Plan for Family Home Evening
"...persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah..." -- Jarom 1:11
Opening Song: Teach Me to Walk in The Light
Opening Prayer: __________________________
Attention activity: What do you see?
Materials: flashlight, dark room, one volunteer, paper, pen.
Begin by having an individual stand facing the opposite wall, in an open area. Turn off lights, and shine a bright flashlight on the individual in the middle of their back. Ask them what they see. Answers may range from, 'my shadow', to 'light and darkness', etc. Record all answers. Ask the individual to turn 90 degrees to the right (in reference to CTR), and ask again: what do you see? This time the individual may see a variety of slanted shadows, different items in the room, other people, etc. Finally, ask the person to CTR one more time, this time, facing the light head on. (If the light was shining on their back, it should now be shining on their stomach, and NOT in their eyes). Ask; what do you see? Bright light, nothing except the light, etc, may be some of the answers.
Explain that if we choose to do things that are contrary to what we have learned to be right, we are turning our spirits away from the light-- which means they are filling up with darkness/ dark matter. 'Nature abhors a vacuum', and our spirits are also subject to those foundational laws of matter. We cannot exist in a vacuum. Everything we do will make a difference. Our spirits cannot survive on Dark Light-- they will rebel, and the Holy Ghost will give us warnings to turn back to the light.
Ask for some examples of things that are 'contrary to what we have been taught'. Answers might include: drugs, porn, watching bad T.V. shows, using bad language, etc.
Read Jarom 1:5 "...and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme..."
When the people of Nephi choose to do these things-- and to do their best with all they had been commanded by the Lord-- they were facing their spirits to the light. When we face the light, our bodies and souls are able to bask in the light. To bask means to be exposed to warmth and light. To bask in the love of our Savior means that as we look to Him, and as we follow in His Footsteps, we allow the Atonement to work within us, and we become filled with his love, which is charity-- the pure love of Christ.
Our bodies and our spirits can be filled with light, no matter our circumstances, if we choose to Look to the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength. The important thing is to look towards the Savior in everything. When we do that, our spirits fill up with light, which increases our joy, our peace, and even our perspectives of our trials can change as well.
How can we 'Look towards the Savior'?
Closing Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus
Closing Prayer: ____________________________
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Post Halloween Contemplation
Recently I had a discussion with my youngest child about how much candy is an acceptable amount to eat. I am sure many parents out there have had a similar one some time this week with their children. Post Halloween can be a sugar madhouse with its sugar rushes, and downward emotional spirals. If I went with my child's opinion, every meal would consist of candy, some raspberries, and some more candy. Not the healthiest choice. If only he was asking for something healthy, then I would be happy with his 'I want more' attitude.
So far, the best way to teach my children about healthy vs unhealthy, is to let them eat as much junk as they want in a short amount of time....... because, for some reason, they don't believe me when I tell them how awful they will feel if they eat too much junk food. Somewhere-- TV, movies, those evil conniving commercials, they got the message that candy and junk food is fun. But I know it isn't. It isn't enough that I know, they need to know, too. So I let them have their firsthand experience, and after a day-- sometimes two-- they come to me asking for some 'real food'. Lost of it, too.
Mission accomplished.
There is another kind of health food that we ingest: spiritual food. We have to nourish our spirits and souls just as much as we do our physical bodies. Do we start our day with a candy bar? (Hopefully not, but all bets are off the week after Halloween). How can we progress in our life and with our goals, if we fill our day with 'spiritual junk'? We can't.
We need to start with the healthy spiritual elements, and continue to incorporate them into our day.
How do we start up our spiritual energy? Do we pray? Do we 'take in' nourishing spiritual food like scriptures? What do you consider holy? I know I try to 'take in' all that I find good and uplifting. I have a Bible, but I also have a Book of Mormon. I read them both daily.
In 2 Nephi 29: 13 it says, 'And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.'
I love this scripture because it reminds me that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, no matter our heritage, no matter our location, and no matter where we stand in this world. He wants all of us to find joy. He wants all of us to return to Him. He loves us all.
He wants to communicate that message to all of us. Around the world, and through all time, He works to spread His message of love and redemption and peace. We may find God's love shining on us in the smile or the kind words of a friend. We may find words of encouragement from God in the words of a people long since past. We will have to be on the lookout-- because God's ways are not our ways. We have a lot to learn, but as we pull together as people of faith-- faith in Heavenly Father and His ways, we are blessed. We can reach out to one another and strengthen each other, and spread the message of hope and peace.
There is a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual junk food. There is also a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual health food. It is important to know the difference, and to take in the good.
So far, the best way to teach my children about healthy vs unhealthy, is to let them eat as much junk as they want in a short amount of time....... because, for some reason, they don't believe me when I tell them how awful they will feel if they eat too much junk food. Somewhere-- TV, movies, those evil conniving commercials, they got the message that candy and junk food is fun. But I know it isn't. It isn't enough that I know, they need to know, too. So I let them have their firsthand experience, and after a day-- sometimes two-- they come to me asking for some 'real food'. Lost of it, too.
Mission accomplished.
There is another kind of health food that we ingest: spiritual food. We have to nourish our spirits and souls just as much as we do our physical bodies. Do we start our day with a candy bar? (Hopefully not, but all bets are off the week after Halloween). How can we progress in our life and with our goals, if we fill our day with 'spiritual junk'? We can't.
We need to start with the healthy spiritual elements, and continue to incorporate them into our day.
How do we start up our spiritual energy? Do we pray? Do we 'take in' nourishing spiritual food like scriptures? What do you consider holy? I know I try to 'take in' all that I find good and uplifting. I have a Bible, but I also have a Book of Mormon. I read them both daily.
In 2 Nephi 29: 13 it says, 'And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.'
I love this scripture because it reminds me that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, no matter our heritage, no matter our location, and no matter where we stand in this world. He wants all of us to find joy. He wants all of us to return to Him. He loves us all.
He wants to communicate that message to all of us. Around the world, and through all time, He works to spread His message of love and redemption and peace. We may find God's love shining on us in the smile or the kind words of a friend. We may find words of encouragement from God in the words of a people long since past. We will have to be on the lookout-- because God's ways are not our ways. We have a lot to learn, but as we pull together as people of faith-- faith in Heavenly Father and His ways, we are blessed. We can reach out to one another and strengthen each other, and spread the message of hope and peace.
There is a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual junk food. There is also a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual health food. It is important to know the difference, and to take in the good.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Ancestors in Russia
So, on a whim, I checked the traffic of my blog. Someone, or several someones, in Russia have visited my blog. This is exciting to me, as my paternal grandfather was born in Russia, and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. I'd like to find out more about my ancestors, but all the records I've seen are in Russian, and I don't know how to read them. So if you're Russian....... or know how to speak Russian, please let me know.
Thank you :)
Thank you :)
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