5 Love Languages

Contributed by Marcy R.

I want to do something to explain the 5 love languages to my kids. They've already seen this Studio C Santa 5 love languages skit, so I think I'll use it as an opener. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pr42yeJGzc

I found this short message that I think is so important for my family this month: https://www.lds.org/…/ch…/2013/12/the-real-joy-of-christmas…

My two favorite quotes from the message:
President David O. McKay: “True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it.”

President Thomas S. Monson: “May we give as the Savior gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given. May we also give gifts that have eternal value, along with our gifts that eventually break or are forgotten. How much better the world would be if we all gave gifts of understanding and compassion, of service and friendship, of kindness and gentleness.”

I have some kids that love to give physical presents, but they aren't as good at showing love in the other ways. I've heard one in particular say, "I don't know why they don't want to play with me. I give them so many things." Yet this particular kid can be quite mean sometimes. I want to teach my kids that how we treat others is so much more important than what we wrap in a box for them once in a while.

"Which Way Do You Face?" Elder Lynn G. Robbins

Contributed by McKelle A.

Elder Lynn G. Robbins' talk "Which Way Do You Face?"

We all dressed up (sort of), and acted out the story of Daniel. Then I asked the kids when they thought Daniel was the bravest. Then I read the quote from Elder Robbins “While it certainly takes courage to face perils, the true badge of courage is overcoming the fear of men. For example, Daniel’s prayers helped him face lions, but what made him lionhearted was defying King Darius.” We talked about how true courage is standing up for what is right ALWAYS, even sometimes against our friends.

We then talked about times we might have to show this type of courage. (We talked about if a friend says "do 'such and such' or I won't be your friend" or if most kids are teasing somebody else). We didn't really get into apostasy questions like the talk discusses a bit, seeing as Zeke is 5 

Then I told the kids that Elder Robbins told us how we can get this kind of courage: Praying.

We finished by talking about how the Savior was the bravest person to ever live, and how we want to be brave like Daniel and like Jesus and always do what is right.

Loving Other and Living with difference OR Trifle not with sacred things

Contributed by Natalie T.

This can be used with two different talks.

Loving others and living with differences by Dallin H. Oaks

Trifle not with sacred things by Elder Larry S Kacher

Song: Kindness begins with me

Scripture: 3 nephi 11:28-30
John 15:12

Thought: "Being part of a family is a great blessing. Your family can provide you with companionship and happiness, help you learn correct principles in a living atmosphere, and help you prepare for eternal life. Strong families require effort. Your family will be blessed as you do your part to strengthen it. Be cheerful, helpful, and considerate of family members. Many problems in the home come from family members speaking and acting selfishly or unkindly. Seek to be a peacemaker rather than to tease, fight, and quarrel. Show love for your family members each day. (From For the strength of the youth)

Object lesson:
Need: sharpies and white dinner plates. ( I bought mine at the dollar store)

Have each person take a sharpie and write down anything they said that day or week that was unkind. My older children asked if anyone one would see it and I said no. . Or for younger ones, you can right unkind words or draw how they felt when they said something mean. Once everyone is finished writing down everything on their plate walk outside and have each person drop their plate. (It should break into many pieces). Then have them say they are sorry to the plate. Ask them if saying sorry made it all come back together. (Go back inside if cold :)).

Quote: "on this mortal journey we must never think that our choices affect only us" Elder Kacher

We then talked about how when we are unkind, especially with our words, we hurt others. Our words can be "sharp". Our words are powerful and our actions are powerful and we must do all we can to make them ones that will not hurt others.

I then brought out a China plate and asked who would want to write on this plate. (The older ones said no, the younger ones not realizing it's worth wanted too :))And I explained how precious it was to me and how I cherished it. And I explained that this is how we felt about our children and how our Heavenly Father feels about each of us. We are precious to him and need to be kind to one another.
Quote:"kindness is powerful, especially in a family setting. ". "As difficult as it is to live in the turmoil surrounding us, our Savior's command to love one another as he loves us is probably our greatest challenge. ". Elder Oaks

I then ended by repeating the song how "kindness begins with me". And we talked about how we each need to work on ourselves being kinder to others and also kind to ourselves. And if we each did that contention would decrease and there would be more love in the home.

Closing song: love one another

You can make this as short or as long as needed. With a big family we need things for everyone to do. We also talked a little about who makes us feel angry and how when we choose to be kind we are letting the savior when our hearts and not satan. 

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  Marcy R Very dramatic object lesson--the kids would love it. We've used the toothpaste example--if you squeeze out a tube of toothpaste can you then get it back in the tube? You can't un-say or undo things, so be careful how you treat others.

  7 hrs · Like · 1
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  Teresa J We did the tooth paste as well

  6 hrs · Like

Living the Gospel Joyful

Contributed by Marcy R.

President Uchtdorf

Loving the Gospel Joyful

Tonight I had the kids draw themselves at the bottom of a paper. Then I had them draw a big umbrella above the picture of themselves. Finally, I had them draw things they loved "raining" down from the top of the page (they drew money and foods and music notes and soccer balls).

We listened to President Uchtdorf's 1 or 2 paragraphs about the umbrella of fear, doubt and sin keeping us from the blessings that God is constantly raining down on us. The talk is "Living the Gospel Joyful" from the women's session and it has some nice visuals of the umbrella while he speaks.

After watching, we labeled the umbrella (fear, doubt and sin) and the "rain" (blessings from God) and talked about how obeying the commandments closes the umbrella so we get the blessings. We turned our papers over and drew the umbrella closed and labeled that obeying commandments.

We also talked about what spiritual gifts we desire or that the Lord might be raining down. And we thought about some ways we could personally close the umbrella.

Here is a PDF to use.