“I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

March 29-April 4

Scripture: D&C 110:4

Activity Idea: Easter Eggs and Resurrection

I’m currently serving with in the primary organization in my ward and we put together these eggs for our primary children. I thought that it would be a fun thing to do in our home as we celebrate Christ this Easter.

Easter Egg Restriction Lesson:

As a family, take turns opening the eggs in order and reading the scripture. Discuss the significance of each scripture and object. 

1. Christ’s triumphant Entry: Matthew 21: 1-11 (Palm Leaf)

2. The Last Supper: Matthew 26: 26-29 (Sacrament Cup)

3. Jesus betrayed for 30 pieces of silver: Matthew 26: 14-16 (Silver Coins)

4. Garden of Gethsemane: Matthew 26: 36-45 (Picture of Christ)

5. Delivered to Pontius Pilate: Matthew 27: 1-2 (Knotted Twine)

6. Pilate washes his hands clean: Matthew 27:17-24 (Soap)

7. Jesus is mocked: Matthew 27: 27-30 (Scarlet Cloth)

8. Jesus is crucified: Matthew 27:31, 45-50 (Nail)

9. Soldiers cast lots of his clothing: Matthew 27:35 (Dice)

10. Christ’s burial: Matthew 27: 56-59 (White Cloth)

11. Jesus’ body is laid in a Tomb: Matthew 27: 60-66 (Round Stone)

12. He is Risen: Matthew 28:1-8 (Empty)

Activity Idea from the Church: Celebrate Jesus Christ

• Sing “Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 70).
• Share your favorite scriptures or stories about Jesus. Then flip through old Church magazines and cut out pictures of Him. Glue or tape the pictures together on a paper or poster to make a collage.
• You can find more Easter stories and activities in the March 2021 Friend.

“The Worth of Souls Is Great”

February 22-28

Scripture: D&C 18:10

Activity Idea: Guess the Price of…

So many times when we think about worth and value of objects we think of how much it costs. We think of the cost to buy, the cost to make, and the cost to sell. We think in terms of money. So for this activity we are going to pick several household objects and look up the cost. Then we will display the item and have family members guess the prices of each items (you could have several prices to choose from, white boards for them to write out guesses, or just shout out your best guess.)

After this activity I want to talk about that the value and worth of things in Heavenly Father’s eyes is so much different than how we view things with money.

Read D&C 18:10

One of my favorite quotes from C.S Lewis from the Weight of Glory puts the worth of souls into prospective:

“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

Activity Idea from the Church: Love Mailboxes

Sing “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, no. 193).

Jesus taught that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). That means that each person—including you!—is important to Jesus and Heavenly Father. How do you feel Heavenly Father’s love for you? Make a pretend mailbox for each person in your family. Then leave kind notes for each other to help everyone feel loved!

“Stand as a Witness”

February 15-21

Scripture: D&C 14:8

Activity Idea: Eyewitness

Have each family member (or divide into groups or pairs) choose an event they witnessed. Have them pretend they are news anchors and have them describe the event with as many details as they can. Get a microphone (or make one!) and film them.

Then, have everyone think of a time where they have witnessed the goodness of Jesus Christ and/or His gospel. Think of an instance and describe in as great of detail as you can. Then get that microphone out again and be an eyewitness of Christ and his gospel.

Record it too if you’d like! (Wouldn’t that be such a cool thing to look back on?!?)

Activity Idea from the Church: Mission Accomplished

Sing “I Want to Be a Missionary Now” (Children’s Songbook, 168).

Jesus taught that sharing the gospel is one of the most important things we can do (see Doctrine and Covenants 15:6). Read the story on page 32 to learn how a family in Bosnia shared the gospel with their friend Vicky. Then set a goal to share the gospel with someone. You could share a copy of the Friend or invite them to home evening next week!

“My Work Shall Go Forth”

January 18-24

Scripture: D&C 4:2

Activity Idea: Testify of the Book of Mormon

Throughout D&C 3-5 it talks about the power of the Book of Mormon and Joseph’s role in translating it. We studied the Book of Mormon last year. How do you feel about the book.

Take time as a family to testify of the Book of Mormon!

This will help prepare you to share the “‘marvelous wirk and wonder” with your heart, might, mind, and souls (D&C 4.)

Activity Idea from the Church: Follow the Leader, Follow God

• Sing “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47).
• Joseph Smith learned that following God’s instructions is more important than doing what other people want (see Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–8).
• Now play a game! Pick one person to be the leader. The leader gives each person a task, like walking across the room or clapping three times. Practice doing what the leader asked, instead of what people around you are doing!

“I Saw a Pillar of Light”

January 4-10

Scripture: James 1:5

Activity Idea: Shine Light on Truths Learned from the 1st Vision

Use a picture of the first vision and a flashlight to teach and talk about the light and knowledge that we learn from Joseph Smiths experience when he prayed in the sacred grove.

Activity Idea from the Church: Prayer Power

• Sing “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer” (Hymns, no. 26).
• Joseph Smith had a question. When he prayed, Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared and answered him (see Joseph Smith—History 1:15–19).
• Heavenly Father hears your prayers too! Usually He answers through the Holy Ghost. Pick a story about prayer (see pages 12, 36, or 46) and read it together. How did Heavenly Father answer the prayer in the story? How has He answered you?

“Hearken, O Ye People”

December 28-January 3

Scripture: D&C 1:37

Activity Idea: Search and Find

“Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” D&C 1:37

Make a magnifying glass or binoculars (out of TP rolls maybe) and write out commandments that the Lord has given, then hide them around a room or the house and have family members search for the commandments.

You can talk about how we can search for the commandments in the D&C this year, in your life, and/or how you can apply those teachings.

Activity Idea from the Church: D&C 1:4

Let the children hold pictures of warning signs—such as traffic hazards, bad weather, or poison—and talk about how they warn us of danger. Or tell a story about a time when you obeyed a warning. Compare these warnings to the warnings the Lord gives us through His prophets. Testify that He warns us because He loves us and wants us to be safe (see also this week’s activity page).

There Could Not be a Happier People

October 19-25

Scripture: 4 Nephi 1:15

Activity Idea: Gather and Share

In 4 Nephi they talk about how they worked together: “And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.” (4 Nephi 1:3)

To teach this principle you prepare by hiding starbursts (or fruit, or pictures of dinner items, or colors, or ANYTHING you have,)

Have each family member search for a certain color of starburst (Jane looks for the blue, Steve for the pink, etc.)

Then gather together and share with each other. So everyone has the same amount of everything.

This could be fun with fruit or another food item so that everyone has a good snack or treat.

Activity Idea from the Church: Kindness Charades

• Sing “Love at Home” (Hymns, no. 294).
• After Jesus went back to heaven, the people lived happy lives “because of the love of God” in their hearts (4 Nephi 1:15). They were kind to everyone and loved their families. You can read the scripture story on page FJ4 to learn more.
• Now play kindness charades! Take turns silently acting out doing something kind, like sharing a toy. Then have everyone guess what the kind deed was!