By Alison Palmer
Scripture: John 14:6
Song:“I Believe in Christ” Hymns, #134

Preparation:Gather five brown paper lunch sacks and a small item to represent each of the five senses (ideas might include: smell- cooking vanilla, sound- baby rattle or jingle bells, sight- picture of family, touch- TV remote, taste- an M&M, etc). Label the bottom of each sack with the sense to be used in identifying the object you place inside. Gather an assortment of objects from your home that clearly identify or show Jesus Christ, such as music, pictures, scriptures etc.

Lesson:
Show the family your “grab bags of senses.” Ask different family members to come up and take turns identifying an object using only the specified sense. Talk about the way we use our senses to experience the world around us.

Explain that just as there are many different ways to use our senses and enjoy life, there are many different ways people can gain testimonies of Jesus Christ. Not everyone’s testimony will come the same way or be the same as it grows and develops. It can be something we see, or hear, or even say, that triggers the feelings and understanding that Heavenly Father loves us and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

A person’s testimony usually has two main parts: knowledge and feelings. We begin by seeking answers to questions about ourselves, about Heavenly Father, about Jesus Christ, and about our lives. As we learn, we begin to feel which answers make us the happiest, or just feel true. These things become part of us as we learn and grow. The feelings learn and grow as well.

Share the objects you gathered from your home, discuss how each item can help the family feel closer to Jesus Christ and learn more about him. Share any special attachments you might have for an object. It can relate to an experience or even just a simple pleasure like, “I like Jesus’ smile in this picture, He makes me want to smile, too.” Continue by talking about some of the gospel truths you know about Jesus Christ, His atonement, and His love for each of you.

Take special note of the feelings in the room. Share your observations with the family and help them understand that these feelings represent parts of each person’s testimony. Every time something teaches us, or makes us feel loved, happy or at peace, it adds to our testimony.

Remind the family to pay special attention to these experiences, and to use all of their senses to gain and build their testimonies. Not everyone will see Jesus Christ in this life, or even hear His voice, but everyone is blessed with special ways they can experience His love. We can see, hear, taste and feel many different things each day that can invoke the same feelings of joy and peace that tell us we are loved.

As we seek to learn about Him and pay attention to our feelings we can each understand Jesus Christ’s love for us and our own love for Him. Just as some objects from your senses grab bags might have been easier to identify than others, the more time and effort each individual puts into gaining the knowledge and feelings associated with testimonies the easier they will be to identify as we experience them every day.

Activity:
Have a sing-a-thon. Let each family member choose a song which talks about the Savior for the family to sing. Discuss what aspects of the song speak most clearly about the Savior, loving Him and creating feelings of testimony. Talk about, or engage in, other activities that bring the Spirit most easily into your home.

Refreshments:
Testimony Cinnamon Toast

Talk about Jesus Christ’s role as the bread of life and you butter slices of bread.

Then, use a piece of paper with a heart cut out of it as a stencil to sprinkle cinnamon and sugar onto the butter.

Place all the pieces of bread on a cookie sheet in a warm oven or broiler until the butter is melted.

Remind the family of the warm, sweet feelings that learning about Jesus Christ can bring into their lives.