OBEDIENCE: Follow the Prophet

For Family Home Evening this month our theme is Obedience. We are trying to stay close to the primary themes for every month, which for this month is "I will follow the Prophet" (which pretty much deals with the gospel topic of obedience.) Tonight we introduced the gospel topic and talked about what obedience was... and then we talked about what a prophet was. We talked about the 1st Prophet (Adam), the 1st Prophet of the Restoration of the Gospel (Joseph Smith), and then the new (16th) Prophet that we had just sustained two days prior. I was so excited that my kids new the names of all of them!

It was Kimberly's week to help do the lesson, so she got to pick her "picture-holder-helpers"

Then we talked about things (commandments) that the prophet has asked us to do, as children of God, in order to return back to Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven. Doing the things that the prophet has asked us to do requires obedience... and thus, we are following the prophet! We did charades - and boy, did the kids get a kick out of this! They were asking me for the next two days if they could play the Family Home Evening game again! This was a lot of fun. I was so happy that even little Tyler was able to participate (with some help, of course). Once they guessed what the instruction from the prophet that they were to obey and follow was, there was a picture on the couch that they had to find that matched what they were acting out. Then, we posted them on the entertainment center, so they could visually SEE the things that we need to do to return back to Him.

Bryson got to go first. He went so fast that we weren't able to get a picture of him writing on a tithing slip, putting it in the envelope, licking the envelope, walking up to the Bishop, and then handing it to him. Daddy was the first one to guess this one! So, he got to go next...

So, Jason is getting dressed in a button-down shirt and tie...???

He is getting ready to go to Church. Attending our Church Meetings are important.

We let little Tyler have the next turn and I am whispering in his ear what he needs to do. The next picture was him doing it all by himself...

This is fantastic! My two-year-old would do this by himself! Obviously, he's saying his prayers! Megan was the first to guess, so she got to do the next one.

She has her arm raised to lead music... just one of the many things we do during...

Family Home Evening. Good guessing, Kimberly! You're next...

She is reading her scriptures. Bryson was quick on his feet and guessed, so he got the next turn...

Bryson broke his into three parts. The first one... he spots something...

...then he draws a heart on his shirt...

... then he gives himself a hug! Ahhh, our 2008 Family Theme is all about...

Loving one another! Good job, Bryson.

By this time, Megan and Bryson were getting too good at guessing and not giving the little ones a turn, so we let Tyler have the next turn. Again, I whispered in his ear what I wanted him to do and he just did it... (Amazing - he showed obedience to the instructions that I gave him!)

So, Tyler... equipped with a Book of Mormon...

...gave it to Uncle Michael (Jason's brother).

Tyler was Being a Missionary and sharing the gospel.

Somehow we missed the next one, which was obey the commandments. Bryson opened his scriptures to read and then pointed to the picture of the Prophet. Megan was right on his track, so she got to go next...

This is only one of two pictures that we took! Notice the lips in her hand. Well, when I read to Megan what hers was, she picked what she wanted to do... She went into my room and got my "lips" (something she does often) and hid them behind her back, then she shook her head "no". Could she be denying that she took my "lips"...???

This is a picture of her getting her mouth washed out with soap for not telling the truth... except usually when this happens there is not a BIG smile on her face! So, being honest is an important one!

Kimberly got to go last. She spilled the toys all over the floor and then proceeded to pick them up and put them in the box... Hmmm... And she thought of this all by herself!...Kimberly is honoring her father and mother by doing what she has been asked.

The final picture is of all of the kids standing next to some of the things that they (WE) need to do to return to our Heavenly Father - things that they can do right now! Obviously there are others... baptism... endowment... sealing... enduring... and SO MANY MORE! But, these are just a few that the kids can work on RIGHT now to help get them on the straight path back!



Dad had the treat and so he picked Ring Pop's - one of the kids' favorites! P.O.P. to represent "Please-Obey-Prophets". The kids really got a kick out of that.

I would like to add my testimony that if we obey the things that the prophet(s) have counseled us to do, we CAN and WILL be blessed. For they are the mouthpiece from our Heavenly Father for us. They have the instruction that we NEED to keep us on the right path back to our loving Father in Heaven. We must use strict OBEDIENCE in following them. They will never lead us astray! I am so grateful to live in a time when the gospel has been restored to the earth! I know we have a prophet who loves us and communes with the Lord daily on our behalf! It is my hope that we can create a firm foundation, hold tight to the rod, follow the prophets, and obey the commandments that He has given us - so that we might be partakers of Eternal Life... together... as a FAMILY!