FHE: Holy Ghost Present When Speaking Truth

Last night we had an Family Home Evening lesson on the Holy Ghost. When my oldest daughter and I went on our last temple trip, we visited the Independence MO Visitor's Center before we went. The Sister missionaries bore their testimony at the end of their presentation by saying they knew the Holy Ghost was there that day as we learned of the plan of salvation and as we discussed faith of the Saints to press forward despite the persecution of the mobs that plagued them.

That thought really struck me. That whenever we speak of truth, read truth or ponder truth, the Spirit is there with us because the Holy Ghost is one that testifies of truth. That reminded me of something I learned in Seminary way back when. My seminary teacher taught us that whenever we open up our scriptures, that act alone invites the Spirit into our lives. 

My family then discussed around the table of times when opening up our scriptures brought the Spirit. My mom (Lola to my kids) told about a time when one of my brothers had a serious question on how to treat a boy that had some disabilities. She didn't know the answer but when she went to open her scriptures, it opened right up to the one that says loving one another as He has loved you. And it applied well to answer his question. The answer didn't come from Lola, it came from the Spirit teaching her and my brother truth as the scripture answered their question.  Mema also talked about a time when she was at a work party and found out that one of her close friends died in a car accident that night. She was heartbroken. She went into a room to process the information and grieve in private. She opened up her scriptures. She didn't read anything but when she did open them, a feeling of peace, comfort and love came to her. These calming feelings helped her know that everything would be ok and that the plan of salvation is there so she could see her friend again. Her act of opening her scriptures helped bring that peace. 

I love how all the talks and lessons we have from General Conference, Sacrament, primary and sharing time all flow together. Like line upon line, precept upon precept. We learned in primary that as we feast upon the words of Christ (the scriptures), we can learn more of Christ, draw closer to Him, find scripture power to overcome temptations and gain a greater desire to do what is right. In my primary lesson, we asked how to gain a testimony of Christ. Well, exactly as said in Primary, we feast upon the words of Christ so we may learn about Him and as we learn more about Him, we can gain a testimony of the Him. We listen to His Prophets so we can better know how to obey the commandments and better ourselves so that we may know how to choose the better choices. We learn how to better keep the Sabbath Day holy because that is what the Prophet and Apostles have been speaking about lately. We ask questions on how we can do that when they're just kids and not the adults making the decisions. We ask questions on how to better strengthen our family on the Sabbath. We ask questions on how to help our family members want to strengthen their family relationships when it seems they don't want to. 

Do you see the spiral of learning just one piece of truth can bring? Do you see where one piece of truth can lead us down many aspects of learning? Do you see how it is possible to always have room for improvement? Do you see that we can learn how to make the be BEST choices when we can choose between good, better and best?

I love that as a follower of Christ, I have the ability to invite a member of the Godhead into my life for guidance or comfort. I know that when I pray for guidance with my kids, the Spirit will whisper to me better choices to make when I feel like what I'm doing isn't working. I love that as I pray to reach my primary kids during my lesson, that I am able to do so and help them to open up to me so that THEY can receive guidance and comfort in their situations. I love that when I open up my scriptures, that I can have the Spirit come to me as I ponder the teachings of Christ. 

Sometimes it is hard to feel like we live our lives in a such a way that we have the Spirit be with us at all times. Or being righteous 100% of the time is attainable. We don't always, because we are not perfect. Although it is possible to try our best at it. Our daily actions either invite the Spirit or our actions push it away. What are you doing today to invite the Spirit into your life?

Family Home Evening: Teach Your Children

Opening Song: Teach Me To Walk in the Light, Children's Song Book #177
Opening Prayer: Assign
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-31

FIVE-POINT PROGRAM BY WHICH PARENTS COULD TEACH FAITH: Summarizing the scripture
*Italics - our answers given by my children or me
* Suggestion: Make strips of 5 points to have each child hold or place up on the wall as you speak of each.

1. Their children were to be baptized when they had reached the age of accountability -- Why are we baptized? What is so important about it? (So we can get clean and so our sins can be washed away)
2. They were taught to pray -- When do we pray? What do we pray over? Why do we pray? (Before we eat, in the morning and at night. Food, our day or night, people we know, etc)
3. They were taught to walk uprightly before the Lord -- What does it mean to walk uprightly before the Lord? (This also means to choose the right or building up personal integrity. As we continue to choose the right, we become honest and trustworthy people walking uprightly before the Lord.)
4. They were taught to keep the Sabbath Day Holy -- What special day do we have during the week? Why is it special? Where do we go on this day? What kind of activities do we do or not do on this day? (Sunday. Because you get to visit Heavenly Father's house and feel the Holy Spirit. We watch gospel oriented videos, play together as a family, not go out shopping, etc)
5. They were to be schooled not to be idle, either in the Church, or in their private lives -- What does idle mean? (To be lazy or not progressing. The Lord wants us to be going about doing good, increasing our faith and others, too. As we learn to work hard by doing chores, it helps our house become clean and orderly. Can the Spirit dwell in our home if it is dirty, cluttered, trash all over the floor and smelly? No, the Spirit cannot dwell in any unclean thing. We do chores to help our home be orderly and invites the Spirit. I'm teaching you to do your own chores so you won't be idle. We first do chores, then our fun activities. We can't progress if all we do is things to entertain ourselves and not helping others around us.)

"All parents who have followed that formula and have so taught their children have reaped reward of an increased faith in their family, which has stood and will yet stand the test of the difficulties into which their children would yet go." ((President Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, Oct. 1952, p.17)

WHY WE HAVE FAMILY HOME EVENING

"We advise and urge the inauguration of a 'Home Evening' throughout the Church, at which time father and mother may gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the word of the Lord...This 'Home Evening' should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture reading, family topics, and specific instructions on the principles of the gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligations of children to parents, the home, the Church, society, and the nation." (Letter to the Church in 1915 signed by President Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose)

PROMISE FROM HOLDING FAMILY HOME EVENING

Then to those who would put this family home hour or evening into practice the Presidency made this promise:

"If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them." (President Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, Oct. 1964, pp.83-84)

BEAR YOUR TESTIMONY

Bear your testimony that as you hold Family Home Evenings, that this promise is true and can increase the faith within your family and help you to live the principles of the Gospel which can protect us from whatever temptations or difficulties that come our way.

Closing Song: I Will Follow God's Plan, CSB p. 164-165
Closing Prayer: Assign

Activity:  Coloring Pages for younger kids while you teach the lesson.