...A lesson on Friday to teach on Monday...
This year our family will be having lessons to not only coordinate with the new youth curriculum, but the monthly primary themes as well...first up "I am a Child of God", enjoy!
You will need:
- Computer, tablet or whatever you have available to watch this video {which by the way, I am seriously in love with}
- 1 piece of paper with two columns, in one write {or print off} "Heavenly Father is..." and in the other, "His children can be..."
- Pen or marker
- Empty bottle {soda or something similar}
Song Suggestions:
- I Lived in Heaven {cs 4}
- I Know My Father Lives {cs 5}
- I Thank Thee, Dear Father {cs 7}
The Lesson:
We are going to start by watching this
video. Pay close attention, because we are going to be talking about it too.
Watch video. Then ask:
What was the video trying to teach us?
{that we are all children of God}
Did everyone look the same, act the same, or even sing the song the same in the video?
{no}
How did the video make you feel?
{all answers are right here :) }
Now, I want you to think about just our family, do we all look the same? Or do we have differences?
{talk for a minute or two about the similarities and differences of each family member, talk about both physical and character traits}
But even though each of us are just a little bit different, we are all part of our family right?
{Yes}
Is there another family that we belong to? An extra special family?
{yes, our heavenly family}
Everyone is a member of our Heavenly Father's Family. Our Heavenly Father is the actual father of our spirits, and everyone is a member of this extra special family. And just like our earthly family, even if someone looks a little different, or acts a little different, or likes different things, that doesn't change the fact that we are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.
Here on earth we are blessed with earthly parents that are here to teach us and be a good example to us. Do you want to be like mom or dad when you grow up?
{yes}
Do you think we also can become like our Heavenly Father as we grow and learn?
{yes}
"...just as we are similar to our earthly parents, we are, as children of God, similar to him. As we can grow up to be like our earthly parents, so we can also grow spiritually to be like our Heavenly Father."
{Family Home Evening Resource Book, 21}
Lorenzo Snow taught us that "We are the offspring of God, born with the same faculties and powers as He possesses, capable of enlargement through the experience that we are now passing through in our second estate."
{if needed, remind children that 'our second estate' is our earthly life. The first estate being our pre-mortal existence, and the third estate being when we return to live with our Heavenly Father.}
{Family Home Evening Resource Book, 21}
Show the paper with "Heavenly Father is..." and His children can be..."
together, list traits of our Heavenly Father. Some examples include: kind, nice, merciful, compassionate, light {He glows}, forgiving, loving, awesome, helpful, all that is good, perfect {those are just a few that my family came up with}.
Then fill what His children can be. Every trait should be the same, or close too it. For example for 'light {he glows}, we said that we could let our light shine and for 'perfect' we wrote that we can be the best we can be & we can repent.
Gordon B. Hinckley said "If you really know that you are a child of God, you will also know that He expects much of you, His child. He will expect you to follow His teachings and the teachings of His dear Son, Jesus. He will expect you to be generous and kind to others. He will be offended if you swear or use foul language. He will be offended if you are dishonest in any way, if you should cheat or steal in the slightest. He will be happy if you remember the less fortunate in your prayers to Him. He will watch over you and guide you and protect you. He will bless you in your schoolwork and in your Primary. He will bless you in your home, and you will be a better boy or girl, obedient to your parents, quarreling less with your brothers and sisters, helping about the home.
And thus you will grow to be a strong young man or women in this Church. You will also be a better member of the community.
Every man or woman who ever walked the earth, even the Lord Jesus, was once a boy or girl like you. They grew according to the pattern they followed. If that pattern was good, they became good men and women.
Never forget, my dear young friends, that you really are a child of God who has inherited something of His divine nature, one whom He loves and desires to help and bless...for you are indeed a child of God, worthy and deserving of His love and blessing."
{Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: You Are a Child of God}.
Bear your testimony.
Additional activity: Everyone sit in a circle and play spin the bottle {place the bottle on its side in the center of the circle and take turns spinning the bottle} When the bottle points to a member of the family, describe them {make sure you are nice about it! :) } Be sure to add that they are "a child of God", repeat with each family member.
