FHE: You Are Incredible

Jul 2011 Issue

By Alison Palmer
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 136:4-5

Song: “I Will Follow God’s Plan,” Children’s Songbook, 165

Preparation: Gather an empty purse, For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, small notebook, breath mints, soap, lotion, brush, coin purse or juice box, and recipe card. Place the items inside the purse. Also have paper lunch sack and markers or crayons available for the activity.

Prayerfully read “LDS Women Are Incredible!” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Ensign, May 2011, 18-21 and choose those elements you would like to discuss with your family.

Lesson: Begin by using the purse and objects you prepared to help you tell the story of the lost purse from the section “Women in the Church Today are Strong and Valiant” of Elder Cook’s talk.

Ask the family if they think this young woman specially prepared her purse for the dance just in case she would lose it.
Did she pack in things that would only make her look good to those around her? These items were obviously of value to the girl for their own purposes, not for what others might think of her for carrying them, but how do they think her value of these items might have been evident to others without ever looking inside her purse? What kind of young woman do they imagine she would be? Why?

Next, spend some time discussing the pioneer heritage of the gospel. Why did people all over the world decide to leave their homes to travel across the United States? Remember that their individual reasons would have varied, the decision might have been forced upon them, or simply born of a strong desire to be with the saints. Regardless of the person’s situation before leaving for Salt Lake City, do you think they had room to take along things that they thought would impress the other saints, or would increase their standing among them? Their first priority was always survival and there was very little room left over for other things. They had to choose very carefully from those things that meant the most to them. Spend a few minutes imagining what types of things might have been included.

Elder Cook’s message focuses on the great strength of women in the church, both among the pioneers and among the modern members of the church. Share some of the other examples of women within the church and within their families. What strengths does he point out in their character? How are these things evident in what matters most to them? What do these women choose to pack in their purses and handcarts? Do you think these choices required any sacrifices on their part?

Great examples are everywhere. Invite each member of your
family to think of one person, male or female, that they see as an example of the type of person they want to be. Being an incredible person usually has more to do with the things that aren’t obvious, such as compassion, creativity, and faith, than in those things that are more obvious to the casual observer.

Just as the leaders in the story could not tell who the young woman was by the outside of her purse, the best parts of who we are, our God given gifts and talents, are carefully tucked away on the inside and in what we value and carry with us there.

Invite the family to consider what types of things they would need to pack in their “purse” or “handcart” that would help them be the kind of person they most want to be. Are there things they are still hanging on to for appearance’s sake, or things that might be taking up the room they need to become who they want to be? How do we remove these things from our lives?

Give each person a lunch sack to decorate as a purse or backpack, encourage them to find one object to place inside that will help them remember who they are and what type of person they want to be.

Activity:

Young children: Hold a family talent show.

Older Children: Play the suitcase game. One person starts with the phrase, “I’m going on a trip and in my suitcase I’ll pack-” then naming one talent, blessing or quality they would like to develop in their lives. The next person repeats the phrase and the first quality listed before adding their own. Play continues by adding a new incredible gift to the suitcase with each person.

Treat: Black Forest cake