Our children today are faced with many choices. Here is a simple Family Home Evening lesson to help them see how sweet gospel living illuminates falsehoods and protects them against destructive paths. Time for some FHE Fun!
Opening Song: #237 Do What Is Right
Opening Prayer: By invitation.
Time to Celebrate. What happy moments did your loved ones have this past week? You might take a moment to celebrate successes. This way your children will notice they do have strength sufficient to face challenges and to serve others.
Emergency Prep Minute. Just a little bit of weekly preparation can empower your children as they mature. What emergency tip do you want to share with your family this week?
Favorite Scripture Time. When kids and adults share favorite scriptures, you help encourage joy in scripture reading. You can include a few moments at the beginning of each week’s FHE to help bring the spirit and to settle the children for the lesson.
Activity. We offer a suggested FHE activity…but do feel free to choose what you feel is most suited to your family’s needs this week.
Items Needed:
- Lamp
- “Dead” light bulb
- Three-way light bulb (i.e. 50, 100, 150 watt)
Invite the family to move into a room without windows. Plug in the lamp and add the “dead” light bulb. Try to turn it on. Instruct somebody to turn off the lights for just a moment, leaving the door open a crack for safety. Allow people to experience the near darkness. Then carefully swap out the bulb for the functioning three-way bulb. Ask them to notice how much easier it is to see with each click of the switch, the room becoming brighter and brighter as the wattage increases.
You may want to ask them questions similar to these:
1. How can a “dead” bulb be likened to spirituality?
2. How can a “live” bulb be likened to spirituality?
3. What deadens or brightens our spirits?
4. What do we do if we notice friends darkening our perspectives? Why would it be dangerous to do nothing?
You may want to share a quote similar to this one by Elder Richard G. Scott:
“Learn how to make the right choices. That will help you develop strong feelings of self-worth. You will have confidence to do right and overcome strong negative peer pressure and bad influences” (Richard G. Scott, “Serious Questions, Serious Answers”, New Era, Oct. 1995, 4)
Explain that every right choice is like a “bright” choice, no matter how small. Each one brings ever increasing light to life’s situations that can surprise us. By continuing to focus on making good choices, we are ever more able to live successfully and to light the way for others and ourselves! Can anyone think of a scripture story or a verse that goes along with the lesson tonight?
Closing Song: #335 Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy
Closing Prayer. By invitation.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Here is research from Brent L. Top and Bruce A. Chadwick’s “Helping Teens Stay Strong.” It is great information to help strengthen and inform Latter-day Saint parents in their important work of leading children in wholesome paths and good choices.
And here is the full text to Elder Richard G. Scott’s New Era article, “Serious Questions, Serious Answers.”
Have a super “family week!”
C.S. Bezas obtained a degree in Communications, with an emphasis in training programs and human resource development. Struggling with your teens? C.S. Bezas’ book is an essential help for parents and youth leaders. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers teaches you how to create long-lasting change. Visit your local LDS bookstore or get your copy online here.