FHE: I Shall Heal You

Apr 2011 Issue

By Alison Palmer
Scripture: 3 Nephi 18:32

Song: “Repentance,” Children’s Songbook, 98

Preparation: Gather paper and crayons for use by the family. Find a picture of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies if available.

Prayerfully read “Come unto Me with Full Purpose of Heart, and I Shall Heal You,” Elder Patrick Kearon, Ensign, November 2010, 50-52 and choose those elements you would like to discuss with your family.

Lesson:

Pass out the paper and crayons and ask your family to draw a picture of a family rule and why it keeps them safe. Ideas might include not crossing the street without an adult, cooking only with supervision or not talking to strangers. Share the pictures and discuss each of the rules and consequences that might follow breaking that rule.
Acknowledge that even though there are times when breaking the rule doesn’t seem to cause any harm (we don’t always get run over by a car if we don’t cross in the crosswalk) the potential danger is still there. Ignoring it once may lead us to ignore it more often until something bad does happen.

Share Elder Kearon’s story about taking a walk in the desert without proper footwear.
Did he understand why the rule was important? Why did he think it would be okay to break the rule? Next, discuss some of the commandments and the reasons they exist.
How do they keep us safe? What kinds of protections do they offer? Remind the children of the fact that consequences are not always obvious or severely damaging, but each time we justify or ignore a commandment we are placing ourselves in a position where the Holy Ghost cannot be our companion. We are also opening doorways to problems that could have been easily avoided.

Read and discuss the last paragraph on page 50, beginning “As members of the Church of Jesus Christ. . . ” What do you think it means when we “hold back a portion of our hearts from the Lord?”

Show the picture of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Discuss the story of their rebellion and repentance. Would the repentance or commitment have been as powerful if there had been exceptions? What if they had only locked the weapons in a trunk “just in case they needed them”? Part of not hardening their hearts and turning their lives over to the Savior for His healing included a portion of faith. There could be no justifications or excuses. Discuss the power of the Atonement and the nature of repentance on a level appropriate for your family’s understanding.

End with the final three paragraphs of Elder Kearon’s message, beginning with “Our Savior is the Prince of Peace. . .” and your testimony of the Atonement and the Savior.

Activity:

Younger children: Make heart puzzles with construction paper. Draw large hearts with pictures of someone following the commandments inside, then cut them up into puzzle pieces and exchange them with other family members. Discuss the steps of repentance as you use tape or glue to put together the puzzles.

Older children: Create a symbolic time capsule. Ask each person to prayerfully consider one item that represents a “rebellion” or trial for them that they need to turn over to the Savior so that they can be healed. These items can be kept secret, but they need to be placed in a container with the rest of the family’s chosen items. Bury these “weapons” in a special place in your yard and commit as a family to overcoming the trials inside.

Treat:

Heart-shaped grilled cheese sandwiches. Remind the children of the warmth and goodness that comes from giving our hearts and our obedience over to Heavenly Father and the healing power of the atonement.