By Alison Palmer
Scripture:“Successful . . . families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, [and] forgiveness” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7)

Song:“Seek the Lord Early,” Children’s Songbook, 108

Preparation:Gather 2-4 pieces of poster board, scissors, glue or tape, and markers for decorating your projects.

Lesson:

Work as a family to create four pieces of armor out of your poster board. Make a sword, shield, breastplate and helmet.

Read about the armor of God in D&C 25:15. Discuss why Heavenly Father has asked us to protect ourselves from the world with His armor. Without reading further, ask the family to name some of the things they think Heavenly Father has asked us to do that will give us spiritual armor. Discuss the role family can have in helping each person construct their personal armor.

The same principles that apply to the individual also apply to protecting and strengthening the family. Read Elder L. Tom Perry’s statement about his childhood: “We were dressed in our home each morning, not only with hats and raincoats and boots to protect us from physical storm, but even more carefully our parents dressed us each day in the armor of God. As we would kneel in family prayer and listen to our father, … one more layer was added to our shield of faith” (Ensign, May 1974, 98)

We have been asked to make our homes and families safe havens from the world. They should be places that protect and nurture us like the thick walls of a castle. Our families can also help us carry some of that protection with us when we leave the home. These are our pieces of armor we build individually and as a family. Read the focus scripture from the Family Proclamation. Reinforce the four principles that are called out as ways we can strengthen our family. Discuss how these might be used in your daily lives. Decide together which of your pieces of armor will be labeled for each principle.

Present different problems that your family may face and decide which weapons or armor from your arsenal would be most effective to help with the problem. A few ideas might include:

• John lied to his parents about where he was Friday
night, but he knew if he told them the truth they
wouldn’t let him go.

• Susan’s little sister cut the hair on her favorite doll

• Mandy has a really hard test coming in Math class

• Dad lost his job and hasn’t been able to find another
one.

Remind the family that Heavenly Father has given us commandments and tools that can be used to keep us safe from the harms of the world and help us get back to Him as a forever family. If we are careful to keep these things near us and in our lives every day we can keep our families strong. Look for areas of your family’s armor and stronghold that may need to be re-strengthened and set goals to help that process.

Activity:

Young Children: Work together to build a cardboard castle. Write your goals and family activities related to faith, prayer, repentance and forgiveness in the bricks on the walls to remind the family you are working together to build a protective fortress around your family.

Older Children: Consider experimenting with ceramics or another arts and crafts material that requires time or heat to harden. Discuss how persistent efforts to shape your family in righteous habits can bring great benefits over time.

Refreshments:

Work together to make a Monkey Bread Fortress.

Roll 36 (3 packages) refrigerator biscuits in melted butter, then cinnamon and sugar.

Stack the rolls on top of each other in a greased tube or bunt cake pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Cool the bread for 10 minutes before turning it out to pull apart and eat!