YOUTH GOAL PLANNER “Make Home Life Better” For: Sunday School – Seminary (youth goal activities)

YOUTH CAN TEACH

MAKE HOME LIFE BETTER (Youth Goal Planner)

HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY FAMILY?

YOUTH CAN TEACH with this YOUTH GOAL PLANNER that helps us put forth a special effort to strengthen family relationships by NOT doing certain things and DOING certain things. Brainstorm ideas at CHURCH or HOME and schedule daily efforts to improve to make HOME life sweeter.

PONDER:

At times, it can be difficult to be a peacemaker.  Someone once said, “Be pretty if you are, be witty if you can, be cheerful if it kills you!” This can be a good reminder in a pinch.

One sure way to get yourself right is to get yourself right with God. Kneeling and praying for the spirit of peace can quickly bring you to a better place. 

SUCCESS (anonymous)

Success is speaking words of praise,
In cheering other people’s ways,
In doing just the best you can
With every task and every plan.
It’s silence when your speech would hurt,
Politeness when your neighbor’s curt.
It’s deafness when scandal flows,
And sympathy with other’s woes.
It’s loyalty when duty calls,
It’s courage when disaster falls.
It’s found in laughter and in song.
It’s in the silent time of prayer,
In happiness and in despair.
In all of life and nothing less,
We find the thing we call success. 

MORE LESSON IDEAS
Make Home Life Better

The following can help you create a home environment where love, peace, and the Spirit of the Lord abound, leading to a sweeter and better family life. 

Part 1
WAYS TO SHOW LOVE TO YOUR FAMILY:

• Show Charity & Love. “CHARITY suffereth long, and is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Follow Jesus in showing Christlike LOVE, kindness, patience, and forgiveness towards family members.

• Treat Others with Respect and Forgiveness. Value each other’s opinions/ideas and be willing to forgive mistakes.

• Build a FAITH foundation. As you focus your thoughts and actions around Jesus and His gospel, you can face challenges together as a family.

• Teach by Example. As you practice living the moral values and gospel principles, you become a light for your family to follow. Knowing that “actions speak louder than words,” they can follow that light.

• Pray. As you pray individually and with your family, blessings can come to you and your home. Share with them this story about “Miraculous things happen when families pray together” (it tells about a bomb left on this family’s doorstep just as they were praying for safety. See “The Lifeline of Prayer” talk by President James E. Faust (HERE). 

• Repent: Have a Change of Heart. As you seek the Spirit to guide you and your family, you can recognize and turn away from wrongdoings. This helps you turn your heart toward God and your family.
– DOWNLOAD Temptation Traps escape routes brainstorm activity (HERE). 
– DOWNLOAD My Change of Heart Steps 2-sided mobile activity (HERE).

• Have Compassion. By listening and showing empathy, you will begin to understand your family and their feelings and struggles.

• Have Family Home Evenings. As you dedicate specific time for family night each week, you and your family can plan and assign duties. Here you can enjoy activities, lessons, spotlight scriptures, have scripture chases, sing songs, play games, and have family prayer.
– DOWNLOAD Nuts about Family Home Evening chart to help you plan FHE (HERE) 

• Enjoy Family Scripture Study. Read and discuss the scriptures together as a family, allowing the Spirit of the Book of Mormon, in particular, to permeate your home. Start by memorizing Moroni 10:4-5.
– DOWNLOAD the Book of Mormon Promise Moroni 10:4-5 Bite-size Memorize Poster (HERE)

• Make Quality Family Time. Listen to each other and have engaging conversations. Participate in wholesome activities:
– OUTDOOR FUN. Go on walks or hikes together. Play games in the park or the backyard.
– INDOOR FUN. Play games. Create meals you can enjoy together. Work on projects or invent ways to serve each other or your community.

• Individual Time with Children. Plan to spend individual time with each parent/child/teen, letting them choose the activity and subject of conversation, and blocking out distractions.

• Have Family Councils. Hold regular family councils to discuss plans, concerns, and to involve everyone in decisions. 

• Serve to Strengthen Family. Serve family members and others, demonstrating love and strengthening bonds.

• Creating an Uplifting Home Environment. Fill your home with things that inspire and uplift, including music, good books, and the beauties of nature.

• Support Church Leaders and Teachings. Show your support for Church leaders and teachings, including the importance of temple covenants and blessings. 

Part 3
OVERCOME CHALLENGES TOGETHER:

• Learn to Rely on the Lord. As your family makes Christ the center of the home, you can build a strong foundation. This helps build self-worth and family love. As you make important decisions by relying on Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Spirit to guide you, the sweeter side of family life comes. 

• Deal with Difficult Family Relationships with Love. As you strive to act with love, kindness, and respect, your family can let go of anger and feelings of resentment. As you pray for family members, you can seek the Savior’s help to heal fractured relationships.

• Be Patient and Persistent. Building a sweeter home life is a process that requires patience. As you make it a point to see the whole picture, even when things are difficult, you can step in when needed.