How Can I Prepare Now to Establish a Christ-Centered Home?
YOUTH CLASSES
June 27, 2021
Come, Follow Me
DOCTRINAL TOPICS & ACTIVITIES
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Doctrine and Covenants 68 includes counsel to parents that might not seem immediately relevant to quorum or class members (see verses 25–28). However, because they can have a powerful influence on their current and future families, this counsel can help them now. The best way for them to prepare to have a Christ-centered home in the future is to “walk uprightly before the Lord” today (verse 28).
WHAT BLESSINGS HAVE COME TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAVIOR’S TEACHINGS?
DOWNLOAD activities below and more*
DOWNLOAD “Showered with Blessings! Follow the Prophet Guessing Game (HERE or below).
How can quorum or class members help their families establish a Christ-centered home? To prepare to teach, you could review President Henry B. Eyring’s message “A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 22–25) SEE VIDEO BELOW and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
*Go to the INDEXES on GospelGrabBag.com to find activities on these subjects: BLESSINGS, FAMILY, PROPHET, CHOOSE THE RIGHT, JESUS CHRIST (hover over the INDEX tab to click on subjects)
ColorQuote (shown) “In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan. . . . We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.”– L. Tom Perry, Apostle, “The Importance of the Family”
WHAT BLESSINGS HAVE COME TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAVIOR’S TEACHINGS?
THE SEVENTH PARAGRAPH OF “THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD” contains truths that can help quorum or class members center their homes on the Savior.
DOWNLOAD The Family: A Proclamation to the World ACTIVITIES (below)
Invite them to read this paragraph and identify the teachings and principles that will help a family to be happy. You may want to write these on the board and ask those you teach to discuss why each one would help a family be happy. Quorum or class members may want to share how they have seen these teachings and principles applied in their own or others’ families. Encourage them to ponder how they can apply at least one of these principles in their lives now. Reassure them that they can make Jesus Christ the center of their lives, no matter what family situation they come from.
THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
Quorum or class members could discuss THINGS THAT KEEP THE SAVIOR AT THE CENTER OF OUR HOMES and things that prevent Him from being at the center of our homes. You might ask individuals or small groups to review one of the sections of President Henry B. Eyring’s message “A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 22–25) to find principles that can help make our homes more Christ-centered. Invite quorum or class members to share what they learn and choose one thing they will do during the coming week to make their homes more focused on Jesus Christ and His teachings.
A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells
Quote From Talk. “qualify ourselves and our family members for eternal life”
THINGS THAT KEEP THE SAVIOR AT THE CENTER OF OUR HOMES
Perhaps you could ask one or more quorum or class members to sing or read a song about home and family, such as “Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth” (Hymns, no. 298) or “Love Is Spoken Here” (Children’s Songbook, 190).
DOWNLOAD the above song visuals (below) to have youth teach these songs to children (preparing visuals for family home evening or teaching Primary).
The others could listen to what the song teaches about MAKING HOME A HAPPY PLACE. Invite them to share an experience when they felt happy because they were shown love or when they helped increase the love in their home.
MAKING HOME A HAPPY PLACE
Act in Faith
Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to the personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.
Supporting Resources
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Mosiah 4:14–16; Doctrine and Covenants 88:119; 121:41–46 (How to establish a righteous home)
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“What Can I Do to Help Ease Family Tension?” from “Face to Face with Elder Rasband, Sister Oscarson, and Brother Owen” (worldwide youth broadcast, Jan. 20, 2016), “Two Brothers Apart,” “Through Small Things,” “More Diligent and Concerned at Home” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Christ-Centered Home
Fun-tastic! Activities
For Class or Group Gatherings
Produced by Youth Leaders
HAPPINESS
JOYFUL THINGS TO DO: READ 2 Nephi 28:30 (“line upon line precept upon precept”). Talk about how exciting life is, always learning new things! Have youth choose a skill or something they want to do to develop their potential Conduct a workshop to develop these skills (e.g., sewing, cooking, nursing, balancing a checkbook, preparing for a career, teaching and sharing the gospel – studying “Preach My Gospel”).
VALUABLE MIRROR REFLECTIONS:
1. Have youth go into a room where they can look into a large mirror, or give each a hand mirror. Ask them to really look at themselves and to smile.
2. Ask them to take another look in the mirror this next week and talk to themselves about their potential. Ask them to smile and tell themselves that they are a daughter of God (Heavenly Father) and that they are of great worth and value. Tell them that if they do this day after day ten one day they will truly believe that they are daughters of God and that they are deeply loved. This realization will help them have true joy.
LEADERS: You could create a quote/plaque they could post that reads: “I am of great worth and value, according to my Heavenly Father who knows me perfectly.”
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Find Joy – Monthly Time Capsule (HERE or above)
TALKING WITH HEAVENLY FATHER: Ask youth to talk to Heavenly Father as they would their best friend Heavenly Father wants us to go to Him as we would a close friend and to trust in His guidance. Have youth write things they would like to pray to Heavenly Father about. Ask them to choose something to pray about this week and listen to the Spirit. Tell them that the Spirit will guide them with warm positive feelings when they are on the right path. Friends can help them, but Heavenly Father is their true source of knowledge and joy.
THOUGHT TREAT: Finding Joy Fudge. Make fudge by melting chocolate chips (1 bag) with 1 can sweeten and condensed milk. Have youth roll make three 1-inch balls and then roll them into rope-shapes, then form into the letters J O Y. Talk about how each might find joy.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Find Joy – Monthly Time Capsule (HERE or above)
RIGHTEOUS TRADITIONS
SHARE FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITIONS: Explain what a tradition is, e.g., a custom or practice. Have each youth write on a piece of paper one or more of her favorite family traditions. Have them share it with the class. Brainstorm as you make a long list. Have someone take notes and make a list for everyone. Ideas: Making handmade gifts, making care packages and taking to the sick, placing an upbeat note in a family member’s lunch box, getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve, creating a “rainy day box” by collecting small toys and objects for children to play with, playing games every Sunday night.
Matching Activity: Righteous Traditions time capsule (HERE or above)
REVISE OLD TRADITIONS: Discuss how traditions have changed; some old ones have changed for the better, some have not. Read a book on etiquette with youth and ask them if they do these things in their home, e.g., not putting elbows on the table until after they have finished eating, serving family members food from the left instead of the right side, ringing the dinner bell when dinner is ready, putting a heart under the plate of the person who is to give the blessing on the food, lighting a candle when a special guest has come to dinner or when celebrating something well done.
Matching Activity: Righteous Traditions time capsule (HERE or above)
SHOW VIDEO (below): Righteous Traditions, Cheryl C. Lant, Primary General President (click HERE to find article/video)
She said, “Each of us has traditions in our families. Some of them are material. Some of them have deep meaning. The most important traditions are connected with the way we live our lives and will last beyond us as our children’s lives are influenced and shaped. In the Book of Mormon, we read of the Lamanites who were deeply affected by the traditions of their fathers. King Benjamin said they were a people who knew nothing about the principles of the gospel “or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct” (Mosiah 1:5).”
Matching Activity: Righteous Traditions time capsule (HERE or above)
ACTS OF KINDNESS
“MIRROR TELL ME TRUE” Small Acts of Kindness Brainstorm.
Brainstorm and write down, to preserve in a file for each youth, a list of small acts of kindness they can do for others. Encourage them to look into the mirror and say, “Mirror, mirror, tell me true. Is His image in my countenance too?” As they say this, they can look at the list and perform small acts of kindness.
Ideas: • A sweet anonymous note • A phone call to someone less active • A friendly touch • A smile • Breakfast in bed for a family member • A compliment • Find out someone’s favorite goody, make it for them, and deliver with a smile
Matching Activities: DOWNLOAD Warm Fuzzy Righteous Reminders (HERE or below)
HAPPINESS GIFT Scripture Search: Ask youth and leaders to share ideas on how they can be happy by serving others. Place a gift box on the table, labeled, “Happiness is a gift I can give myself as I serve others.” Cut a hole in the back of the gift box (or lift the lid) to fill with the names of those participating. Draw names from the box to present their ideas. Assign several scriptures to read that tell ways to be happy through service: 1 Nephi 8:10; 2 Nephi 2:13; Mosiah 2:17; 2:41; Mosiah 16:11; Alma 3:26; 27:18; 41:5; 10; 4 Nephi 1:15; D&C 4:2; 76:5.
Ideas: Balance your life with personal care and selfless care (serving others). Focus on grooming self and taking care of personal needs quickly, then serve others. This selfless act of taking your mind off yourself and focusing on others will bring a lasting joy that does not come from self-focus.
Matching Activities: DOWNLOAD Warm Fuzzy Righteous Reminders (HERE or below)
MISSIONARY PREPARATION
MISSIONARY FOR A DAY: Have youth learn what a typical week is like in the life of a missionary. Plan a day or a few hours where they can sample it all. Ask sister missionaries to come and tell them what they do. Ideas: Reading the scriptures together, going on splits with the missionaries, visiting member neighbors, asking questions about their nonmember friends, encouraging them to fellowship nonmembers, cooking healthy meals in a hurry, practicing social skills.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Missionary Preparation mirror motivator (HERE or above)
SCHOOL DAZE AND MISSIONARY WAYS WORKSHOP: Ask youth to divide into teams to discuss ways they can be a missionary at school. Encourage them to show how they can team up to fellowship and befriend nonmembers and less-active girls. They can put on a skit, write a poem, give ideas, makeup situations, role play, or ask questions and talk about being a missionary.
MISSION PREP PARTY: Give youth a mock missionary badge as they enter the room. Have experts in each area give demonstrations or teach valuable skills.
Ideas: Learn to iron; do laundry; sew on a button; make scones; lead music; introduce yourself; learn about facial expressions and eye contact; discuss dress, grooming, posture, manners, and conversation.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Missionary Preparation mirror motivator (HERE or above)
