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Category: FHE

Making Resolutions the Anti-Nephi-Lehi Way FHE

Originally posted on YourLDSBlog

Have you made resolution yet? It’s never too late to think about what you’d like to be better at, and put the bad habits behind you. This quick and easy Family Home Evening Idea can be done any time of the year.

I’m happy to say that just over a year later, and we’ve done pretty well with our buried resolutions. There has definitely been a change for the better in our home.

Making resolutions the Anti-Nephi-Lehi way

What you’ll need
craft sticks
markers
glass jar with lid

Begin by telling the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies found in Alma 24. I love to dive into the scriptures with the kids, letting them hear the words and language to get familiar with it. With the young ones, though, sometimes reading 1-2 verses and then summarizing the rest will hold their attention longer.

After recounting the story of how the Anti-Nephi-Lehies had a change of heart and buried their swords, discuss ways your family can make changes to become better. What is something you’ve struggled with? Individually or as a whole family. Write these things down on the craft sticks, then place them in the glass jar.

Unlike the story, we are only figuratively burying our swords. To help us remember that we want to change and be better, we placed the jar in the center of our table. It gives us a reminder daily as we gather for meals, games, homework, and crafts.

We ended our FHE with a good old family game of hide-and-seek, to start out a resolution to spend more quality time together.

February 1, 2016
The 6 B’s Lesson 2: Be True #FamilyHomeEvening

Young kids don’t often know right from wrong. They are still learning, and as parents, we need to kindly and gently guide them to make good choices as they grow to be adults. One way we do that is through Family Home Evening – a night we set aside each week to teach our children principles and gospel lessons from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I hope you’ll join me in these lessons, and add any insight in the comments.

We are on the 2nd Be from President Hinkley’s 2001 address to the youth – Be True. But to be perfectly honest with you, I’ve got ours a little out of order. Be True was actually number 4 on his list, but it all works out in the end.

Opening Song: Choose the Right

Prayer

Lesson: Mark took over the lesson this night. He began by telling a fictional story of the girls.

“You were outside playing one day, and V thought it was a good idea to throw some rocks. One hit the car window and broke it. V didn’t tell mommy or daddy what happened.

When I found the broken window, I asked C if she knew what happened.”

At this point, we turned to C and asked her, do you know how the window got broken?

To which she answered “I think L did it”

This was the perfect lead up into telling the truth. We told Princess C that if we ask her something, and she doesn’t know, she shouldn’t guess at what happened. Unless she saw it happen she can tell us “I don’t know”.

Once we finished the story, and talking to each kid about their different answers, Grandma P (who was in town for a visit), shared a personal story of how telling lies left her unable to play at a friends house once.

Finally we led up to being true to ourselves, as a Child Of God, we should always behave well. When someone does something wrong, or something we don’t feel comfortable with, we don’t have to go along with it.

This not so simple concept was a great lead into watching a family movie – Wreck It Ralph. Just don’t make the blunder I did and tell your kids

Ralph is being true to him. He’s a bad guy, and it’s ok to be ba…. (insert a raised eyebrow from Mark here) it’s ok to be you, and not let others change you. Pushing for something we want is good, as long as we stay true to ourselves.

Closing Song: Stand for the Right
Closing prayer

*Side note – Because I mentioned Wreck It Ralph I also wanted to share my friends blog with you – Fun Filled Flicks. She created a fun Wreck It Ralph game for her kids one day, that I know my kids would love!

July 22, 2013
The 6 B’s Lesson 1: Be Grateful #FamilyHomeEvening
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, one thing we do is set aside Monday nights for what we call Family Home Evening. It’s a night we try not to have any activities planned outside the home with friends, or work. We come home together, and spend the time as a family. Some night it means watching a new (or old) movie or playing a game, while others we try to have a gospel-centered lesson.

So a few Mondays ago, I asked Mark to put together a lesson. He did great! He pulled his lesson from President Gordon B Hinkley’s address in November 2000 where he gave us what quickly became known as the 6 B’s
- Be Grateful
- Be Smart
- Be Clean
- Be True
- Be Humble
- Be Prayerful
After Mark’s lesson that night, I got to thinking, and decided I wanted to cover more in depth each Be. So the following Monday I took my turn with the lesson, and covered Be Grateful. It was one of the best lessons we have ever had! So get ready to teach your kids about gratitude!
Opening Song: Thank Thee for Everything (Primary Song Book pg 10) This was a new song to the kids and one I’ve sung very rarely. So we attempted to learn it as a family. If you follow the link, you’ll find the lyrics and music.

Opening Prayer.

Lesson Time!

I began the lesson asking if anyone remembered the 6 B’s. Princess V and C both did a pretty good job remembering most of them. I was impressed, and so very happy that they actually remembered some. It told me they really do pay attention sometimes. After we recited the B’s a few times, I told the girls that I wanted to talk about just the first B – Be Grateful.

We had a quick, child-friendly discussion on what the word Grateful means. Just like being Thankful, and saying thanks to people when they are kind to us, or help us, we are grateful for the things we have.

At this point, we then grabbed some blankets and headed outside to lay under our big tree. After we laid mostly quietly for some time contemplating the things we could see, hear and smell, I started one by one, asking the kids, and Mark what the were grateful for. As the talked, I compiled a list in my notebook. Once again, my children impressed me with how well they understood and grasped the concept. Instead of saying things like their toys and material objects, the first few “I am thankful for” included – Family, Friends, Teachers, Sisters, and Brother. As I encouraged everyone to keep thinking and listening and looking around them at our beautiful earth – the answers branched out to things like Butterflies, Sticks and Flowers.

We ended the lesson by remembering who we need to thank for our beautiful earth – Our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. We packed the blankets back inside, and closed the evening.

Closing Song: Children All Over the World (Primary Song Book pg 16)

Closing Prayer.

Refreshments! A good FHE always ends with a yummy treat. You can try and tie it into the lesson, or just enjoy some Ice Cream Sundaes like we did – which by the way, is just another thing we should be grateful for.

Of course after a few days, and some playing around, I created a little reminder for our home to Be Grateful all the time. And, I even took the time to find the best way for you to be able to download this and use in your own home. Not only is it a great reminder year round, it would also make great Thanksgiving Decor.

Download this FREE Printable

Keep an eye out for the next 5 lessons in this 6 part series.
July 7, 2013