"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
-The Family: A Proclamation To The World
Bear your testimony about the blessings of service.
What You'll Need
Scriptures, Construction Paper, coloring materials. You should also make arrangements ahead of time to visit a local nursing home, shelter or Ward member in need.
Scripture
17- And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Hymn
1. Jesus said love ev’ryone;
Treat them kindly, too.
When your heart is filled with love,
Others will love you.
Treat them kindly, too.
When your heart is filled with love,
Others will love you.
Lesson
1. Tell the following story:
2. Ask questions about the story:
"What did you learn about in Primary today?" Stephanie's Mom asked as they sat around the dinner table.
"About Jesus and how he was always helping people." Stephanie replied between mouthfuls of peas.
"That's wonderful", her Daddy said, "Jesus did help many people and he taught us that serving others is just the same as serving Heavenly Father."
"But Daddy, how can I help people like Jesus did? I can't do anything special." Stephanie looked sadly at her plate and pushed her peas into a little pile with her fork.
"You have so many special talents, Steph." said her Daddy, "We can serve others in many ways. We can smile at someone who is sad, rake leaves, sing songs, send pictures to people who are sick and even help out around the house."
Stephanie thought about the things her Daddy said. She couldn't do all of the things other people did, but she realized she had lots of talents to share. "I am a great singer!" she exclaimed. "And I love to color and I love to smile."
Her Mommy smiled at Stephanie and nodded her head. "Yes, you have many talents to share. You know, there's a sister in our Ward who is feeling very sick. Sister Mitchell fell and broke her hip last week. She is in the hospital and I am sure she would love a visit to cheer her up. Would you like that?" Stephanie said she would.
The very next day Stephanie's family had a Family Home Evening lesson about service. Stephanie colored a special card for Sister Mitchell and made sure to do her very best to make it colorful and bright and to stay in the lines. On the front of the card Stephanie drew purple flowers, a big smiling sunshine and lots of green grass. On the inside Stephanie made a heart and signed her name in her very best handwriting. Then the family got into the car and drove to the hospital.
Stephanie felt a little nervous as they walked down the hospital hallway. Would Sister Mitchell really like her card? she wondered. When they got to Sister Mitchell's room she was laying alone in a hospital bed. When she saw Stephanie and her family enter, Sister Mitchell looked very happy. Stephanie handed her the card she made and watched as Sister Mitchell got a big smile on her face.
"Thank you Stephanie." sister Mitchell said, "This card was just what I needed to cheer up my room. And you did such a great job. Purple is my favorite color."
Stephanie and her family sang Love One Another and Stephanie felt good in her heart. She knew her service had made someone feel happy. She knew she had done what Jesus wanted her to do by using her talents to help others.
2. Ask questions about the story:
- How did Stephanie serve others?
- How did serving other make Stephanie feel?
- Where did those special feelings come from?
- What are some talents you have that we can use to serve others?3. Discuss each family member's talents and how they can use those talents to serve others. For small children this can include singing, visiting neighbors, being nice to others, helping siblings and making pictures.
Bear your testimony about the blessings of service.
Activity
1- Making and delivering Valentines
There are many organization who could really benefit from receiving Valentines. Nursing Homes, Homeless Shelters and Women Shelters. As a general rule you should contact these places to arrange your gift ahead of time. You can also contact your Relief Society Compassionate Service Leader and ask if their are any Ward members who would benefit from a visit and a card.
There are many organization who could really benefit from receiving Valentines. Nursing Homes, Homeless Shelters and Women Shelters. As a general rule you should contact these places to arrange your gift ahead of time. You can also contact your Relief Society Compassionate Service Leader and ask if their are any Ward members who would benefit from a visit and a card.
Tips for Women's Shelters - If you choose a Women's shelter you will need special permission. Some women's shelters will choose not to reveal their address for safety reasons, but many shelters for battered women and children have P.O. Boxes. Think of how much it would mean to a child in such a shelter to receive a gesture of love from another child.
Tips for Nursing Homes - If taking Valentines to nursing homes plan to visit briefly with some of the patients you visit. Also remember to NOT include any treats, candies or other sugar items in your valentines, since many Nursing Home residents have dietary restrictions.
2- If you cannot travel you may have children color this coloring page.
Everyone will be hoppin' up to the plate when your child proudly pulls this luscious, minty pie out of the freezer.
- Ingredients
-
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 7 whole graham crackers
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 gallon mint chocolate chip ice cream
- Chocolate sauce or hot fudge(optional)
- Instructions
-
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove the pan from the stove and let the butter cool for a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, have your child crumble the graham crackers into the bowl of a food processor. Add the sugar and nuts, then pulse the ingredients in short bursts until you have very fine crumbs.
-
Empty the crumbs into a medium -size mixing bowl and stir in the cocoa powder and salt, then the melted butter. Have your child use her fingers to evenly blend the ingredients. Then blend in 1 or 2 teaspoons of water until the crumbs clump together slightly.
- Heat the oven to 350ยบ. Lightly butter a 9 -inch pie plate and press the crumbs evenly into the bottom and up the sides. Bake the crust on the center oven rack for 10 minutes. Let the crust cool on a wire rack, then chill it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Transfer the ice cream from the freezer to the refrigerator for 10 to 20 minutes, so that it will soften.
Now your child can spoon the softened ice cream into the piecrust, pressing it firmly with an ice-cream spade to fill any airholes. Smooth the top, then place the pie back in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until it's firm. When it's time to serve the pie, drizzle chocolate sauce on each slice, if desired. Makes 10 servings.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove the pan from the stove and let the butter cool for a few minutes.
