Family Home Evening

We had a great Family Home Evening last night. We began with a game. Each person came up with some problems and solutions; writing the problem on a purple slip of paper and the solution on a green slip. Here were some that we came up with:

problem: A mosquito is buzzing around your head.
solution: Slap him as hard as you can.

problem: Your toe nail polish is fading.
solution: Get a pedicure.

problem: Your little brother fell down and is crying.
solution: Try and give him a hug and tell him you love him.

problem: It's your turn to lead the music on Sunday and you're nervous.
solution: Always remember to sing out as loud as you can whenever that happens.

The purple slips go in one basket and the green in another. Each person took turns pulling one out from each basket and reading off the problem and solution. We ended up with something like:

Your toe nail polish is fading. Always remember to sing out as loud as you can whenever that happens.

Your little brother fell down and is crying. Slap him as hard as you can.

A mosquito is buzzing around your head. Get a pedicure.

Those are the only ones I can really remember. Some of them were really silly. We had a lot of fun. (Jeffrey was really getting into it and didn't want it to end.) Then we discussed how we could find solutions to real problems and questions we had.

I used the Preach My Gospel manual on page 107 as a guide. We talked about how we could use the Book of Mormon to find answers and solutions to both 'questions of the soul'** and temporal problems** we were having. Then everyone wrote down some questions and problems, and we put them in a bag. We pulled out a couple and talked about how we would go about finding answers using the index and topical guide in the Book of Mormon. Then we picked one more out and everyone is going to look for some help on that problem and report back next Monday. I was worried it might be too difficult for Jeffrey, but he had some really great questions. It was a great lesson.

I realized that much of my testimony and convictions about Jesus Christ have come from my reading and applying His gospel principles taught in the Book of Mormon. The prophet Joseph Smith said that a man could get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts. I have experienced this. In difficult times and even times when things were going great, regular and consistent study of the Book of Mormon has made me a better, happier person, because I feel closer to God during those times and have a greater love/gratitude for Him and desire to serve Him. Nephi, one of the ancient prophets that authored part of the Book of Mormon, shares this insight about why prophets wrote and preserved the records that made up the Bible and the Book of Mormon in these verses:

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Verse 26 is particularly special to me. Of everything that I have and can give to my children, a deep and abiding testimony of Jesus Christ is the greatest. God is our loving Heavenly Father. He sent His firstborn Son, Jesus Christ, to pave the way for us to return to Him. He is both interested and involved in our loves-often much more than we appreciate. The Book of Mormon, written by God's prophets, was created with the purpose of convincing people of these truths. If anyone is interested in getting a personal copy of the Book of Mormon, call me. I know where you can find one!

** This is a list of questions of the soul and other temporal questions that the Book of Mormon addresses (compiled from the Preach My Gospel manual and questions our children asked).

How can a belief in Jesus Christ help me?
What does Jesus Christ expect from me?
What is the purpose of life?
How can I find peace and Joy?
What happens to little children and babies when they die?
Does my baby need to be baptized?
Why does God allow evil and suffering to occur?
I'm lonely.
How can I avoid the evils that threaten my family?
How can I improve relationships with my family?
Did I exist before I was born?
How can I feel God's love more abundantly?
When will Jesus come again?