Family Unity FHE Manual Lesson 21 (pg 92-94)
Opening Song: Hymn 318 “Love at Home”
Opening Prayer:Daddy (Kyle)
Scripture: Mosiah 18:21 “He commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.”
Lesson: Explain that Heavenly Father planned to for us to live together as families and each member of the family is important.
Activity: Ahead of time prepare and place the ingredients for a simple cake or other dessert with each ingredient in a separate container. Point out that each of these ingredients is good on their own, but in order to make the yummy dessert they have to be put together. Mix up the ingredients letting each person help prepare the dessert, and let it bake while finishing the lesson.
Activity: Make a paper chain with one link for each family member. Express love and a need for each family member as his link is added to the chain. (Small children might enjoy making their own chains rather than just a main chain for the family.) Then tell a story about something you did as a family, stressing that having everyone there made it more fun.
Story: A Day at the Park
The Whites had been planning their Saturday trip to the park all week long. But when Saturday morning finally came, four-year-old Lisa was sick. Jimmy and Brian said they still wanted to go to the park. Mother said she would stay home with Lisa, so father, Jimmy, and Brian packed their lunches and left for the park.
Jimmy and Brian jumped out of the car as soon as they stopped and ran to the swings. They rolled in the grass and played on the climbing bars and slide all morning. But when they sat down on the grass to eat lunch, Jimmy said, “I wish Lisa and mommy were here. It’s not as much fun without everybody.”
Brian said, “I miss them too. And I know how much Lisa likes to play at the park.”
Father suggested they go home and eat their lunch. When they got home, Lisa was excited to see them. She was feeling better, so they all ate lunch together in the backyard.
Brian said, “Next time we go to the park, we can all go together.”
And it will be a lot more fun,” added Jimmy. (Story is from the FHE manual pg 94).
Activity: Family unity demonstration-Attach a small sign that says, “Family Unity” to the top of a stick about 4-5 feet long, such as a broom or mop handle. Cut some strong string or cord into two-yard lengths, one for each family member. Explain that the sign and stick stand for creating unity in your home.
Have each family member tie his string a little above midway up the stick. Then lay the stick in the middle of the floor, and have the family sit around it in a circle. Have a person see if he can raise the stick to a standing position by pulling only his string. He will find that one string does not support it very well; it can fall over easily.
Ask another family member to join him and see if two strings can keep the stick standing. This may be possible, but the stick will still be unsteady.
Then let everyone pull their strings to hold the stick in an upright position. You may have to adjust the places where the strings are tied. Hold the pole upright.
- What can you learn from this exercise?
Now have one person pull the stick toward him as hard as he can, while the others pull normally.
- What does this show about family unity?
Closing Song: Hymn 292 “O My Father”
Closing Prayer:Tyra
FHE Treat: Brownies we made during the lesson 😀