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Family Home Evening Materials

Theme: Courage
Packet #050511

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.
2. Prioritize. Make Family Home Evening a priority; learn to say no to other activities.
3. Involvement. Involve everyone in the family; help little children take part.
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.
 Courage
Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “Courageous Parenting,” by Elder
Larry R. Lawrence, Ensign, Nov 2010, 98.
Thought:
It takes courage to gather children from whatever they’re doing and kneel
together as a family. It takes courage to turn off the television and the
computer and to guide your family through the pages of the scriptures every
day. It takes courage to turn down other invitations on Monday night so that
you can reserve that evening for your family. It takes courage and willpower
to avoid overscheduling so that your family can be home for dinner.
(Elder Larry R. Lawrence, “Courageous Parenting,” Ensign, Nov 2010, 98.)

Song:
“Nephi’s Courage,” Children’s Songbook, p. 120.
Scripture:
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not
afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.
(Joshua 1:9)

Lesson:
Show your family the picture of Abinadi before King Noah (such as
Gospel Art Picture Kit, no. 308—available at lds.org). Allow each family
member to look carefully at the picture and then read together Mosiah
13:1–9. Ask the following questions:
• Why was Abinadi sure he would not be “destroyed at this time”? (See
verse 3.)
• How was Abinadi protected from King Noah’s men? (See verse 5.)
• Why were King Noah and his priests angry with Abinadi? (See verses
6–8.)
• How might this story give you courage when you face difficult tasks?
Have someone read the following statement: “When we know who we
are and what God expects of us—when his ‘law [is] written in [our]
hearts’—we are spiritually protected.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the
Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, p. 34.)
 Ask, “How does the story of Abinadi help you to have courage in the callings you receive from the
Lord?”
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 129.)

Story:
by Elder Mark E. Peterson
[One] June I had the privilege of standing here and talking with the young people who came to the
MIA conference. I told them about a little family up in Canada which had joined the Church, and as a
result had suffered great persecution. To bolster their courage, this little family rewrote the words to a
hymn they used to sing and made one of the verses go like this:
Dare to be a Mormon;
Dare to stand alone;
Dare to have a purpose firm;
Dare to make it known!
I invited the young people who were here last June to develop the same kind of courage held by
this wonderful Canadian family, and in the face of all forms of opposition to stand firm and true to the
faith.
That opposition might come in various forms. It might be persecution, as in the case of that
Canadian family. It might be temptations, or it might come in the form of teachings from people who
would like to destroy your faith.
When those temptations or those persecutions or those false teachings come, will you have the
courage to be real Latter-day Saints, to have a purpose firm, and to stand by it?
(Leon R. Hartshorn, Outstanding Stories by General Authorities, vol. 2, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1971].)

Activity:
Explain that the purpose of this activity will be to see if each one can listen to and follow the
instructions of the leader and not be prevented from reaching his goal by all the persuasion and
heckling of others. Point out that this is exactly what each of us must do to be a faithful steward.
For this game you will need dry beans and a knife. Place the beans on a plate. Very young children
should probably use a spoon instead of the knife. The leader of the game instructs the player to scoop
up three beans with the knife (fewer if preferable), doing it without using his other hand. Then he is to
carry the beans without spilling them to a table or chair about 10 feet away. Warn him that others will
try to get him to drop his beans or to stop or to disobey the instructions, and part of the test is to see if
he can disregard them and reach his goal.
As the player walks toward his goal, family members may heckle him and persuade him to disobey
instructions. However, they may not touch him. In the case of the young child this should be done with
care and in a spirit of fun. so he will not become frustrated and not try.
Many things in life will try to lead us astray. It takes courage to keep going on to your goal.
(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p.48.)
 Refreshment
Rocky Mountain Cookies
These will disappear fast.
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups Rice Krispies® cereal
1 (12-ounce) bag chocolate chips
In a large bowl cream together sugars and butter. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Sift dry
ingredients into a separate bowl. Add to mixture. Fold in oats, cereal, and chocolate chips. Drop by
tablespoons onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until very lightly
browned. Makes 6 dozen.
(Julie Badger Jensen, The Essential Mormon Cookbook, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 32.)

FHE-20 percent coupon

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On this week’s selected FHE titles:

Unlikely Heroes: Ordinary Men and Women Whose Courage Won the Revolution
Who's Your Hero? Vol. 1: Book of Mormon Stories Applied to Children
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(excludes scriptures, Church distributed items and Willow Tree figurines) expires 6/11/2011