part of all family members. 5. Relax and enjoy it. The most important thing your children will remember is the spirit they feel in your family home evenings and activities. Be sure the atmosphere is one of love, understanding, and enjoyment.

8th Article of Faith

Thought: In this day when the Bible is being down-graded by many who have mingled philosophies of the world with Bible scriptures to nullify their true meaning, how fortunate that our eternal Heavenly Father, who is always concerned about the spiritual well-being of his children, has given to us a companion book of scriptures, known as the Book of Mormon, as a defense for the truths of the Bible that were written and spoken by the prophets as the Lord directed.
(Harold B. Lee, Plain and Precious Things, Ensign, Aug. 1972, 2)

Purpose: To help our family better understand the Eighth Article of Faith. Song: Book of Mormon Stories Childrens Songbook, 118. Scripture: We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
(Article of Faith 1:8)

Object Lesson:
Obtain a yardstick and four other items that could be used to measure a line (a piece of paper, string, elastic thread, yarn, and so forth). Measuring items should be smaller than the line and of differing lengths. Draw an eighteen-inch line on a chalkboard or large piece of paper. Have volunteers use the four assorted items to measure the line. Write their answers underneath the line. for instance, 2 and 2/3 sheets of paper, 5 lengths of string, 2 lengths of stretched elastic thread, and so forth. Point out the varying measurements and how they differ. Help your family understand how difficult it would be to use these measurements in recreating the line. Now use the yardstick and measure the line. Explain how much easier it is to measure the line. Liken the yardstick to the scriptures. Help your family understand that the scriptures are an unwavering measurement of truth. Discuss how the scriptures can be a tool to help us discern and discover truth.
(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Building Blocks for Better Lessons, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], p. 59.)

Story:

Michael and Bill

(Bishop Victor L. Brown)

Michaels parents were members of the Piute Indian tribe. Michael was born without his eyesight. On the Indian reservation, this was considered a terrible handicap. His family was very poor, and a blind boy was more than they could cope with. So, when Michael was about seven years old, he was left on the desert to die. Fortunately, some passing tourists found him and took him to a hospital. It took a year for the doctors and nurses to save his life and restore his health. During this experience of being left on the desert all alone without food and water, unable to see, Michael's basic animal instincts for survival became so strong that he almost became an animal, fearing and hating everybody and everything. Eight years later, when I first met him, he told me he could remember the horror of being all alonehungry, thirsty, and lost. When he became well enough, Michael was sent to school. He was incorrigible. Because of his tragic experience, he destroyed everything he could get his hands onpaper, pencils, record player. Everything was his enemy. I suppose the school authorities despaired of ever reaching this boy. One day, they placed a call to a wonderful Latter-day Saint woman and asked her if she would mind taking an Indian boy into her home. She readily agreed. Michael's nature had not changed. He still considered everyone his enemy. He continued to destroy almost everything that came in his way. One day one of the neighbor boys, a white boy by the name of Richard, became acquainted with Michael. Richard was bout fifteen years old. He was a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. He took an interest in Michael and fast became his friend. Richard came to the Presiding Bishopric's Office one day and asked about the cost of the Book of Mormon in Braille. He had been saving his money for a long time so that he might purchase a Book of Mormon in Braille as a birthday present for his blind Indian buddy. The cost was more than Richard had saved. However, a kind person made it possible for him to obtain the book. As Michael read with his fingers, Richard followed along in his own Book of Mormon reading out loud, thus helping Michael over the more difficult words. As I visited with Michael, he said he had never read such wonderful stories. He said that everything he had read in the past was kid stuff, but the Book of Mormon was different. I asked him what the greatest desire of his heart was. This fifteen-year-old Indian boy replied: "To become sixteen years old so I can be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He explained that he must wait until his sixteenth birthday because of the requirement of the agency responsible for him. Michael had his sixteenth birthday and was baptized by his buddy, Richard, who had become a priest. Michael was ordained a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood by his foster father.
(Leon R. Hartshorn, Outstanding Stories by General Authorities, vol. 1)

Activity:

Here is a list of some of the books found in the scriptures. But they are all mixed up. On the line next to each book, write OT if the book is found in the Old Testament. Write NT if the book is found in the New Testament. Write BM if the book is found in the Book of Mormon. __ Alma __ 1 Peter __ Enos __ Genesis __ Mark __ Revelation __ Amos __ Mosiah __ Esther __ Words of Mormon __ Luke __ Omni __ Jonah __ Ruth __ Acts __ 2 Thessalonians __ Jude __ 2 Nephi __ Habakkuk __ Psalms __ Numbers __ Jacob __ Titus __ Helaman

(Ann Laemmlen and Jackie Owen, Articles of Faith Learning Book, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1990], p. 107.)

Extras:

Have each family member tell what their favorite Bible or Book of Mormon story is.

Fruit Dip

Refreshment

1 8-ounce tub strawberry or pineapple soft-style cream cheese 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow cream 1 tablespoon orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice In a mixer bowl, beat together cream cheese, marshmallow cream, orange juice, and lemon juice. Beat until smooth. Refrigerate before serving. Serve with fresh fruit. Makes about 2 cups.
(Lion House Entertaining, [Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2002], p. 25.)

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