Jonah & the Whale (preschool-schoolage)

Lesson: Read the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale from the children's Old Testament. Ask questions that help your children to understand that Jonah was swallowed up because he did not want to serve a mission/ or was not obedient. You can use this to talk about the importance of missionary work or the importance of obedience.

Missionary-

• Talk about what missionaries do
• What can your child do to be a missionary
• Ways your child can prepare to serve a mission

Obedience-

• What are things the Lord has asked us to do
• How can we be obedient

Activity: Missionary Activity- make cookies for non member friends, deliver them as a family. Write your families testimonies in a Book of Mormon to give to the full-time Missionaries. For Preschoolers, let them cut/paste a picture of Jonah and the whale.

Treat: Goldfish Crackers or blue jello made with goldfish crackers.

Belonging to a Family (preschool age children)

Lesson: Show pictures of various families, yours included. Help your child to understand that families are made up of all sorts of people but usually include a Mommy & a Daddy. Talk about the roles that each members of your family play. Ask questions to help your child to understand that each family member is needed, that the family would not be whole without each individual. For older children you may use this opportunity to talk about children being sealed eternally with their parents.

Activity: Make paper chains, each chain representing a member of the family. Close the chain so it makes a full circle- which illustrates that the family would not be whole with out each member.

Treat: Sugar cookie cut outs of children (or gingerbread men). With young children you can let each child decorate their own person.

For the Strength of Youth (preteen- adult children)

Lesson: Read the pamphlet as a family, discussing what the standards are. List each righteous behavior the pamphlet outlines, talk as a family about why the standards are important. Make goals as a family to make the changes necessary so that you are living by the standards the Lord has set. (For Young Women- this counts as a Personal Progress value experience: Choice & Accountability #2)

Follow the Prophet (all ages)

Song: Follow the Prophet, Primary Song Book, Page 120
To help each child remember the prophets in the song, and what each one did, have a "Follow the Prophets" parade. One child is designated as the "prophet." Tape a nametag on their shirt and have them walk around the room holding up a picture/object that represents the prophet. Take turns being the prophet and have the rest of the family follow the person who is prophet while you sing their verse.

Where available, pictures were selected from the Gospel Art Kit, available on lds.org

Adam = Gospel Art Picture 101 or flower
Enoch = Gospel Art Picture 120 or city
Noah = Gospel Art Picture 103 or ark
Abraham = Gospel Art Picture 105 or ram
Moses = Gospel Art Picture 107 or 10 commandments
Samuel = Gospel Art Picture 111 or ear
Jonah = whale
Daniel = Gospel Art Picture 117 or lion

Scripture:
Younger Children:
D&C 1:4 "And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen."
Scripture Story, "Watchmen on the Tower", Friend, August 2001, 39

Older Children:
D&C 21:4-7 "Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all the words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory. For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard."

Read the scripture references listed with the Primary Song "Follow the Prophet" for each of the prophets listed in the song. Discuss what they accomplished during their lifetime and what we can learn from their lives.

Activity:
Activity #1, for children who can read:
Print off a copy of page 38 "Things I can Do to Follow the Apostles" from the August 2001 Friend Magazine for each member of your family. From the same issue, print pages 24-25 "Feat of Prophets". Read through the teachings, experiences, or revelations from prophets ancient and modern. Read each quote and talk about them. On your "things I can do to follow the prophet, list things you can do individually or as a family to follow the prophet.

Activity #2, for young children:
Print off pages 18-19 "Prophets Teach and Warn" from the August 2001 Friend Magazine. As preparation for FHE read through the story about King Benjamin on page 18 and identify the five things he told his people. Also, collect crayons, markers or colored pencils in the colors indicated on the bottom right of page 18 so you can color in the poster on page 19. While you help your children color in the poster, talk to them about who King Benjamin was, and what he taught his people.

Treat: Jacob's Dessert aka Chocolate and Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats.

• The Idea Door (for older kids)
  
• President Hinckley's Be Attitudes (Primary Aged Children and Teenagers)
  
• 10 Lessons based on President Hinckley's book Standing for Something (primary age)
  
• 9 Lessons based on The Family a Proclamation to the World (primary-teen)
  
• Deseret Book's website has weekly FHE lessons. I think they are geared more towards Primary Aged children then teens, but could easily be made more in depth, for older children. Sign up to get their weekly emails and every Monday morning you'll get an email with that nights FHE lesson - just print and go.
  
• Church Magazines:
  Don't underestimate this resource that get delivered to your door every month. Each church Magazine - The Friend, The New Era, and The Ensign - each have Family Home Evening ideas based on the articles and themes presented in that months issue.
  
  In The Friend Magazine, 5 Family Home Evening ideas are presented on the inside back cover of the magazine in "Guide to the Friend."
  
  The New Era, places their Family Home Evening ideas on the page entitled "What's In It For You," near the back of the magazine.
  
  The Ensign, has their ideas placed with in one of their articles. For February 2006, it's page 37 inside the article entitled, "Helping Children Develop Feelings of Self-Worth."
  
• Duty to God and/or Personal Progress
  For families with busy teenagers involved in everything from sports to drama club, finding time for your child to work on their Duty to God or Personal Progress goals and projects, can be impossible. Use your weekly FHE time to focus on the goals and projects needed for your child(ren) to fulfill their Duty to God and Personal Progress requirements. Some will take one night, others multiple nights - but it's a great way to help them accomplish something that will strengthen their testimonies, sense of self-worth, and personal character.