Start off by reading together D&C 25: 10-13. Talk about how Emma was charged to put together hymns for the church. You can talk about the importance of music along with how the Lord calls us to work in the kingdom using our talents.
Play Musical Dots! This activity is very similar to musical chairs with a twist. Instead of using chairs, use post it notes.
Give each family member a post in note and tell them to find a spot anywhere in the room. Take one of them away and then start playing some hymns or primary songs.
When the music stops, have everyone find a post it note to step on.
The person who didn’t make it to a post it note gets to sit out and be in charge of when the music starts and stops.
Pictures of random people: family members, political figures, the prophet, Where’s Waldo….the possibilities are endless.
picture of a church
picture of baptism
picture of the sacrament
Show the picture of the church (or the paper with the word: church written on it)
Read D&C 20:1
What person of all the people pictured is head of the Church?
Have them choose a picture of who they think it is.
Match Christ to the church. Put Christ’s picture with the church.
Show the picture of baptism
Read D&C 20:37
Whose name we take upon ourselves when we are baptized?
Have them choose a picture of who they think it is.
Match Christ’s picture to the picture of baptism
Show the picture of the sacrament
Read D&C 20:77-79
Who do we remember as we partake of the sacrament?
Have them choose a picture of who they think it is.
Match Christ’s picture to the picture of the sacrament
Christ is the center of the gospel of this gospel. We do all we do to remember Him and what He did for us, so that through His grace, we can return to live with him again.
Activity Idea from the Church: Jesus Christ’s Church
Sing “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77).
On April 6, 1830, Jesus Christ’s Church was set up again on earth. You can read about the story on page 42–44.
Find something you can build with, like blocks, sticks, or other objects. Then have a race to build a little Church building out of them.
In D&C 8:11 it says: “Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may atranslate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are bsacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.”
And in D&C 9 it talks about the work of translation.
It would be great to do a decoder and have the kids try and “translate.”
This activity is centered around D&C 11:7 where we are instructed to search for wisdom and not for riches.
Cut out some pictures or words of gospel principles (baptism, temple, family, sacrament, covenants, scriptures, service, church, missionaries, family history, etc.)
Gather some coins of varying worth.
Hide both the coins and the depictions of gospel principles around a room.
Read D&C 11:7 together as a family and then explain that we only have a minute (or any time of your choosing) to gather what they think is most important.
Search, find, and choose!
Then come back and talk about what everyone had be able to find in their time period. How do we spend our time to find the things that really matter most and will lead us to eternal life.
Activity Idea from the Church: Super Strength
Sing “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, 162).
Jesus taught that praying always can help us “come off conqueror” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:5). That means praying can help us be spiritually strong!
Challenge your family to a push-up contest! How many can you do? What’s something you can do to be spiritually strong?
Pray to know who you should go and heart attack as a family.
Cut out paper hearts.
Write your favorite scripture on the hearts. Why you love that person. Share your faith, hope, and charity (D&C 8:12.)
Activity Idea from the Church: Baptism Stories
Sing “The Priesthood Is Restored” (Children’s Songbook, 89).
John the Baptist appeared and gave Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the priesthood. Then they were baptized in the river (see Joseph Smith—History 1:68–71).
Pick a story about baptism to read. (You can find some on pages 4, 8, 16, and 40!) Then share baptism memories from your family. If you haven’t been baptized yet, talk about what you think it will be like!
“The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers”
January 11-17
Scripture: D&C 2:2
Activity Idea: Hearts Turning to Learning about our Fathers
D&C 2:2 talks about our hearts turning to our fathers.
Cut out hearts and make a path and have each heart have a story and/or picture of ancestors. We turn the heart over to learn more about our ancestors. You could even have pictures of generations i.e. 1st heart: picture/story of a parent, 2nd heart: picture/story of a grandparent, 3rd heart: picture/story of a great-grandparent.
Activity Idea from last year: Act out the story of Joseph Smith’s vision of the angel Moroni and then finding the plates.
While reading Joseph Smith–History 1:27-65 you can act it out or follow a script that I wrote last year for my kids.
Sing “Family History—I Am Doing It” (Children’s Songbook, 94).
The Lord sent Elijah to turn our hearts to our family members who lived before us (see Doctrine and Covenants 2:2). When we turn our hearts to our families, we remember them and do temple work for them.
Cut out paper hearts. Write a family member’s name on each one. Take turns holding up the hearts and sharing stories about each person. You could ask your parents to tell stories about their parents or grandparents.
Activity Idea: Act out the Nativity or Watch “The Christ Child”
One of our favorite things to do it to act out Luke 2 as a family. Read along and dress up and act out.
If that doesn’t work for you or your family watch “The Christ Child.”
Christmas Thought 2020:
Earlier this month as a part of the Light the World campaign we were invited to watch “The Christ Child” video depiction of the Saviors birth. As I watched the video I thought of the different ways that people in the nativity story came unto Christ. And what that means to me in my journey to come unto Christ.
The Shepherds:
The Shepherds were lucky ones in my eyes. They were able to have an angel come to them and share the “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10) they were told about the Christ child, they were told about the sign about how to find him. A heavenly host of angels appeared to them saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2: 14)
They came with “haste” to the baby in the manger (Luke 2: 16)
Once they had seen Christ they “made known abroad” (Luke 2: 17) about Him.
There are a few lessons that I have learned from the shepherds.
• Sometimes if we are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing, we will be blessed with incredible knowledge of Christ and how and where to find Him in our lives. We will be directly led to where He is. We will see of His goodness.
• I love that they received revelation from heaven about where to go find Christ and they went right away. They didn’t wait or put it off. They made haste. I hope that in my quest to come unto Christ that I will act with haste to follow him.
• The shepherds were missionaries. They shared their knowledge of the Savior with all those they came in contact with. I feel like a part of coming unto Christ is sharing about Him and His gospel with others.
The Wise Men:
In Matthew 2 we learn about the wise men who came from east of Jerusalem. They had studied the words of the prophets and watched and waited for the sign of the Saviors birth. When they saw the sign. They packed up and traveled what appears to be years to get to him because “they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:” (Matthew 2: 11) When they finally arrived to see Christ and he wasn’t a baby anymore. He was a young child. The sacrificed much of their life to search for and find the Christ. And they brought gifts “they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and afrankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2: 11) Not only were these gifts of great monetary value they were given as an act of worshiping Him. The gold was associated with royalty, showing that they recognized Him as King of Kings. The Frankincense was a part of ceremonial worship of deity, showing that they believe that He was God’s Only Begotten Son. Myrhh was used to prepare bodies for burial may have been to show that they knew that He would die for them and suffer for their sins.
I’m truly humbled by these wise men as I have pondered what they have taught me in coming unto Christ I think that
• If I’m going to recognize Christ I’m going to have to study and learn about Him. I can most effectively do this through the scriptures and the words of the prophets. In order for me to Come unto Christ I’m going to need to take a significant amount of time learning about Him so when the time comes for me to follow Him, I will be able to recognize the signs and know where to go and what to do. How much time of your day are you dedicating to study and learn about Christ in the scriptures? I invite you to set aside time each day to do so.
• If I’m going to be like the wise men I’m going to need to practice patience. Unlike the shepherds who were able to meet the Savior on the day of His birth. These men had to wait and work for a long time before they were able to come and see for themselves.
• I also have pondered about the gifts that they brought to the Savior. What would I bring to the baby, child, or man that would pay the price of my soul and my sins? The man who would suffer in Calvary, and die for me on the cross? What could I possibly give to the man who would rise from the dead and make it possible for me to rise again? There is no gift that could be sufficient. I have pondered on what I want to give Christ this year I’ve decided that I would try giving the gift of loving those around me and withholding judgement. I feel like doing that would help me to come unto Christ.
There are many other people in the story of the nativity who are examples of what we can do to come unto Christ. Who are they and what do they teach you?
What do you learn from the other people in the life of Christ of coming unto Christ? Like the woman who reached out to touch the hem of the garment. Mary and Martha. Peter.
What does the spirit tell you about how to Come Unto Christ.
Don’t become discouraged if you are like the wise men and you have to do a lot of the seeking and you don’t have an angel come or a super profound spiritual experience that leads you directly to Christ. President Nelson has taught that the “Lord loves effort.”
As we work and come unto Christ step by step we will find ourselves changing and becoming more like Him and it will be natural to want to make it known abroad about his coming. There is great peace and life satisfaction as we come unto Him.
Activity Idea from the Church: Light the World
Sing “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, 42–43).
Read about Christmas in the Book of Mormon! Turn to page 26 to read “Samuel and the Star.” You can also read about it in the scriptures in Helaman 13 through 3 Nephi 1.
You can help light the world, just like the star did when Jesus was born! Use page 19 to do an activity and sing a song to remember Jesus each day this week.
Sing “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 78–79).
Heavenly Father gave each of us spiritual gifts (see Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–26). That means He gave us special talents. Everyone is unique and important to Heavenly Father!
Think about what gifts you have. Then put on a family talent show! Share the gifts Heavenly Father has given you with others.
Activity Idea: Floor is Lava…Stay Safe and Stand in Holy Places
Activity Idea from the Church: Stand in Holy Places
Sing “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160).
Jesus Christ taught that we should “stand in holy places” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:32). A holy place can be anywhere we have the Holy Ghost with us.
With your family, list some things that help you stand in holy places, like being kind or praying. How do those things prepare us for Jesus Christ’s coming? Stick the list somewhere you’ll see it often.
Come Follow Me in my family 