Ten Virgins

The 1995 September Friend Magazine Sharing Time by Susan L Warner has

an illustration of

an oil lamp,

oil drops,

and a oil jug for extra oil

by Jerry Harston.

Go to LDS.org and search the Friend Magazine to find the illustrations.

This is a nice way for kids to see how their every day actions of personal righteousness are preparing them for the Coming of the Savior. I took the illustrations and enlarged them and had one for each child, having extra drops for the kids so they could list what they did each day to fill their oil lamps.

I had mine posted in our Family Room for some time on a poster board.

It would have been better had I posted it for a limited time, say two weeks, and then had the kids report on how they were doing.

I recommend using only Sharing Time ideas from past Friend Magazines, at least one year old. You don't want to spoil the kids' time in church or FHE by having something done more than once.

Tree Roots and Spiritual Roots

Through the years I have worried about my children and how they would handle adversity or if they had the spiritual strength to stay strong when they were on their own.

I have tried to teach them that they need to develop their own spiritual roots.

One FHE I had these drawings and liken our spiritual roots to that of a tree's roots.

The drawings above show one tree with shallow roots and one with deep roots.

It is good weather in the drawings...everything is going well.

When the storm came the tree with shallow roots could not stand up to the winds. The tree with deep roots had more to anchor it and sustain it.

Then I liken the tree to my children. The kids have shallow roots by doing the things we do as a family: Family scripture study, FHE, Family prayer, and attending church.

When the kids are still at home they are under our influence.

But their spiritual roots may be shallow.

There is more that they need to do to be safe when the winds of adversity and temptation come. I don't remember if I had the kids list what would deepen their spiritual roots or if I listed the activities for them. It's best to have them come up with the ideas.

These are spiritual things they have to do for themselves.

See the November 2010 Ensign Magazine talk by Elder Neil L Anderson on page s 39-42.

He quoted President Thomas S Monson, "Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith."

Elder Anderson was talking about not being ashamed.

He has many good ideas in his talk that can be tied into this Spiritual Roots FHE.

It's worth reading his talk if you plan on giving this FHE.
One more quote from his talk,

"We push our spiritual roots deep, feasting daily on the words of Christ in the scriptures. We trust in the words of living prophets, placed before us to show us the way. We pray and listen to the quiet voice of the Holy Ghost that leads us along and speaks peace to our soul."

Washed Clean

President Boyd K. Packer tells a wonderful story about a dirty train ride and his wish to be clean in an article Titled Washed Clean that was in the Friend Magazine April 1999. He talks about baptism and repentance as our means of being spiritually clean. I use this article and his story to help stress the feelings of being dirty vs being clean. It's a great resource!

Go to LDS.org and look in the gospel library for the 1999 April Friend Magazine article titled "Washed Clean"

Repentance/Washed Clean Demonstration

This boy does not get a name as I don't want to make anyone feel bad.

The demonstration goes something like this.

"This boy has already been baptized."

Give age appropriate sins...keep it light.

"This week in school he looked at his friends test to get the answers he did not know."

Color his eyes with the marker.

"Yesterday when his mom asked him how long he played games he lied and only told her about half the time he really played."

Color his mouth with the marker.

At this point or in between the sins you can go into the steps he needs to take to repent of these two sins.

"He started feeling really bad during class when his teacher gave him back his test with the grade on it. He knew it wasn't his work that he was getting credit for. As soon as class was over he went up to his teacher's desk and told her what had happened. He took full responsibility for cheating, he had to take the "0" grade that was required by the school. This means he will now have to work harder to get a good grade in this class, but he won't feel bad inside about the choice he made anymore. That night in his prayers he asked Heavenly Father to forgive him."

When the boy repents in your demo wipe the appropriate spot with the wet rag. If you will talk about each sin separately be careful to only wet the mark he just repented of, they all come off with water and if the fabric is wet you can't get the marker on!

After repenting he is "Washed Clean"!

Baptism/Washed Clean Demonstration

I typically don't name the little girl in my drawing because I don't want to make anyone feel bad.

The demonstration goes something like this,

" This girl is getting ready to be baptized."

"She's done a few things wrong. She kicked her brother last week."

Then color the girls foot with the marker.
"She took a cookie without permission and lied to her mom about it."

Then color her hand and mouth...for the taking and the lying.

You can talk more in depth at this point to give information about how baptism cleanses us from our sins, how she needs to apologize to her brother and tell her mother the truth about the cookie.

"She has met with her Bishop and is ready to be baptized."

Because we believe Baptism by Immersion is the correct mode of baptism, this little girl gets dunked all the way under the water.

I do not try to demonstrate any of the Priesthood ordinance with words or having another figure to be in the water with her to baptize her. I feel that would be inappropriate.

This is only to demonstrate how the baptism cleanses her from her sins.

If you wanted to explain with words how someone is baptized with proper Priesthood authority that is up to you. But I have always felt that was best saved for another lesson.

When the girl comes dripping out of the water all those marks/sins are gone.

Baptism & Repentance/Washed Clean Supplies needed

Draw two simple figures of a boy and a girl on muslin fabric with permanent markers.

You need a container filled with water for the baptism demonstration and a really wet washcloth labeled "Repentance"

There are markers that quilters use for marking quilt lines that disappear with water.
They run about 3 to 4 dollars for one marker.
I use these markers as the marks disappear as soon as they are wet.
I have not tried washable markers so I am not sure if they need soap or scrubbing.
The marks from the markers represent "sins"

Make the "sins" appropriate to the age group you are teaching.
For small children it's simple things like hitting my brother, not sharing, lying to mom about the cookies I ate, ect.
As kids are older use things like cheating on a test, taking a candy from a store, taking a friends game/toy.

TIGER HUNT

My kids' all time favorite activity at family night is TIGER HUNT. Simple and easy to plan.

Supplies Needed:

Picture of a Tiger ( or animal of your choice)

Tape, or blue-tac to stick it up when hiding the picture

Flashlight for every family member

And a dark evening/night

How to play:

1. All family members gather in a room or part of the house where they can be closed off.

2. Turn off all lights in the house except this room.

3. Designate which rooms the Tiger can be hidden in or any rooms that are off limits.

Also specify if the Tiger can be hidden "inside" things like closets or cupboards or not.

4. Pick the first person who will leave the room and go hide the Tiger. This person leaves the room with their flashlight and the Tiger. If they are very young a parent should help.

5. All others stay in the room with the door closed. It's good to make a little noise inside the room so it's not so obvious where the hiding person is in the house.

6. The person hiding the Tiger returns to the room when he/she is done hiding and ready for the others to search.

7. The door is opened, all people playing turn on their flashlight and go search through the dark house for the Tiger. Be sure to remind the Hiding person not to give clues or stand by or look at the Tiger...especially the young hiders as this is usually what they want to do.

8. The person who finds the Tiger gets to hide it next once all the searchers are back in the room and door closed.

9. Continue as long as you are having fun.