This printable goes with the "Come Follow Me" August Theme: Marriage & Family Question: Why is family important? First, I was go...

A blog for sharing LDS "Come Follow Me" youth yesson Ideas

**UPDATE **: Please click here for the: Temple Template I am super excited about this! I saw this idea on Pinterest, but it had no instructions or any detail. I just gave a Come Follow Me lesson on "Why is Temple Marriage Important?" I gave this as my handout, but this would be cute for girls camp too. I purchased two, 2 1/2" x 8ft* board from Home Depot for $2.12 each. And some sparkly tuelle from Hobby Lobby for $2, so the whole project cost me $7 and it made 13 temples! For the middle part of the temple I used bead board. I had some left overs from a different project. So if you don't have bead board, then that is where it will get spendy. In order to create this, you need a band saw. The right tools are EVERYTHING! I cranked everything out in about 2 hours! Then, I just glued the pieces together with wood glue, and painted it. Voila! It was SUPER easy, just takes time and skill. If you are interested in the template, send me a coment and I will upload them. The project is about 5"w x 7"h. *After doing this, I may have upgraded to a 6"x 8' piece of wood, that way, I could have made the back two steeples in one piece instead of two, then I could have glued the middle bead board piece on top.

A graphic resource for Latter Day Saints looking to spice up their lessons with some great designs, be it sunday school, the youth programs, Relief Society, Family Home Evening or whatever their needs may be.

We are so excited about this lesson package that has 9 learning activities! You'll discover the answers to the question, why is family important?

Today I was lucky enough to give the lesson on Temple Marriage in YW's. (Lesson 18, YW Manual 1) I am not always huge on elaborate handouts- but this is such an important lesson that I wanted to do something. The lesson talks about the difference between a wedding and a marriage, specifically a temple marriage. A wedding is a celebration, a temple marriage is a covenant between the bride, groom and the Lord and is performed by one with the Priesthood authority to seal you for eternity. We discussed that it is probably too soon to start planning your wedding. Although it is fun to daydream, your time would be more productively spent planning your temple marriage by becoming the kind of person you want and need to be to be sealed in the temple. I gave them this cute "ring box" (inside is a ring pop) and gave them the following message: Preparing for Temple Marriage does not start when you "get the ring". It starts much, much earlier. Right NOW, in fact. This ring is to help you remember to be worthy of the day when you accept the real thing. The next time you are given a ring I hope it is from a worthy Priesthood holder who wants to take you to the temple to become an eternal family.

At long last the August materials are ready, and just in the nick of time, eh? As always, these are to go along with the New Youth Curricul...

I teach the Beehives, so this lesson is a little tricky for 12 and 13 year olds because they still have 3-4 years before they even are allowed to date, and talking with them about Lust vs Love is g…

What are the Church's Standards Regarding Dating? There are many activities in this package! You can really pick out what's best for your teaching.

Help youth look at their life and family life as an eternal garden that needs constant care. If we desire our family to be eternal, we must purposefully plant a flowerbed of beauty rather than a patch of tangled weeds. . . .

Daily helps to rise to the #MyForeverFamily challenge

The first line of this lesson reads, "To prepare to be a righteous wife and mother, young women should focus on the Savior and on developing Christlike attributes," so that's what I decided to focus the lesson on. Advanced preparation: 1. Print out each of the following phrases so that each one takes up an

marriage, wife and mother

Picking up right where we left off, folks. (Didn’t catch Part One? ) 5. If you give a mouse a cookie, he’ll want some milk. If you give a Mormon girl a Pinterest, she’ll proceed t…

Chastity might be the most important lesson you teach all year! In fact with the flexibility offered by Come Follow Me you might want to spend..

Last year I posted some ideas for the Come Follow Me lessons, here is the link: LDS Come Follow Me Lesson and Mutual Ideas August 2014: Marriage and Family. See more ideas below. Good luck with your lessons!! This is such an important and special topic!! For August 2015 the topic for "Come Follow Me" is, Marriage and Family Here are the links to each organizations page for the month: Young Women, Aaronic Priesthood, Sunday School Since, each organization has their own outlines and each lesson will need to be specified to the individual class members and there are already amazing outlines that can be used for guidance, I am only going to share some general ideas that can just be used as supplements. The great thing about this program is to allow the spirit to guide you to the needs of the youth in your class. Prepare before hand, Pray for guidance, Listen to the Promptings of the Spirit and invite the youth to do the same. Here is the Scripture for the month: “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and ... the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129). Lesson Ideas: There are so many topics to choose from this month. I am just giving supplemental ideas to a few of them. Please refer to the church's website for the wonderful outlines they have for all of the topics, see links below. A great idea to begin each lesson is to invite each class member to come with a scripture or spiritual thought to share with the rest of the class. (When I was a youth we did this in one of my classes, it is a class I loved to attend and had the most participation in it.) Young Women: Why is family important? Begin by giving each youth a piece of paper. Invite the youth to take a minute and right on the paper why their family is important. Draw a large circle on the board. In the middle of the circle write "Family". In the large circle invite some of the youth to share with you something they wrote on their paper, why their family is important. Write these things in the large circle. Invite a youth to read, “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and ... the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129). Invite the youth to share what "...the family is central to the Creator's plan..." means. Discussion might include that central means of the greatest importance or essential. Why would families be essential to Heavenly Father's plan? Draw some lines extending out from the circle connecting to another circle at the end of each line. In these circles write, "Pre-mortal life", "Mortal Life", "Eternal Life". Before hand print out "The Family: A Proclamation to the world" Cut it up into paragraphs and number the paragraphs. Pass these paragraphs out to the youth. Invite them to read their paragraphs in order. Stopping after each paragraph to discus the paragraph, to find which circle the paragraph pertains to and writing some things that stand out in that paragraph next to the circles. Why is temple marriage important? Give each youth a small paper. On the paper invite the youth to write one of their goals. Under the goal invite the youth to write some things that they will need to do to hel p the accomplish their goal. Invite some youth to share. Show the youth a picture of the temple. Explain that temple marriage is one of those essential saving ordinance that we need to obtain the Celestial Kingdom. Invite a youth to read, "In our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness, the only way to obtain exaltation is through the new and everlasting covenant of celestial marriage (see D&C 131:1–3). When a man and a woman are sealed to each other for time and all eternity in the temple, they have the assurance that their relationship will continue forever if they are true to their covenants. They know that nothing, not even death, can permanently separate them." Write the word Goal at the top of the page: Next to it write, "Exaltation". Under exaltation write the words, "Temple Marriage". Explain that our ultimate goal is exaltation or eternal life with our Father in Heaven. To get there we need Temple Marriage, which is also a very important goal. Invite the youth so share ways they can prepare for a Temple Marriage. Bring a paper chain (strips of paper linked together), also bring a metal chain. Explain that when someone is married civilly they are linked together like the paper chains, when someone dies the chain is broken, they are no longer bound together. Temple marriage is like the metal chain. When sealed together in one of our Heavenly Father's temples we have a strong bond that not even death can sever. We are sealed together as a family for all eternity. Why is chastity important? Invite the youth to think about the most precious thing that they own. Now have them picture someone taking the thing that is most precious to them and they tarnish it and maybe even break it. Ask them how they would feel? Explain that Heavenly Father loves us so much that he has given a very precious gift. This gift is the power to create life. It is a gift that we should hold dear to us. Give the youth a piece of paper and invite the youth to write on the paper what they think of when you say the word, "Chastity". Explain that these papers will be folded up and passed in and discussed as a class. Invite discussion. Now give the youth another piece of paper, on this paper invite the youth to write a question they have about Chastity. Have them fold that paper up and pass it in. Use the, True to the Faith book for Chastity to help answer any questions. Play the video, “Chastity: What Are the Limits?” What are the Church’s standards regarding dating? How can I prepare now to become a righteous wife and mother? How do the roles of men and women complement each other in families? How can I strengthen my family? Aaronic Priesthood: (See ideas above under Young Women) How can I strengthen my family? (Duty to God) Why is chastity important? Why is temple marriage important? Why is family important? What are the Church’s standards regarding dating? How can I prepare now to become a righteous husband and father? How do the roles of men and women complement each other in families? Sunday School: How will keeping a personal journal bless me and my family? Begin by showing the following pictures, Brass Plates and Gold Plates. Ask the youth what the picture is of? Ask the youth who wrote on the plates? Ask they youth if they have been blessed because of the writings on these plates? Now show the children your own personal journal if you have one, or you could share an ancestors. Share how you and your family have been blessed from your journal or an ancestors journal. Play the video, “O Remember, Remember” . Give each of the youth a piece of paper that says, "How have I seen the Hand of God in my life?" Invite the youth to take some time to write there thoughts and feelings to that question down. Before writing invite them to really ponder about the day, or even the week and think about how they have seen God in their life. Why is it important to learn about my family history? Give each youth a pedigree chart, see printables below. Invite the youth to write their name in to spot that is for them, write there birth date. Explain that all of the other spots on the page are their family and as they begin to fill it out they will be learning more and sharing more of their family history. Have them next write their parents names on the paper in the appropriate spots. Invite them to think about something interesting or memorable about their parents. Invite them to write that next to their names. Next invite them to write their grandparents names on each side if they know them. Invite them to think about something they remember about each of their grandparents or something they have heard about each of the grandparents and have them write that on the paper. Point out the lines on the pedigree chart. Explain that we are linked to our family members. Invite a class member to read the following quote, "Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness enables family relationships to continue throughout eternity. " (Come Follow Me: Sunday School: August) Play the video, "Elder Bednar addresses Youth" Invite a youth to read, "Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life." (The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, Elder Richard G. Scott, October 2012 General Conference) Remind the youth that we have been promised Divine Protection as we participate in Family History work. How can I teach others how to do family history work? Draw a sketch of a small cliff on the board with a pathway leading to the base of it. Ask the youth if they could lift someone up to the top of the cliff if they were standing down the trail behind the person? No they would not be able to easily do so. Ask the youth if they could lift the person up if they were standing on the cliff higher than that person. Yes. Explain that the same could be said of teaching someone to do something. We first need to learn how to do it ourselves before we can teach someone else. Write the phrase, "How can I teach others how to do family history work?" on the board. Invite the youth to think for a moment how they would answer that question. Then invite the youth to come up and write an answer to that question onto the board. Explain that one of the reasons they are on the earth today, is that their talents and abilities are needed at this time to build the kingdom of God. Ask the youth if they know how to use the computer? Ask them if they know how to take and upload pictures? These are talents and abilities that they can share with others. Share some of the videos found on the youth page "Serve". Here are their links: "Help Others Find Records by Indexing"; "Help the Families You Home Teach"; "Help Others Come Back to Church"; "Help New Members Take a Name to the Temple"; "Help Others Add Photos and Documents to Their Family Tree" How can I explain the importance of marriage and family to others? What opportunities are there for learning and teaching in the home? For more ideas here are my ideas from August 2014: LDS Come Follow Me Lesson and Mutual Ideas August 2014: Marriage and Family ***I will continue to update ideas on this page throughout the month.*** Idea's for Mutual: Here is a link to the Youth Activities Planning Site. *** This site is amazing! We recently had a short little training on this site at one of our Round Tables. It is a great resource for planning activities. It will only continue to grow as wards submit more ideas. One really need thing about it is it can link the activities right into your stake or ward calendars. *** Printing tip: Click on the image and save to your computer. You will then be able to print the image from your computer. HANDOUT YOUNG WOMEN LESSON JOURNAL PAGE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON Sunday School lesson Family History

Description of Lesson Activity: Help youth learn eight ways they can improve their family communication. Make and display a balloon bouquet in class. Have them make one to share with their family or display in their room. Example Forgiveness Balloon: Accept other family members of the family as they are.

My blog where I ramble about myself, my family, and my beliefs. I am a Mormon, a Wife and a Mother. I'm just trying to keep it all together!

Here is the last one! Yeah! Click here to read the instructions on how to attach the ribbon. Click here for the church's Rights and Use information for the picture. Click on each image to download a 5x7. Credit: Golden Sunshine kit by Summertime Designs

Mormon.org recently released a "Mormon Beliefs" section on their YouTube channel that shares short videos tackling difficult questions, like why do we have prophets, what is the Book of Mormon, and what happens after we die.

YOUNG WOMEN CORNER: COME FOLLOW ME This week I decided to create some handouts for the Young Women "Come Follow Me" Curriculum for the month. The principles the youth are focusing on this month is "Marriage and Family". The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline... "WHAT ARE THE CHURCH'S STANDARDS ON DATING?" Warning these handouts are a little... (okay a lot) brighter and crazier than the handouts I usually create, but I figured hey... they are all about dating! Why not make them a little more fun and funky! Feel free to print off and use for your lessons! (you can download them by right clicking on the picture and selecting "save image as"...you can copy and paste the images in a word document or download a single image PDF by clicking on the links below) Above is a simple bookmark that was inspired by the Strength of Youth Pamphlet For a PDF download of the bookmark (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE Above is a card that you could hand out to the young women during or at the end of your lesson. The girls could write down action items they could personally do to guard their virtue (based on talk from Elaine S. Dalton found HERE) For a PDF download of the journaling card CLICK HERE

What an inspired group of topics we have to choose from this month from Come Follow Me. Today I’ve been studying a bit to help my hubby with his Priest Quorum lesson for tomorrow, and felt c…

I’m upset. It’s not related to the buzz of “Call Me Caitlyn” or the Duggar’s secrets (I do have strong opinions about both, but those are for another time). My anger i…

These handouts go with the lesson from "Come Follow Me" August: " Why is Chastity Important?" I encourage you to prayerfully conside...

Chastity might be the most important lesson you teach all year! In fact with the flexibility offered by Come Follow Me you might want to spend..

YOUNG WOMEN CORNER: COME FOLLOW ME This week I decided to create some handouts for the Young Women "Come Follow Me" Curriculum for the month. The principles the youth are focusing on this month is "Marriage and Family". The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline... "WHAT ARE THE CHURCH'S STANDARDS ON DATING?" Warning these handouts are a little... (okay a lot) brighter and crazier than the handouts I usually create, but I figured hey... they are all about dating! Why not make them a little more fun and funky! Feel free to print off and use for your lessons! (you can download them by right clicking on the picture and selecting "save image as"...you can copy and paste the images in a word document or download a single image PDF by clicking on the links below) Above is a simple bookmark that was inspired by the Strength of Youth Pamphlet For a PDF download of the bookmark (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE Above is a card that you could hand out to the young women during or at the end of your lesson. The girls could write down action items they could personally do to guard their virtue (based on talk from Elaine S. Dalton found HERE) For a PDF download of the journaling card CLICK HERE

This month's message is AMAZING! We all have our "TO DO LISTS" in fact, most of our lists never seem to end... BUT are the things on OUR L...

I found some little business card holders a while ago and knew I'd use them sometime for a lesson. These were the little cards I put inside. Some of the quotes I found here. I put their names on the outside as well as April 2010 because I wanted them to fill out the cards on how they feel right now. The Ingredient cards I asked the girls to write things about their future husbands that are a must for temple marriage (honoring their priesthood, a member of the church etc...) And the Icing cards I asked the girls to write things about their future husbands that weren't really necessary for a temple marriage but a bonus (white teeth, sense of humor etc..) I saw the ingredient/icing idea HERE under "lesson helps" The card with the picture of the ring I told them to describe or cut out a picture of what they want their ring to look like. The card with the picture of the temple I told them to write what temple they would like to get married in. On the outside of the little holder I mod podged a picture of the temple and wrote "I'm going there some day"

This month's message is AMAZING! We all have our "TO DO LISTS" in fact, most of our lists never seem to end... BUT are the things on OUR LISTS the things that are really going to bring us closer to the SPIRIT and OUR FAMILIES? If we want to grow closer as families we can't lose focus! If we fill our lists to quickly with things that have no value, we lose the opportunity to work on the things that matter most.... We have to keep an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE when we are making our lists, by doing so we will allow the Spirit to work in our HOMES and in our HEARTS! Elder M. Russell Ballard asked this question: "What can we do to better prepare our children spiritually for their eternal roles?" "Perhaps the most inclusive answer is: Teach them how to live the principles of the gospel." This teaching comes through... Daily Prayer Scripture Study and Family Mealtimes as well as Family Home Evening and Church Attendance. "We prepare each day, right now, for eternal life. If we are not preparing for eternal life, we are preparing for something less, perhaps something far less." .......... Here's This Month's Message: I've included a: Spiritual To Do List This would be fun to laminate so that your sisters can use it daily with a dry erase marker. This Apple Pie Recipe is DELISH! I'm also including a Blank Check List for your sisters to use along with their Spiritual Checklist! Here's the PDF: September 2011 Visiting Teaching Packet PDF Here's a Larger Version: September Visiting Teaching Packet 2 PDF (I lost my glasses, so I printed a larger version for myself.... the other one was so small it gave me a headache when I tried to read it.) I'm going to give my sisters a bag of apples with this month's message. Hope your sisters are all doing well!

If you're a teacher, here is a list of ideas and activities for classrooms or other youth groups so students can get to know each other better.

One of the requirements in the Faith In God book under the Learning And Living The Gospel Category is to "Prepare a pedigree chart with your name and your parents' and grandparents' names. Prepare a family group record for your family and share a family story. Discuss how performing temple work blesses families." This can easily be completed as part of a Family Home Evening. Here is how ours is planned to go: Family Home Evening on Learning about your heritage and doing family history work. There is so much to do with this that I am planning on doing it for a couple weeks. This is week one. Welcome everyone to Family Night Sing: "Family History-I Am Doing It" pg 94 Children's Songbook Have a member of the family member say the prayer Discuss any family business Scripture: Abraham 1:31 Lesson: ***Before hand you may want to view the information on Lds.org Family History Stories and decide what you feel you would like to share with your family*** Show this video: Discover Your Story Start out small, give each family member the a copy of "My Family Booklet". You can download a copy here. (It is found on the right hand side where it says, "download a copy here." Have pictures printed out a head of time of each family member. Have each family member paste their picture of themselves on the page labeled "About Me". Then help each family member answer the questions in this section. Continue pasting the appropriate pictures and answering the questions on each page. You can go as far as your family would like. You could also complete some on another day. It might be fun on the grandparent part for the kids to interview their grandparents and find out more about them. Fill out the Family Pedigree Chart. There is one in the booklet or you are welcome to use this one. Prepare a Family Group Record. You can use this form found here. Discuss the blessings that come from performing temple work. Bear testimonies on the importance of keeping a family history and learning about your heritage. Close with a Family Prayer. This FHE Idea is being featured as part of #MyForeverFamily Challenge. For more ideas and to see what the challenge is all about click the following link: