FHE Book of Mormon Stories: Alma 16 Victory by Following the Prophet

 Image courtesy Mormon Newsroom

This is a small story in the Book of Mormon, but it has a big lesson!

Introduction Activity:
Use your hands to handcuff your hyper "active" 6 year old son who is obsessed with handcuffs and all things cops.

What does it mean to be in physical bondage or captured?
How do you feel when you aren't free?

Today we are going to learn about some people in the Book of Mormon.

Zoram was a common name. There was Zoram, the servant of Laban who came to the promised land. There was Zoram the apostate who led people to worship idols and his people trampled Korihor. But today we are going to talk about ANOTHER lesser known Zoram. Was he a good guy or a weirdo? Let's find out!!



Who was captured in the story?
How were they set free?

What is the difference between spiritual bondage and physical bondage? (Hold up the handcuffs from earlier in the lesson) Can you name any examples of spiritual bondage?

What can we do to be like Zoram and his sons?
Are we in a battle like them?

Why do you think this story was mentioned in The Book of Mormon?

End with Testimonies

I know that if we follow the prophets, they will help us to find those who are captive and lost. I know that if we have a love of our brothers and sisters that is pure, we will have help from Heavenly Father to know what to do to make sure they feel of His love. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Celebrating Holy Week (Days 5&6)

Maunday Thursday

Maundy is a word that has latin roots for command. At the Last Supper, what did Jesus command his disciples to do?

John 15:12

Learning can take shape in many different forms. For Thursday I asked my kiddos what they would want for their very last meal on earth.

I'm happy to say it wasn't hot dogs. It's a Greek lemon soup I make and they all agreed on it.

During dinner we had the opportunity to say things to each other if we knew it was our last meal together. It wasn't much different from what we always say to each other- I love you so much!!

HERE is the Bible Video of the Last Supper

Good Friday 

Death is a hard thing, so how can it be called good?

What were the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion? 

We went to the cemetery and cleaned the graves of my son, mother, and grandfather.

It was a lovely spring day with my lovely children.

I'm very grateful for the small things we did to try to remember the last week of The Savior. I felt happy and peaceful. I just pray my children can develop testimonies of the truth of who Jesus Christ is and all He did for us, because He loves us.

Celebrating Holy Week (Days 3 & 4)

Holy Tuesday

It's a good reminder that nothing is exactly set in stone when it comes to SPECIFIC days of Holy Week. We're going off a general layout of what happened in The Savior's life, so the importance is studying what happened, not necessarily the day of the week.

We did a couple reader's theaters on 3 parables Jesus taught in the temple. You can print them out for home use and other non-commercial purposes.

Spy Wednesday

John 12:3-5

Judas Iscariot was a beloved apostle of The Lord. I can't comprehend his denial of Jesus. Of his great betrayal. Of his love of money over His Savior.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the story of Mary who (before Spy Wednesday, before Palm Sunday even) anointed The Lord's feet with spikenard.

I chose this scripture because it compares the attitudes and hearts of those to Jesus. 

Are we willing to consecrate all or do we love money more than anything?

Here is a link to more information about the story

What types of spys are we willing to be today?
The type to give secret service?

Or the "spi"teful type with unwilling hearts?

I challenge you to 3 acts of service today where you give all the energy of your heart!

Celebrating Holy Week (Days 1&2)

Holy Week is a time to remember the final week of The Savior's life on earth.

If we had one week to live, what would we spend our time doing?

Did The Savior do what He wanted or what Heavenly Father wanted?

For each day we have a scripture we look at.

We also have a crown of thorns (grapevine wreath with wooden toothpicks) that we use to remember The Savior. Others were so cruel to Him, but not us!! We are kind and we love The Lord! When someone does something kind we take out a toothpick.

I like simple. But meaningful.

Palm Sunday we talked about what we would do if The Savior rode into our town.

How would we feel?

What could we offer to Him?

HERE is a really interesting article about Palms

(I printed out a couple of examples of what different palms looked like.... we thought it was interesting they would burn palms in times of war- that's how important they were!)

HERE is the video of Jesus' Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem

HERE is a must read for additional insight

We also drew palm leaves and wrote things we could offer/do in special remembrance of Jesus this Holy Week.

Holy Monday is the day Jesus cleansed the temple for the 2nd time.

Is the temple a bank, grocery store, and zoo all in one convenient spot?

Why would Jesus be so upset?

What is respect and reverence?

While our home isn't a "den of thieves" what can we do to be more honest this week?

Also, when we clean this week can we have positive attitudes and be grateful for the opportunity to clean?? 

Is it possible to be prayerful while we clean?

Each day we also REVIEW what we learned from the day before. 

What stood out to us? 

What feelings did we have? 

Why is it important to know these things about Holy Week?

FHE: By Divine Design 2017 Conference Talk

(Image from Polgar Chess News)

By Divine Design by Elder Ronald Rasband 

October 2017 General Conference

Question: Is chess a game of luck or strategy? Or both?

Activity: Well, today we're going to play a different version of chess! What is meant to be will be!! 

1. Place chess board in the middle of 2 players. 

2. Rotate seats after each player takes a turn in a circular fashion to the right. Confusing? 

Behold my super power point skills. Say you have 5 people for Family Home Evening:

etc.

3. Everyone is going to get a turn as black or white and who knows who will win!! It will be quite lucky because the move you make might be to your eventual demise. (Enter evil chess laugh)

4. Keep playing until there is one winner who gets ALL THE TREATS FOR FAMILY HOME EVENING!!!

(For real. No. Yes. Just joking. Sure we are.)

After the game questions to ask: Was this fun? What did you enjoy about playing chess this way? What did you NOT enjoy about playing chess this way? 

Elder Rasband says, "Our lives are like a chessboard, and the Lord moves us from one place to another—if we are responsive to spiritual promptings. Looking back, we can see His hand in our lives."

Activity: Give each person a quote or two from the talk. Ask them to come up with a question having to do with their quotation. They will read (IN A CLEAR AUDIBLE VOICE) the quote when their turn, then ask their question for the family.

Other great quotes from the talk:

1."Alma left the city due to the wickedness of the people. Soon an angel appeared to Alma and called him to “return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city.” Alma did so “speedily,” entering “the city by another way.”

“As he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat? “And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive.” The man was Amulek. Now, did Alma just happen upon Amulek? No, it was no coincidence that he went into the city by the way that would lead him to this faithful man who would become his missionary companion."

2. "Elder Neal A. Maxwell once explained: "coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by ‘coincidence’ but … by ‘divine design."

3. "There is a guiding hand above all things. Often when things happen, it’s not by accident. One day, when we look back at the seeming coincidences of our lives, we will realize that perhaps they weren’t so coincidental after all.”

4. "No trial or calamity can derail God’s plan of happiness. Indeed, by “divine design,” “joy cometh in the morning.”

5. "Through the experience of my own life’s journey, I know that the Lord will move us on that seeming chessboard to do His work. What may appear to be a random chance is, in fact, overseen by a loving Father in Heaven, who can number the hairs of every head."

6. "Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father’s notice. The Lord is in the small details of our lives."

7. "Heavenly Father can put us in situations with specific intent in mind."

8. "Each of us is precious and loved by the Lord, who cares, who whispers, and who watches over us in ways unique to each of us. He is infinitely wiser and more powerful than mortal men and women. He knows our challenges, our triumphs, and the righteous desires of our hearts."

9. "When we are righteous, willing, and able, when we are striving to be worthy and qualified, we progress to places we never imagined and become part of Heavenly Father’s “divine design.” Each of us has divinity within us. When we see God working through us and with us, may we be encouraged, even grateful for that guidance."

10. "The Lord’s hand is guiding you. By “divine design,” He is in the small details of your life as well as the major milestones. As it says in Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; … and he shall direct thy paths.”

Final question from Elder Rasband's talk: What are God’s miracles that remind you that He is close, saying, “I am right here”? 

Final Quote: "Think of those times, some daily, when the Lord has acted in your life—and then acted again. Treasure them as moments the Lord has shown confidence in you and in your choices. But allow Him to make more of you than you can make of yourself on your own. Treasure His involvement."

Our lives are not random circling around a chessboard! Bear testimonies and enjoy treat.

Want to go the extra mile to make a memorable family home evening treat:

( $5.20 on Amazon)

Or you can do what I usually do, scrounge in the cabinet for stale marshmallows

FHE: Gospel Principle "Love"

Opening Activity: Have a picture of Jesus in the front of the room. Everyone choose a spot to stand in the room and strike a pose. Hold it for 5 seconds. Now choose another place to strike a different pose. One more time!

We saw many changes in that activity right? What was the one thing that never changed? The picture of Christ stayed constant!

Quote, "Love is like the north star. In a changing world, it's always a constant." President Gordon B. Hinkley

Jesus Christ ALWAYS lived and lives a life of love. We can too!

Sing the following songs:

I'll Walk With You CS 140
I had some leftover hearts from The Dollar Store and glue pictures from The Friend. I also use key words or phrases on the visuals:

(On I won't! I won't! we shake our fingers side to side. On I will! I will! we pump a fist in the air.)

Can everyone name one way that Jesus showed/shows His love for us and others?

As I Have Loved You CS 136

Pass around a bean bag and sing. When the leader holds up a heart we pause and whoever has the bean bag says something they love about another family member.
OR The Dollar Store has heart wands children can use to conduct the song while singing!

** TIP FOR SINGING- Don't recite/speak the words of a song. Sing them in small phrases to learn! **

End the lesson with the following scriptures:

Challenge: Like President Hinckley said, Love is a constant.  What can we do this week to constantly show our love for others??

FHE: Remembering President Monson

Here are 2 games of Jeopardy I wrote after reading President Monson's biography, To The Rescue, by Heidi Swinton a while ago.

So grateful for Tommy's life. For his service. For his crazy stories of arson. For his stories of the widows he loved. For his smile. For his wisdom and testimony. For his dedication and witness to the truth of Jesus Christ as our Savior.

HERE and HERE are the links to the games. Feel free to copy and paste.