By Alison Palmer

Scripture: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” paragraph 7)

Song: “Love is Spoken Here,” Children’s Songbook p. 190-91

Preparation:
• Cut strips of construction paper for paper chains (2 per family member)
• Writing utensils for each family member
• Stapler or tape
• A piece of thread and a short rope if available
• Prayerfully consider your own spiritual strengths and weaknesses prior to this lesson

Lesson:
Special Note: If this is difficult for your family, you might choose to begin this lesson with a privacy pact to ensure that information shared is respected and kept within the family.

Read D&C 46:8-26 together as a family. Emphasize the different spiritual gifts and the fact that not everyone has the same gifts. Everyone with a testimony of Jesus Christ and of the gospel will have different areas where their testimony is stronger and areas that are weaker for them. They will have things that are easy and areas of struggle and trial. For instance: one person may have no difficulty paying their tithing, but feels their fasting could be more meaningful. Or, they could more easily remember to say their prayers than their scripture study.

Share your own spiritual strength and weakness with the family. Then hand out the strips of paper. Each family member should write or draw their personal gospel strength on one strip of paper. Then draw something that they feel is a weakness on the other. Their name is written on the other side of both strips. Family members can help each other with ideas about strengths. Any input for weaknesses should be given in a gentle, non-judgmental way.

Go around the room and share each person’s strength. Share praise for each individual’s talents and strengths. Encourage them to continue developing these gifts.

Next, share the weaknesses. As each weakness is shared, talk about ways that this trial might be overcome or strengthened. Each person should choose another family member who they think could help them with their area of weakness. That family member must agree to be a partner and helper. Their name should be written along side of the other name on the weakness paper strip.

After everyone has shared their gospel strengths and weaknesses, re-emphasize that it is okay to have differences, individual strengths and weaknesses. Part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us was to give us families full of unique individuals who can help and support each other. Discuss the differences between your thread and rope. Stress that when the family members work together, they are stronger in their faith and testimonies.

As a family, work together to make everyone’s paper strips into a chain. The names should face to the outside of the loop and other the information on the inside. Compare and discuss the strength of a rope or chain in forming eternal bonds within the family. If they have not been previously mentioned, discuss the role of family activities such as: Family Home Evening, family prayer and scripture study, in strengthening the family as you are learning to follow Jesus Christ. End with your testimony and desire to work together to more faithfully follow Jesus Christ.

Activity:
For younger children: Play “Red Rover.” Divide the family into two equal groups. Hold hands to form a human chain and take turns calling to a family member from the other side. That person must run over to your side and try to break through your arms. If they succeed they can choose one person from your side to return to the opposite side with them. If they do not succeed in breaking the chain, they must join your team. Talk about the strength of families to resist temptation and Satan’s ability to lead away individual members.

For older children: Experiment with macramé, knitting, crochet, or other form of “string art.” Emphasize the need to work toward stronger family bonds within the gospel.

Refreshments:
String cheese, braided breadsticks, and licorice ropes.