The Family is of God Sharing time

 

The Family is of God Sharing Time
July 2013 Week 1

 

As you prepare and teach this lesson, be sensitive regarding children from single parent homes

In 1995, The prophet, President Hinckley issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” proclaiming “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” Mothers and fathers have divine roles [or special jobs] and responsibilities in the rearing “of their children in love and righteousness.” “Fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” Take this salad tool.

 

Imagine that this fork side (show fork side in one hand) represents a father and the spoon side (show spoon side in other hand) represents a mother. The fork side has its own special jobs that it is good at and the spoon, in turn, has jobs that it is better suited for. Each CAN certainly serve salad by themselves. But the fork and the spoon (assemble the fork and spoon side together) working together as equal partners can serve salad more successfully.  

So what are these special roles that mothers and fathers have and how does it help have happy homes and eternal families?  We are going to learn about the divine roles of parents and also how we can honor and help our parents.  I have a series of homes filled with love.

I used velcro dots to attach the hearts to the homes. You could use painter's tape. House taken from

http://www.freeldsart.com/images/clipart/love-at-home-c.gif

A Primary child will select a heart from a house and we will learn about a special responsibility that parents have based directly from the “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” and leaders of the church. Then we will place the heart in this happy home and help create an eternal family. Later we will discover what responsibilities children have to honor parents.

house came from http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Friend/img/
img01949.jpg?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0
or try this link http://www.lds.org/friend/1996/06/sharing-time-love-at-home?lang=eng
It was more time consuming than anticipated to construct. There are many printable dollhouses out in internet land(see below for another) or use a toy doll house or create one?!

Additional information on the “Parent roles” hearts that are removed from the happy home-

1. “Parents have a sacred duty… to teach [children] to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng  

·         Parents teach love service and obedience to the country’s laws to their children. They keep the Ten Commandments and other commandments given by the prophets.  

2. “Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

·         “Families that regularly participate in wholesome activities together can feel greater love and harmony.” Wholesome activities include Family Home Evening, family service activities and one-on-one outings with mom or dad. Taken from http://www.lds.org/liahona/2011/09/small-and-simple-things/wholesome-family-activities?lang=eng&query="wholesome+activities" What is one of your favorite wholesome activities with a parent?

3. “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

·         Fathers preside, provide and protect their families. To preside righteously means the father knows the principles of the gospel, loves God, his wife and self, works together with his wife, exercises priesthood keys, and teaches his children. Taken from http://www.lds.org/liahona/2004/02/presiding-righteously-in-the-home?lang=eng&query="fathers+preside" Fathers provide needs like shelter, clothing and food for their families. Fathers protect their families from danger and the evils of the world.

4.  “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

·         “To nurture is to teach, to foster development, to promote growth, to feed, and to nourish.” Susan W. Tanner, "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord," Ensign, May 2008, 82 “Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home.” Daughters in my Kingdom, Chapter 9, “Guardians of the Hearth” http://www.lds.org/relief-society/daughters-in-my-kingdom/manual/guardians-of-the-hearth-establishing-nurturing-and-defending-the-family?lang=eng&query="motherhood+is+near+to+divinity.+it+is+the+highest+holiest+service

 5. “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.”

·         “Regardless of their family situation, all Church members are entitled to receive all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The structure and fellowship of the Church provide many people who are willing and ready to help parents and children and to strengthen them in the gospel.” http://www.lds.org/topics/single-parent-families?lang=eng&query="single+parents When needed, others can help fill the role of a father or mother (the salad fork or spoon) to help strengthen the family.

6. Listen to the second and third verse of “The Family is of God” and recall one role for each mother and father from the lyrics (MP3 found here or have Presidency/teachers sing the song to the children) http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,7206-1,00.html or have all the children sing the song using this flipchart http://c586449.r49.cf2.rackcdn.com/The%20Family%20Is%20of%20God.pdf

“Children share with their parents the responsibilities of building a happy home.” “The Lord has commanded children to honor their parents. He said, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land” (Exodus 20:12). To honor parents means to love and respect them. http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-37-family-responsibilities?lang=eng&query="honor+parents"

Now we are going to add children to this happy, eternal home and discover some of your responsibilities in honoring parents. (Pick children “dolls” and read and discuss ways that the children can honor parents. After discussing, put child in the happy house.)

 

(On the back of the children clipart “dolls” or you could use small toy dolls. I don’t have dolls or dollhouses, I have three energetic boys!)
 

1.      Be obedient- The scriptures teach children “obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).

2.      Be loyal to them by not saying unkind things about them or to them 

3.      Be more cheerful with all family members-

“Most of all, you can put your arms around your mother often and tell her you love her.” M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

4.      Be a good person myself

5.      Be more helpful at home

“You can pick up your toys when you are finished playing with them, and when you get a little older, you can make your bed, help with the dishes, and do other chores—without being asked.” M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

6.      Express appreciation and thanks

“You can say thank you more often when you finish a nice meal, when a story is read to you at bedtime, or when clean clothes are put in your drawers.” M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110 

“No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster” Spencer W. Kimball http://www.lds.org/manual/preparing-for-exaltation-teachers-manual/lesson-42-honor-thy-father-and-thy-mother?lang=eng

7.      Discuss your problems, plans, and goals with them

“Your parents can help you greatly if you will confide in them and accept their advice and counsel. They want you to be happy. Your successes are their successes. Your failures are their failures. They are sad when you are sad, and glad when you are glad. If you want to be really happy and successful, you will honor your father and mother” N. Eldon Tanner, “These Things I have Learned”, http://www.lds.org/new-era/1971/03/these-things-i-have-learned?lang=eng&query="parents+can+help"\

(Source for ways to honor parents: Young Women’s manual 1 http://www.lds.org/manual/young-women-manual-1/lesson-9-honoring-parents?lang=eng&query="honor+parents")

Conclusion:

“When we honor our parents, we bring happiness to them and we become better, happier people ourselves.” “To love and honor our parents is to love and honor God.” Ensign, July 1986 http://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/07/honoring-parents-and-being-honorable-parents?lang=eng&query="honor+parents  I hope that we will honor our parents today and prepare for the responsibilities we will receive as future parents someday. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sources for clipart used:

House http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Friend/img/
img01949.jpg?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0

or could use this printable that fits on a McDonalds happy meal box-

house box-  http://www.gretchenfleener.com/ShopPaperPatterns.html

father- http://www.ldsclipart.com/wp-content/uploads/bwbps/father4.jpg

mother- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-1-Cutouts

girl with flowers-- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

girl with church dress- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-3-Cutouts

boy in suit- - https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-3-Cutouts

boy in white shirt- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

baby- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

sister with baby-  https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

boy in brown suit- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-1-Cutouts

    You can find a copy of the file named "parents have sacred roles" at my Skydrive: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=976904c8bfc9a79e&sc=documents&id=976904C8BFC9A79E%21105)