For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is: Preparing to Partake of the Sacrament and Renew my Covenants. The reason I choose this topic, is that I want my children to truly understand the importance of the sacrament and sacrament meeting. I would like them to understand what they should be thinking about during the sacrament and how they should be sitting. It seems like I am constantly having to remind them each week to keep there feet down off of the benches and such. Before preparing your family home evening I would encourage you to also read, "The Sacrament", by. DAVID B. HAIGHT, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Welcome everyone to Family Night
Sing: "The Sacrament" Children's Songbook pg 72
Have a member of the family member say the prayer
Discuss any family business
Follow-up with last weeks FHE.
Introduce this weeks Topic: Preparing to Partake of the Sacrament and Renew my Covenants
Scripture: Read and Mark: 3 Nephi 18:7 and 11
Article of Faith: #3 "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." Repeat this Article of Faith as a Family. Help each family member to understand the meaning. Help each family member memorize the Article of Faith.
Family Home Evening Instruction:
Begin the family night by reading the story "Sweeter Than Ice Cream", BY SHANNA BUTLER. As a family discuss what we promise when we are baptized and what Heavenly Father promises if we keep our promise. Discussion might include: When we are baptized we covenant with Heavenly Father that we will become a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we will take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we will bear each other's burdens, we will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places, and we keep Heavenly Father's commandments and serve him. He covenants with us, that he will forgive us of our sins, pour his spirit upon us, and redeem us and grant us eternal life.
Explain that when we are baptized we are made clean. All sins are washed away. Our Heavenly Father, knows that we are not going to be perfect, that we are going to make mistakes. That is why he sent his son, Jesus Christ to earth to atone for all of our sins and sorrows. So, as we make mistakes throughout the week we can repent of the things we do wrong. He also made a way for us to renew those covenants that we make during baptism. The way is by partaking of the sacrament each week.
How to Prepare to Partake of the Sacrament:
Invite members of the family to give ways they think they should prepare to take the sacrament each week?
Answers might include: Acknowledging their sins and repenting. Coming to sacrament meeting, with humility and ready to partake of the sacrament.
What should we think about during the Sacrament:
Invite family members to share what they should be thinking about during the sacrament?
Answers might include: Pondering the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we partake of the bread, we can be thinking of his body and the physical pain he suffered for us personally. We should do this with a grateful heart. Acknowledging that he has made is possible for us to be resurrected and gain eternal life.
As we partake f the water, we can be thinking of the blood that was shed for us personally. The spiritual anguish and sorrow our Savior suffered for each one of us. This allows us to be forgiven of our sins through repentance.
What manners do we use during the sacrament:
Invite family members to give examples of how we should act during the sacrament?
Explain that during the sacrament we should be using our "reverent manners". That means, because we love our Heavenly Father and Savior we should act reverently. We do this by sitting quietly, we do not need to talk to our neighbor, we should be thinking of the savior, and we keep our arms to ourselves. When the sacrament is passed to us, we partake of it reverently. (I will be speaking to my children about the specifics of partaking of the sacrament, how to pass the sacrament, to only take one, to use their right hand, etc.)
As a family discuss what would be appropriate to bring with you to sacrament meeting. Express the importance of sacrament meeting and that it is a time to worship our Heavenly Father. A time to be instructed and feel of the Spirit. Yes, even little children. I think that they are much more capable of sitting still and listening then we sometimes give them credit for. {For my family we have already had some discussion on this matter and feel that we should only bring for our children the "Friend Magazines", their scriptures, and a notepad and pen for them to draw in. They were involved in this decision, our children agreed that they should not bring any of their electronic games (they do not invite the spirit and are a distraction to others) or books that are not church related or toys. They agreed that they could go three hours without such items. I have also stopped bringing treats for them during sacrament meeting. Something else we will be discussing with our children is to make sure they go to the bathroom and get their drinks before sacrament meeting. I also want to reinforce the sacredness of the chapel, how we should only walk reverently and act respectfully in their.}
Let family members share their feelings about, "...how taking the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant...(and) things we can do to remain faithful." (Faith in God Book: Learning and Living The Gospel Requirement)
In conclusion play this video: "The Sacrament Helps Us Draw Closer to Jesus Christ"
Bear testimonies on Partaking of the Sacrament.
Close with a Family Prayer.
Free Printables: Best way to print printables is to click on the image and save it to your computer. You will then be able to print the image from your computer.
For More Family Home Evening Ideas Click this Link: Family Home Evening Ideas
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