FHE: A Consecrated Life

Feb 2011 Issue

By Alison Palmer
Scripture: D&C 97:8-9

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

Preparation: Gather scriptures, five index cards and a pen. Write one of the following scripture references on each card: 3 Nephi 27:20, JS—History 1:55, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, John 13:14-16, and 3 Nephi 27:14. Have pen and paper available for all family members to use during the lesson.

Prayerfully read “Reflections on a Consecrated Life,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, November 2010, 16-18 and choose those elements you would like to discuss with your family.

Lesson:

Begin by showing your family the stack of index cards. Tell them that each has a scripture that will introduce an idea that you will be talking about. Hand out the five cards, as well as pen and paper to the family members. Ask them to work individually or as teams to hide each card someplace in the house, then draw a treasure map for the rest of the family to follow in order to retrieve the card.

After all the cards are hidden and the maps are illustrated, work together as a family to find the cards. As each one is found, look up the scripture and introduce the corresponding concept using thoughts from Elder Christofferson’s talk.

• Purity: 3 Nephi 27:20

• Work: JS—History 1:55

• Respect for your physical body: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

• Service: John 13:14-16

• Integrity: 3 Nephi 27:14

Review the map made for each item and discuss the path that you had to take to reach the hidden card. The values that you are discussing aren’t something someone else can just hand to you: each person has to know what they are looking for and go on a journey to make that value a part of their lives. Replace the landmarks on your maps with efforts and activities that one could engage in if they were seeking out that particular spiritual gift. For example, you might use the concepts of exercise, following the word of wisdom and maintaining a modest appearance as “landmarks” toward respecting your physical body.

Share the concept of consecration. Explain that it is a way of making promises and commitments to Heavenly Father. It is a way of saying we want to become like Him, and do the things He would have us do. The things you have been discussing are all very good ways to consecrate our lives. When we do these things, and practice becoming better and better at them every day we are becoming the type of people Heavenly Father wants us to be. We are showing him our commitment to serve Him.

Review Elder Christofferson’s final paragraph, encouraging each family member to find ways to seek out these blessings and consecrate a little more of themselves to Heavenly Father with every day they live. Remind them that in doing so they are putting off the natural man and receiving great blessings in return. End with Mosiah 3:19 and the quote by Elder B. H. Roberts in the last column on page 16.

Activity:

Younger children: Use five different colors of construction paper, cut into strips, to represent the five different principles you discussed from Elder Christofferson’s talk. Help the children review the lesson by trying to recall all the different activities they could engage in that would help them develop these qualities. Write each answer on the appropriate color of paper, then glue/staple/tape the strips together in interlinking loops.

Remind the children that for everything they try to do to be more like Jesus they are consecrating their lives to him and building a strong link between themselves and Jesus Christ that will help them throughout their lives.

Older children: Locate a copy of the film Man’s Search for
Happiness from your ward library, or on the internet, to watch as a family.

Treat:

Baked apples or other favorite fruit treat.