Faith--LDS Living Magazine

Faith
by Shauna Gibby

Prayer:

Objective: to learn more about what faith is

Thought:Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision. [We] need to choose faith. (Neil L. Andersen, "You Know Enough," Ensign, Nov 2008, 13-14.)

Song:"Nephi's Courage," Children's Songbook, p. 120.

Scripture:As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. (Mark 5:36)

Lesson: Ask the following three questions of your family.

1. What would happen if you sat in one of the chairs in the room? (It would hold you up.)
   
2. What would happen if you turned the light switch off? (The lights would go out.)
3. What would happen if you pressed a pencil against a paper and moved it around? (It would write.)
   

Now try all three of the "experiments." Afterward ask the family how they could know the results of the experiments before they happened.
They were able to know because they have experienced these things over and over again. They have begun to trust the results. Share an example. The first time a baby turns a light switch off and on, it surprises him. But as he does it again and again it doesn't surprise him anymore. He has developed faith in that light switch.

Help family members understand that that is the way spiritual faith is developed also. Share another example. If you are sick, father gives you a priesthood blessing. You begin to recover quickly.

At first this surprises you. As you grow up you receive more blessings when you need them. Gradually the results don't surprise you anymore. You have developed faith in the priesthood power.

Heavenly Father desires to help us in our lives. He wants us to trust him with our needs. If we will go to him, he will answer our prayers each time. Gradually our faith will grow.

Discuss what things can we seek Heavenly Father's help with? Point out that all the ideas they came up with are opportunities to strengthen their faith.(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Sharing Time, Family Time, Anytime, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992], p. 16.)

Story:
Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was willing to be obedient but saw no possible way for me to do as he counseled me to do.

I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, "The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning." I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: "You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness, then the light will appear and show the way before you." Then he quoted these eighteen words from the Book of Mormon: "Dispute not because you see not, for ye receive no witness until after after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). (Boyd K. Packer, Memorable Stories With a Message, [Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2000], p. 33.)

Activity:
Choose one person to be the "hunter" and one person to be the "deer." The hunter and the deer are both blindfolded. They stand at opposite ends of a long table. The hunter attempts to catch the deer, and the latter tries to avoid being caught as they both move around the table. The family should remain quiet so that the hunter can stalk the deer through any movements he makes. The game is exciting for the spectators as well as for the players.

Sometimes, to add to the fun, the hunter is allowed to make an occasional noise by rapping on the table. This gives the deer more chance to get away. The variation is amusing, for often the hunter decides to rap just when, without knowing it, he has practically caught the deer. (Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 122.)

Snack: Trail Mix

Prayer:

Other Resources: "You Know Enough," by Neil L. Andersen, Ensign, Nov 2008, 13-14.

To read the entire article go to the following link: http://www.ldsliving.com/magazine/show/2066/FHE:-Faith

The Plan of Salvation

Objective: To understand the different parts of the Plan of Salvation

Preparations: 1) print and cut out the plan of salvation cut outs (as seen above, click on the image to enlarge), 2) paste the front to the back 3) bake cookies (as seen above)

Opening Prayer:

Song: I Lived in Heaven, Hymn 4 in the Children's Hymnal

Attention Activity:

Obtain a picture, such as a photograph from a magazine. Cut a few small pieces from the picture. Make sure that family members will not be able to tell what the picture is by looking at the small pieces.

Display the small pieces of the picture that you have, but do not display the picture. Tell each family members that these small pieces are part of a bigger picture. Invite them to briefly guess what is in the picture. Then display the picture, putting the small pieces in place.

Point out that although the small pieces are important, they would have little meaning if they were not part of the big picture. Explain that experiences we have, decisions we make, and truths we learn are like small pieces of a big picture. They have less meaning if they are not put in the context of a bigger picture: the plan of salvation. A knowledge of the plan of salvation can help us make righteous decisions, find joy in mortality, and prepare for eternal life.

Quote: The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “The great plan of salvation is a theme which ought to occupy our strict attention, and be regarded as one of heaven’s best gifts to mankind” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 68).

Scripture:

For behold, this is my ^awork and my ^bglory—to bring to pass the ^cimmortality and ^deternal ^elife of man. Moses 1:39

Lesson:

Place the plan of salvation (as seen above) on a flat surface a piece at a time in order, explaining each piece as you go

1) Heavenly Father created the Plan of Salvation for us because He loved us

2) Premortal life (Abraham 3:22-25)

We are sons and daughters of God, and we lived in a premortal existence as His spirit children. Before the earth was created, Heavenly Father called a council in heaven and presented the plan of salvation to all His spirit children.

• What were some elements of the plan that Heavenly Father presented in the premortal world? (See 2 Nephi 2:24–26; Alma 34:8–9; Abraham 3:24–25. Answers could include the Atonement of Jesus Christ; the Creation of the earth; the Fall; time on earth during which we would receive a mortal body and be tested; and agency, or the power to choose good or evil.)

• How did Jehovah, the Firstborn of the Father, respond to the plan of salvation? (See Moses 4:2. To show how the Savior obeyed the Father’s will, you may want to read D&C 19:16–19 and D&C 76:40–42. Emphasize that the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes the plan of salvation possible. The Savior is the central figure in God’s plan for our salvation.)

Satan Cast Out (Revelation 12:9)

Satan rebelled against the plan of salvation, seeking to destroy our agency and gain Heavenly Father’s power. He became Satan, and he and his followers (1/3 of the hosts of heaven) were cast out of the Father’s presence and denied mortality

• Why is it important for us to know about the existence of Satan and his followers?

• How did we respond to the plan of salvation? (See Job 38:4–7. Explain that latter-day prophets have taught that verse 7 in this passage refers to the joy we all felt in our premortal existence when we accepted the plan of salvation.)

3) Birth (Ecl. 3:1-2)

4) Mortal Life (Alma 34:32)

Part of Heavenly Father’s plan in our premortal life, would be to come to earth and gain a physical body. We would forget our premortal life, be born, receive a body, live by faith and one day die

5) Death (Hebrew 9:27)

Our life does not end at physical death.

6) Spirit World (Alma 40:1214; D&C 138:57)

When we die, our spirits will enter the spirit world.

• People who do not receive the gospel on earth, will enter spirit prison where they will have that opportunity.

• People who had the gospel in this life will enter spirit paradise

7) Resurrection and Judgment (1 Cor. 15:22, 2 Cor. 5:10)

Due to the Fall of Adam and Eve there was physical and spiritual death.

• How will we be delivered from physical death? (See Alma 11:42; D&C 88:14–16; 93:33.

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected, or “raised from this temporal death.” Our spirits will reunite with our bodies, and we will be able to “receive a fullness of joy.”

• How can we be delivered from spiritual death? (See Alma 42:11–13, 15; Articles of Faith 1:3.)

8) The Three Kingdoms; Celestial Kingdom (D&C 76:70), Terrestrial Kingdom (D&C 76:71)
Telestial Kingdom (D&C 76:81), Outer darkness (D&C 76:3238)

After we are resurrected, we will return to the presence of God to be judged according to our works. We will inherit a place in the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, or the telestial kingdom based on the manner in which we have “received the testimony of Jesus” Satan and his followers in the preexistence will go to outer darkness.

Activity:

Mix up the Plan of Salvation pieces and have the family put them back in order. Allow family members take turns explaining the piece they put in order.

Treat:

Cut out cookies in the shape of suns---remind family members that it is our goal to inherit the Celestial Kingdom

Prayer: