By Alison Palmer

Scripture: John 3:5

Song: “I Want to Live the Gospel,” Children’s Songbook p. 148

Preparation: Gather a large stack of index cards and a marking pen.

Lesson:

Go around the room and let each person talk about a favorite memory from their own baptism. For those who have not been baptized, they can describe baptisms they’ve seen or things that they look forward to for their own baptism.

After everyone has had a chance to share, talk about what makes those memories special. Pay close attention to the presence of the spirit while these feelings are being discussed and help others in the family recognize them as well.

Extend your discussion to include the significance of baptism. What covenants do we make when we are baptized? As a family, brainstorm a list of ideas and thoughts about these things. Include thoughts about how we can keep these covenants as well. Write each idea on a separate index card. You may use the following scriptures as prompted: Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:5, 2 Nephi 31:4-9, Mosiah 18:8-11, 4 Nephi 1:1, D&C 20:37, and Articles of Faith 1:4.

Bear testimony about this sacred ordinance.

Emphasize the importance of keeping the baptismal covenants and the role of the Holy Ghost in helping us to do so. Then, talk about some of the things that can get in our way as we try to do what’s right. List these on index cards as well. As a family try to come up with solutions to help each other avoid some of these pitfalls. Challenge the family to help each other remember the wonderful blessings of baptism and strive to live righteously. If they do so, they can feel the same peace and joy that they experienced at their baptism every day.

Place all the cards you wrote on together and shuffle them for use in the activity.

Activity:

For younger children: Play “Forward and Back.” Have family members stand on the far wall of a room with a goal on the other side that needs to be reached (dessert works nicely). Starting with the youngest, each person will take turns drawing a card from the stack you prepared during the lesson. If they draw something that would lead them closer to the Spirit, and keeping their baptismal covenants, they take a step forward. If it would lead them away, they take a step backwards. Continue until all the cards have been used, or someone reaches the goal. The person closest to the goal at the end of the game gets served dessert first.

For older children: Play “Hands Down.” Hold the stack of cards upside down and quickly flip them over one at a time. If a “good” card is turned over, the first person to slap their hand down over it gets the card. If someone accidentally slaps a “bad” card, they must repent and forfeit one “good” card to be shuffled back into the pile. When all the cards are turned, the person who collected the most “good” cards is the winner.

Refreshments:

Milk for purity, and Oreo ® cookies (or your family’s favorite) for “immersing” in the milk. An instant taste of heaven! (Maybe the calories will get washed away, too!)