May 2008 Sharing Time

Objective: Scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening can strengthen my family.

Opening Activity: Have a large box house, filled with something very heavy. It has to be heavy enough so that the child CAN NOT MOVE IT !!! Invite a child to our happy home to see if they can move it. Read aloud the scripture Helaman 5:12,

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

Sharing Time: The large cardboard box should have removable cardstock features- windows, door, chimney, plants in the front… etc. Children will come up and choose features from the house and we’ll examine what makes a strong home and family life.

Questions for the removable features

1. What story from the scriptures do you know is true and why?
2. How often should you pray as a family? Have you felt the spirit in your home as you’ve prayed as a family?
3. What do you do as a family for family home evening? And if you don’t have family home evening regularly, what is something you could do together?
4. Please read 1 Nephi 19:22-23 (Encourage an older child to help if a younger child chooses a scripture reference) What does this scripture teach us?
5. Show me what we do with our bodies for prayer. What should we be thinking about during family prayers?
6. What are things I can do to encourage regular family home evening?
7. How can I help my family learn about the scriptures?
8. What are things I can pray for during family prayer?
9. Why is family home evening so important?

Possible songs to integrate:
Home CS 192
Search, Ponder and Pray CS 109
Family Night CS 195
Families Can be Together Forever CS 188
Scripture Power


Closing Activity: Have someone again try to move the home then you recite from memory D&C 88:118-119. Ask them to do the same motions as you as you recite, to help remember this scripture and what makes a happy home (steadfast and immovable) and strong family.

“And as all have not faith (touch heart), seek (point to eyes) ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom( motion hand from mouth down); yea, seek ye out of the best books (make hands a book) words of wisdom; seek (point to eyes) learning, even by study and also by faith. (touch heart)

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house (make a roof with hands), even a house of prayer (praying hands), a house of fasting (touch belly), a house of faith (touch heart), a house of learning (touch head), a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God (point above)”

Bear testimony that family scripture study, family prayer and family home evening can make our homes happy and our families stronger.

NOTES
1. Memorizing Scriptures... how often do we quote scriptures from memory in front of the kids? What is that showing children when we do or do not do this?
2. Be sensitive to your children's needs. Many often do not have a happy home. Try to keep things positive and remind them how much Jesus loved the little children. Tell them how special they are and that they can be an influence for good in their own homes.
3. Pictures to be posted soon on my box home.
4. Always post your objective, which should be the assigned week topic from the Primary Sharing Time and Sacrament Meeting Presentation. (Of course, let prayer and the spirit be your guide! But in general... yada yada, stick to the outline) Having the objective posted reminds you and the children what the point is.