Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

FAITH

Song: I Believe in Christ or Faith

Lesson:

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?

Ether 12:6

How can we increase our Faith?

Alma 32:21, 28-30

President Packer said “Faith is a real power. Not just an expression of belief.”

How can faith be a power in our life?

Elder Andersen said “Your faith will grow not by chance but by choice.”

How is Faith a choice we make?

What things get in the way of our faith?

Video Clip: Jesus Heals a Woman of Faith

Activity Ideas: Plant some seeds in a pot and talk about how our faith is like a seed

Or Make dirt cups with pudding and Oreos and talk about how just like we need to be nourished, our testimonies need to be nourished or they become weak.

PRAYER

Song: Sweet Hour of Prayer, Did You Think to Pray or A Child’s Prayer

Lesson:

BD Prayer

Alma 37:37

What is the purpose of prayer?

Why is it said that “the family who prays together stays together”?

Elder Pearson said “Prayer is less about changing our circumstances and more about changing us.”

How does prayer change us?

President Eyring said “Heavenly Father hears your prayers, He loves you, He knows your name.”

Do you believe this?

When has God answered one of your prayers?

President Hinckley said “Get on your knees and pray and then get on your feet and go to work.”

Explain how God can help us best when we go out and do our part.

Explain how God also won’t always answer our prayers immediately

Elder Scott says “Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your Father. He hears every prayer and answers it in His way.

When we explain a problem and a proposed solution, sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us.”

Video Clip: The Hope of God’s Life or Lesson’s I learned as a Boy

How did God answer this man’s prayers?

Activity idea: Decorate prayer rocks to put on your pillow to remember to pray.

REPENTANCE

Song: Come unto Jesus or Savior, Redeemer of my Soul

Lesson:

Why is it so important for us to repent?

How should repentance make you feel?

Elder Christofferson said “Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it.” And Elder Scott said, “Remember, repentance is not a punishment. It is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future.”

How does can repentance bring a smile to our faces?

Why do we sometimes think of repentance as a punishment?

Elder Holland said “Let people repent. Let them grow. Believe that people can change and improve?

How can we show this in our own family?

Video Clip: Woman Taken in Adultery

What does this video teach us about repentance?

Activity Idea: Take a bowl full of water and sprinkle it with pepper representing sin. Then take a drop of dish soup on your finger and dip it in the center of the bowl and watch the pepper leave. Explain how this demonstrates repentance in our lives.

FORGIVENESS

Song: Lord I Would Follow Thee

Lesson:

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

Explain how happy our Father is when we return to Him.

President Uchtdorf said “Heaven is filled with those who have been forgiven and those who forgive.”

Matthew 18:21,22

D&C 64:10

Why is it so important for us to forgive others?

How do you feel when someone forgives you for your mistakes?

Who do you know that needs your forgiveness?

Video Clip: Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

Activity Idea: Have members of the family write a letter to someone forgiving them for something.

LOVE

Song: Love one Another or Love at Home

Lesson:

John 13:34

Elder Holland said that “Christ-like love is the greatest need we have on this planet.”

Why do you think this is so?

He continued by saying “pure Christ-like love can change the world.”

How do you think love can change the world?

How can we better show love to those around us?

In what ways do we give love? And how can we feel that someone loves us?

John 14:15

In what ways do we show love to God?

Mosiah 2:17

Video Clip: Expressions of Love or Dayton’s Legs

Activity Idea: Have a ball of yarn and one by one have a family member say something they love about another family member. They then toss the yarn to that person while still holding on to part of the yarn. As they continue to do this it creates a tight web or between family members. Explain how showing our love for others strengthens us as a family and binds us together.

COMPASSION

Song: A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief or Have I Done Any Good

Lesson:

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)

President Uchtdorf said, “Let your hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion towards others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”

In what ways can we show compassion to those around us?

When people do things that upset us, what might they be facing?

How can we put ourselves in other people’s shoes?

Explain how Jesus Christ understands us each perfectly, and we need to learn to see others like him and build them up.

3 Ne 12:44

Explain how we can pray to those whom we struggle to love.

Video Clip: Touching them All (youtube)

How did these opposing team members show compassion?

WHOLESOME RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Song: Home can be a Heaven on Earth

Lesson:

President David O McKay said “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”

How can we make our home a heaven on earth?

Video Clip: Our Fun Family Vacation

Activity: Discuss Activities that the family can do with each other.