Strengthening the Family FHE

Monday night is the favorite night of the week at our house!  If you need an idea for a lesson tonight, try this fun one that my husband did a couple of weeks ago.  Jeff gets all the credit for this family home evening idea! This was a hit with our kids and they are still asking to go on the "special hunt" again.

LESSON OUTLINE:
-There are eight clues and eight scriptures/quotes to go with each clue
-Have someone hide the clues before the start of the lesson.(The free PDF is at the end of the lesson)

Begin the lesson by asking your family what they can do to strengthen your home and family.

Tell them you are going to search for clues hidden by objects around the house that will strengthen your family.  Read them the first clue and let them start looking.  (We didn't want this lesson to get too crazy or out of hand so we talked about being reverent as we did this and it really helped to keep a good spirit as we went around the house.)

Clue #1: "The clue you are looking for can be found near a place where we speak to Heavenly Father morning and night." (Have clue #2 hidden by someone's bed or where you say family prayer.)

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PRAYER:  Read D&C 10:5

Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

Once everyone has found the clue make sure to read the scripture/quote before reading the next clue
You can discuss how this strengthens your home and family and then have someone read the clue #2.  Repeat with each clue.

Clue #2: "The next clue can be found where we spend time together nourishing our bodies and our family relationship" (This will lead to the kitchen table and clue #3)

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 FAMILY DINNER: Read the quote by Elder Dallin H. Oaks and discuss

The time a family spends together “eating meals at home [is]the strongest predictor of children’s academic achievement and psychological adjustment.” Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children’s smoking, drinking, or using drugs.There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you.

Clue #3: "This clue can be found in a place where we sing Primary songs and listen to other good music" (Have clue #4 by a piano if you have one or by an iPod)

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UPLIFTING MUSIC: Read D&C 25:12 and discuss

  

For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. 

Clue #4 "The next clue can be found in a place where we listen to the Prophet speak every 6 months."
(Have this clue #5 by your TV or Computer)
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 FOLLOW THE PROPHET: Read  D&C 1:38 and discuss

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

 Clue #5 "The next clue can be found where we clean our clothes" (Put clue #6 on the washing machine)
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KEEPING OUR BODIES PURE: Read this quote from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.

Your body is sacred. Respect it and do not defile it in anyway. Through your dress and appearance, you can show that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him.

Clue #6: "This clue can be found with a special book that we read each day." (Put clue #7 by a Book of Mormon)

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READING THE BOOK OF MORMON: Read this quote from the Introduction to the Book of Mormon and discuss.

Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

Clue #7 : "The next clue can be found by a picture of the place where we go to be sealed together as a family" (Place this clue #8 by a picture of the temple)

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TEMPLE: Read this quote about Temples from lds.org and discuss

Temples are places of learning. Their principal purpose is to provide ordinances necessary for the children of God to enable them to return to dwell with Him. Temple ordinances lead to the greatest blessings available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Everything in the Church—the meetings and activities, the missionary efforts, the lessons taught and the hymns—all lead to the work done in holy temples.

Clue #8 : "The final clue can be found near a picture of the One who saved us and gave us the Gospel to live by." (Place this clue by a picture of Jesus)

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JESUS CHRIST: Read Ether 12:41 and discuss

And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen. 

Share your testimony and challenge your family to pick one of these things to work on together.

Materials:

- Print out the lesson plan with the quotes/scriptures listed
 (Feel free to add to the discussion for each one to fit the needs of your family)
- Cut out Clues

    

Strengthening the Family FHE Printable

Song Ideas:
-The Family is of God
-Love at Home 
-Love is Spoken Here
-I Love to See the Temple
-Follow the Prophet
-Book of Mormon Stories
-A Child's Prayer
-Scripture Power

Treat:
-Make a treat together as a family!