“I Will Prepare the Way Before You”

Scripture:

1 Nephi 17: 7-10

And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: ^aArise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt ^aconstruct a ship, after the ^bmanner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.

And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make ^atools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.

Liahona:

The Liahona was given to Lehi in 1 Nephi 16:10. And it pointed the way that they should go. It also displayed writings and instructions.

I got the idea from http://www.iheartprimarymusic.com about making a little Liahona to point us the way that we should go this week in our studies this week in Come Follow Me. I just used the materials from the manual and assigned a day to it as well as a question or a task (like build a ship or make a bow).

I feel like the scriptures, the words or the prophets, the awesome inspired materials (like Come, Follow Me), and the gift of the Holy Ghost help lead us on the path that our Heavenly Father wants us to go.

I hope that you enjoy the free printable. I am NOT a graphic designer (but I’d love to learn). I know the graphics are simple but I hope it helps your family this week!

Here you go for the printable:

Activity #1 Build a boat:

Build a boat. You can do it as a family or individually. We are each going to make our own version of our boat that Nephi was commanded to build. We will have some materials out and each child can use their creativity to see if they can make a boat where 2 LEGO people can stay in and stay dry.

Here are some supplies that you can provide for shipbuilding:

• paper
• cardboard
• duct tape
• aluminum foil
• egg cartons
• straws
• craft sticks
• scrap wood
• glue
• tape
• pool noodles (cut up)
• milk carton
• toilet paper rolls
• scissors

We are going to put a 10-15 minute time limit on the building and then fill the tub and see which ones float and celebrate everyone’s efforts.

Treat:

A Banana Boat Sunday

Activity #2 build your own bow and arrow:

Build a bow and arrow and then target practice. I’d like to print out pictures of what we are going to have for dinner and then have them hit the target before they are allowed to eat dinner.

I have seen some really fun ideas online on how to make a bow and arrow.

My 3 favorites are:

1- Making a bow and arrow out of popsicle sticks and q-tips from Raising Young Ones:

http://raisingyoungones.blogspot.com/2012/08/mini-bow-and-arrow-set-for-brave-party.html

Here is what I ended up doing:

2- Make a bow and arrow out of a hanger from wikihow

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Toy-Bow-and-Arrow

3-Make a bow and arrow out of a pvc pipe from upliftingmayhem.com

http://www.upliftingmayhem.com/diy-ultimate-pvc-bow-arrow/

I’d love to see what your family ends up doing this week in Come, Follow Me.

“Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God”

January 20-26

Scripture:

1 Nephi 11: 21-23

 And the angel said unto me: Behold the ^aLamb of God, yea, even the ^bSon of the Eternal ^cFather! Knowest thou the meaning of the ^dtree which thy father saw?

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the ^alove of God, which ^bsheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the ^cmost desirable above all things.

 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most ^ajoyous to the soul.

Activity for younger kids:

Play Memory with the symbols and meaning. There are two different versions. You can play with both or just one or the other. One version is just the picture matching with the words/scripture. The other one is matching the symbol with the meaning. They are all color coded. So all should be able to play.

Click Here for a FREE printable of the Memory Cards:

I also want to print out a picture of the vision of the tree of life and label everything with the attached scripture.

2nd Activity:

After recreating the vision of the tree of life I’ve been pondering about how much more important it is to understand what it all means. The WHY is here when we learn WHAT the dream means. How cool would it be to act it out again, but while recreating it by using the MEANINGS and not just the symbols.

SO this week I’m going to set up a recreation of the vision of the tree of life very similar to last week. Instead of going to a tree we are going to be walking toward a picture of Christ.

To be able to move through along the iron rod you have to HOLD the word of God and perform tasks. Each of these tickets will be taped on a rope along the path and you can’t move forward until you have finished each task.

FREE Printable of the tickets to get you moving along the Iron Rod or the Word of God:

We have to learn to be in the world but not of it and HOLD FAST and PRESS FORWARD with the aid of the word of God. It is so easy to get distracted from the things that matter most, but we have to keep our priorities on the things that matter most and our eyes focused on the Savior and getting nearer to him.

“Come and Partake of the Fruit”

January 13-19

Scripture:

1 Nephi 10:17

And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the ^awords of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a ^bvision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the ^cMessiah who should come—I, Nephi, was ^ddesirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the ^eHoly Ghost, which is the ^fgift of God unto ^gall those who diligently seek him, as well in times of ^hold as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

Activity Idea:

Recreate the vision of the tree of life

Supplies needed:

• rope/string/yarn
• two places to tie the rope to
• treat at the end
• blindfold (optional)
• temptations (in form of toys, tv, games, treats in the kitchen)

Set up your rope/string/yarn inside or outside your home (depending on the weather). You can have it go through several rooms as you instruct family members to hold fast to the ‘iron rod’ you can tempt them throughout and blindfold at one point if you choose. I’m going to have a yummy treat at the tree. Most likely fruit snacks but if I’m feeling up to it a baked good.

It might be fun to invite some other families to join you. We are going to. This way we can have different tempters and people in the ‘great and spacious building.’ This activity is easily adaptable to however big or small you want to have it.

Here is what I sent out to some of my friends:

Vision of the Tree of Life

As a family we wanted to have a family home evening where we learn about the tree of life and we thought it would be more fun with other friends and families. So come join our family home evening where we recreate the vision of the tree of life from the Book of Mormon.

You can come and just participate or come and have your kids participate and you help out.

We are going to set up a rope that represents the iron rod that leads to a tree in our backyard. The play structure is the great and spacious building.

We thought it would be good to have some people in/near the “great and spacious building” mocking those on the path and those that participate in the fruit. Some people to tempt those on the iron rod. Some to put blindfolds on. Maybe someone could bring a treat to tempt people with.

I’ve been thinking about if we want to let people that let go of the ‘iron rod’ get back on once they get off. When I was in seminary we did this activity and I was tempted off the iron rod by one of my teachers asking me to come and help him. I let go of the rod and I was led to a dark room where we had to sit on the ground.

The more I’ve thought about the analogy, I think that there is always a way back if that is what we want. We can repent, go back to the word of God and press forward. That’s what I want to teach my kids. That day in seminary I felt like a failure and that I couldn’t make it and the whole time I was sitting in that dark room on the floor. It was just for a simple mistake. I wanted to go back and try again, but I was stuck. Satan wants us to think we are stuck.

I think we can let go of the rod, and get right back on. Didn’t Lehi want Laman and Lemuel to hold to the rod? They were clearly not holding to the rod. But Lehi beckoned them in a loud voice to come partake of the fruit. I want to let my kids know that no matter how many times they were tempted off the rod there is always a way back.

“I Will Go and Do”

January 6-12

Scripture:

1 Nephi 3:7

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Activity Idea:

Treasure Hunt with Clues and Challenges

Start in Jerusalem- Lehi’s house (1 Nephi 2: 1-3)

1. Valley of Lemuel or Lehi’s Tent (1 Nephi 2: 5-10)
2. Jerusalem (1 Nephi 3: 9)
   1. Cast lots (1 Nephi 3:11)
3. Laban’s house (1 Nephi 3:11-13)
4. Outside Jerusalem (1 Nephi 3:14)
5. Lehi’s house (1 Nephi 3:22)
   1. Get gold and precious things (1 Nephi 3:22)
6. Laban’s house (1 Nephi 3:23-25)
7. Outside Jerusalem in cave (1 Nephi 3:27)
   1. Brothers smite Nephi with rod and angel arrives (1 Nephi 3:28-30)
8. Walls of Jerusalem (1 Nephi 4:4)
9. Near house of Laban (1 Nephi 4:7)
   1. Kill Laban (1 Nephi 4:18)
   1. Put on his clothes (1 Nephi 4:19)
10. Treasury of Laban (1 Nephi 4:20)
    1. Get plates of brass (1 Nephi 4:24)
    1. take Zoram (1 Nephi 4: 25)
11. Walls of Jerusalem (1 Nephi 4:27-28)
    1. Scare brothers (1 Nephi 4:28)
    1. Seize Zoram (1 Nephi 4:30-32)
12. Valley of Lemuel or Lehi’s Tent (1 Nephi 5:1)
13. Jerusalem- House of Ismael (1 Nephi 7:3-4)
    1. Get wives and Ismael’s family (1 Nephi 7:5)
14. One the way back to Lehi’s tent (1 Nephi 7:6)
    1. Brothers rebel (1 Nephi 7:16)
    1. Nephi bursts the bands (1 Nephi 7:17)
15. Valley of Lemuel or Lehi’s Tent (1 Nephi 7:22)

FREE Printable for Treasure Hunt for your family:

“He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things”

• Scripture Focus
• Improve Focus
• FHE Idea
• The war in heaven continues on earth
• Moroni is seen preaching the gospel
• I can flee Babylon
• We will be judged out of the Book of Life
• Celestial glory
• Can there be more scripture?

Scripture Focus:

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 14:6-7

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 20: 12-13

2 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Improve Focus:

Follow up on invitations to act. “When you follow up on an invitation to act, you show [your family members] that you care about them and how the gospel is blessing their lives. You also give them opportunities to share their experiences, which strengthens their commitment and allows them to support one another in living the gospel” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 35).

FHE Idea:

Describe celestial glory: Revelation 21:1, 3–4, 22–27; 22:1–2. Choose an image or detail to draw. Draw as a family on a poster board. Or build with Legos.

Elder David A. Bednar said:

“Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints. …

“… The Atonement provides help for us to overcome and avoid bad and to do and become good. …

“‘… It is … through the grace of the Lord that individuals … receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to [do]. … This grace is an enabling power …’ [Bible Dictionary, “Grace”; emphasis added] … or heavenly help each of us desperately needs to qualify for the celestial kingdom.”

The war in heaven continues on earth:

Revelation 12:7–17

“That war, so bitter, so intense, has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. “(Hinckley, 2007)

“We are not losing. We are winning. We will continue to win if we will be faithful and true. We can do it. We must do it. We will do it. There is nothing the Lord has asked of us that in faith we cannot accomplish.” (Hinckley, 2007)

“The premortal war was fought with words, ideas, debate, and persuasion (see Revelation 12:7–9, 11). Satan’s strategy was to frighten people. He knew that fear is the best way to destroy faith. He may have used arguments like these: “It’s too hard.” “It’s impossible to make it back clean.” “There’s too much risk.” “How do you know you can trust Jesus Christ?” He was very jealous of the Savior.” (Elder Lawrence, 2017)

“I lived in Heaven” primary song

Moroni is seen preaching the gospel:

Revelation 14:6–7

The Angel is Moroni when he appeared to Joseph Smith. The book containing the everlasting gospel is the Book of Mormon and I’m so excited to start studying it as a family starting NEXT WEEK. How has the Book of Mormon blessed your family?

I can flee Babylon:

Revelation 17–18

The Lord invites me to flee Babylon and her sins.

Some of the sins that I found listed:

• Fornification
• Drunk with wine of fornification
• Gold, precious stones, and pearls
• Harlots
• Killing saints
• Unclean
• Hateful
• Glorified themselves
• Lived deliciously
• Fine clothes
• Riches
• Company of people

What are the sins you personally need to be watchful of and how are you going to FLEE from them?

We will be judged out of the Book of Life:

Revelation 20:12–15

In the bible dictionary it says:

“in one sense the book of life is the sum total of one’s thoughts and actions—the record of his life. However, the scriptures indicate that a heavenly record is kept of the faithful, whose names are recorded, as well as an account of their righteous deeds” (D&C 88:2; 128:7).

Can there be more scripture?:

Revelation 22:18–19

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

“There is now overwhelming consensus among virtually all biblical scholars that this verse applies only to the book of Revelation, not the whole Bible. Those scholars of our day acknowledge a number of New Testament ‘books’ that were almost certainly written after John’s revelation on the Isle of Patmos was received. …

“But there is a simpler answer. … The whole Bible as we know it—one collection of texts bound in a single volume—did not exist when that verse was written” (“My Words … Never Cease,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 91).

“Good Tidings of Great Joy”

• Scripture focus
• Improve focus
• FHE idea
• Who is Jesus Christ? and Why did He come to earth?
• Christ made it possible for me to inherit eternal life
• Nativity story
• The Living Christ
• Perform an act of service

Scripture Focus:

Luke 2: 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Improve Focus:

Look for Jesus Christ. The scriptures teach us that all things testify of Jesus Christ (see Moses 6:62–63), so we should look for Him in all things. As you read the scriptures, consider noting or marking verses that teach you about Him. Take time in the days leading up to Christmas to look for things around you that testify of Jesus Christ.

FHE Idea:

Christmas sing a long! This is one of our very favorite Christmas activities. We invite families over and we sing Christmas songs around the piano. There is nothing quite like Christmas music to bring the spirit in your home.

Who is Jesus Christ? and Why did He come to earth?:

“Christmas is not only a celebration of how Jesus came into the world but also of knowing who He is—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and of why He came” (Craig C. Christensen, “The Fulness of the Story of Christmas” [First Presidency Christmas devotional, Dec. 4, 2016], broadcasts.lds.org).  
FOCUS on the WHO and WHY of Christ. Who is Christ? (John 17:5; Mosiah 3:5; D&C 76:13–14, 20–24; Moses 4:2).Mosiah 3:5

5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.Why did Christ come? (example, Luke 4:16–21; John 3:16–17; 3 Nephi 27:13–16; D&C 20:20–28).3 Nephi 27:13–16

13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

How does this knowledge affect the way you feel about the Savior? How does it affect the way you live? 

Write a list of WHO Christ is to you. Then, write a list of WHY you feel like He came to earth.

Christ made it possible for me to inherit eternal life:

1 Corinthians 15:21–26; Colossians 1:12–22; 1 Peter 2:21–25 Jesus Christ fulfilled His mission and made it possible for me to inherit eternal life.

“The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection” (“The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas,” Ensign, Dec. 2000, 5). 

How has the Savior and His work have blessed your life? What do you feel inspired to change in your life? How will you draw on the Savior’s power? 

Nativity story:

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world/the-christ-child

The Christ Child video is such a powerful depiction of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We are going to watch it again as a family.

We love to act out the story of Luke 2.

The Living Christ:

Perform an act of service:

Why are you grateful that Jesus Christ was born? What gifts has he given you? How can we show our gratitude to Him?

I can think of no better way than to serve someone. Just as He would have done. I’m going to ask my family who they think we should serve and then do it.