F.H.E. Friday {Joshua 1:9}

...A lesson on Friday to teach on Monday...

Each August as the new school year rolls around we like to focus a lesson on something that will help the kids throughout the school year.  This year we decided to focus on Joshua 1:9...

"Be strong and of good courage; 

be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: 

for the Lord thy God is with thee 

whithersoever thou goest."

You will need:

• be ready to read: Standing Up, Standing Out & Courage to Live the Gospel 
• Standard works (for each family member if possible)

Suggested songs:

• Choose the Right Way (cs. 160)
• Dare to do Right (cs. 158)
• Nephi's Courage, vs. 3 (cs. 120)
• Stand for the Right (cs.159)
• Choose the Right (h.239)
• Do What is Right (h.237)

Lesson:

Have a family member read Joshua 1:9.

Tonight we are going to talk about each part of this scripture.  The first part I want to talk about is "be strong".

ask: What does this mean to you? Is it being physically strong, mentally strong, or spiritually strong? 

I am going to read some scriptures to you, your job is to tell me how each scripture teaches us to be strong. (you can also assign scriptures to family members to be read, or have them follow along in their own scriptures)

1. D&C 1:28 (be humble) ask: What does it mean to be humble? (not proud, not arrogant, modest) How does being humble make us strong? (we are more receptive to direction, we are ready to learn and grow)
2. Ephesians 6:10-18  (put on the armor of God) ask: What are the different items of armor we should 'wear'? (vs.14 loins girt with truth, breastplate of righteousness; vs.15 feet shod with the gospel of peace; vs. 16 shield of faith; vs.17 helmet of salvation).  Talk about how each item of armor can help us become strong in our own lives.
3. Moses 1:20 (pray) Share a personal experience when you have prayed about a problem and then received the strength and comfort that you needed.

The next part is "be of good courage".  I am going to read you two stories now.  I want you to pay close attention to how each person in the stories were strong & then tell me how you can apply each lesson in your life.

Read: Standing Up and Standing Out 

Read: Courage to Live the Gospel

What did you learn from these stories? (some ideas from Standing Up: standing up for our beliefs, even when unpopular; courage to take a stand against something we know is wrong; how happy and peaceful you feel when you choose the right) (some ideas from Courage to Live the Gospel: having courage to change our situation if needed; resisting peer pressure; we receive strength when we follow Heavenly Father's council)

President Thomas S. Monson has said "My earnest prayer is that you will have the courage required to refrain from judging others, the courage to be chaste and virtuous, and the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness.  As you do so, you will be 'an example of the believers,' and your life will be filled with love and peace and joy." ("May You Have Courage" Ensign, May 2009, 127) 

You may want to role play situations that are appropriate for your family & discuss how each member can be a good example, choose the right, and stand up for what they believe in.

Next we are going to talk about "be not afraid, neither be not dismayed".  

Ask: What does dismayed mean? (discouraged, down trodden, distressed) 

I have three more scriptures, each has a way we can overcome fear or feelings of dismay.  I want you to tell me what each scripture teaches us.

1. 1 John 4:18  (love) How does love cast out fear? (belief that our Heavenly Father loves us is a great comfort, the love of our family and friends supporting us, we are not alone) 
2. Mark 5:36 (believe) When we talk about belief, we often talk about another gospel principle, do you know what it is? (Faith) How can having faith help us to fear less? (knowing Heavenly Father has a plan for us, that if we choose the right we will be blessed, gives us extra strength when we need to stand up for what we believe in)
3. D&C 38:30 (prepare) How are some ways we can be prepared? (scripture study, church attendance, participate in F.H.E., pray, fast, study for tests....the list goes on and on)

The last part is "for the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest." 

Ask: What does "whithersoever thou goest" mean? (everywhere you go) 

Elder Robert D. Hales teaches us: "If we are patient in our afflictions, endure them well, and wait upon the Lord to learn the lessons of mortality, the Lord will be with us to strengthen us until the end of our days." ("Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure", Ensign, May 1998, 77)

Share a personal experience & bear your testimony of how our Heavenly Father is always with us.

Resource: Line Upon Line: Joshua 1:9

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As an special back to school gift, I framed Joshua 1:9 for my kids to display in each of their rooms this year as a reminder.  I simply printed off the verse in NeoRetroDraw and colored in the passages I wanted to highlight.  Then backed it with decorative paper and framed it.  Easy as can be :)