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Mar 2011 Issue
By Alison Palmer
Scripture: John 15:12
Song: “Love One Another,” Children’s Songbook, 136
Preparation: Gather as many of the follow as you can: earmuffs, wig, dress-up clothes, and blindfold.
Prayerfully read “Charity Never Faileth,” President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, November 2010, 122-125 and choose those elements you would like to discuss with your family.
Lesson:
Choose different members of your family who will put on the dress-up items you gathered. Before a person puts on the item they were chosen for, have the family brainstorm a few good traits about that family member that aren’t necessarily obvious from looking at them. Then, let them put on the wig, earmuffs or whatever item they were given. Did their gifts or talents change when their appearance changed? Why or why not? What did change?
Discuss the effect first impressions can have on how we think about and treat people. How did appearance affect the way Jesus saw people when He was on earth? Work together as a family to think of several different stories, such as the woman who was to be stoned for her sins, or visiting with the woman at the well. Often, what others saw wasn’t what the Savior saw. How is that still true today?
Read Matthew 7:1-3 together, then discuss its meaning. Then re-tell President Monson’s story about dirty windows. If a member of your family wears glasses, ask them to describe how they see something with and without the help of the lenses. What difference does it make when we can see clearly in all aspects of life?
Next, read Luke 19:1-10 together. Why didn’t the people of the community like Zacchaeus? Were they right about the type of person he actually was?
Then, tell President Monson’s story about his wife’s seat at general conference. How do we place ourselves in groups or “cliques” according to what we think we know about others around us? How does this prevent us from opening our “seats” and hearts to others who could become great friends?
Read Matthew 25:31-40. Why does Jesus tell us that our deeds to those whom others look down on will be as if we had done them for Him?
Review the next story from President Monson’s talk about the disfigured guest in Mary Bartels’ home.
Why did Mary agree to rent out a space to the gentlemen over and over again when others discouraged her? What did she learn and receive in turn? How can someone’s disabilities or circumstances tend to make us feel uncomfortable around them? What kinds of experiences could we be missing out on if we let our discomfort determine how we react to others differences?
Read Luke 10:38-42 together. How did both women’s choices affect the time they got to spend with Jesus? Why do you think it was important to Jesus that a “good choice” that wasn’t the most popular for the time period should be made by the women? What choices does Heavenly Father ask us to make that might be different from the things the world would have us be careful and troubled about?
Tell the final story about the photograph of the women’s group leader. What qualities were valued in the woman that couldn’t be seen in the photograph? How did those qualities actually show? Why would some have trouble not seeing them?
End with President Monson’s definition of charity, beginning on page 124, the last paragraph in column two. Follow this with a challenge for each family member to exercise greater charity in their own lives.
Activity:
Younger children: Work together to clean the windows in your home and talk about ways you can practice wiping away the dirt from your eye “windows” when you look at others.
Older children: Think of someone that is difficult to get to know, or that has been misunderstood in the past and complete a family service project for them.
Treat:
Stained-glass window cookies.
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