1 / 29

Great Activities to do on the Sabbath to Bless You and Your Family

Great Activities to do on the Sabbath to Bless You and Your Family. Elder L. Tom Perry “The Importance of the Family” April 2003. “In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities.  ….

moke
Download Presentation

Great Activities to do on the Sabbath to Bless You and Your Family

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Great Activities to do on the Sabbath to Bless You and Your Family

  2. Elder L. Tom Perry “The Importance of the Family” April 2003 • “In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities.  • …. • May it be our resolve this year to build a gospel-centered home, a safe harbor from the storms of the adversary. • …. • May this be our year for enjoying the light and truth of the gospel in our homes. May our homes truly become places of refuge from the world…”

  3. Isaiah 26:4 • Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the LordaJEHOVAHisbeverlastingcstrength:

  4. "The Church has established two special times for families to be together. The first is centered around the proper observance of the Sabbath day. • L. Tom Perry, "The Importance of the Family," Ensign, May 2003, 42

  5. The purpose of the consolidated meeting schedule is 1) to reemphasize personal and family responsibility for learning, living, and teaching the gospel and 2) to allow Church members more time for personal gospel study, for service to others, and for meaningful activities. Ensign, March 1980, p. 73

  6. The Major objectives of the new schedule are to- 1. Help every Latter-day Saint home become a place where family members love to be, where they can enrich their lives and find mutual love, support, appreciation, and encouragement. 2. Emphasize home-centered Sabbath activities (2 of 5 objectives listed) – Ensign, March 1980, p. 73)

  7. "The new consolidated Sunday meeting schedule has been implemented to give fathers more time on the Sabbath to teach their children. This is a golden opportunity for families to study the scriptures and receive instruction from their parents. Blessed is the household that does this on a consistent basis." (Ezra Taft Benson, “Great Things Required of Their Fathers,” Ensign, May 1981, 34 )

  8. “Leaders should avoid scheduling too many extra meetings on Sunday which will keep families from having time together on the Sabbath.” Howard W. Hunter November 11, 1988

  9. “Because the new schedule will give families time together on Sundays, parents should plan activities for the Sabbath that will spiritually strengthen the family.” (Howard W. Hunter November 1988)

  10. President James E. Faust • “On February 1, 1980, when the First Presidency announced the consolidated Sunday meeting schedule, the following counsel was given: “A greater responsibility will be placed upon the individual members and families for properly observing the Sabbath day. More time will be available for personal study of the scriptures and family-centered gospel study….. • “The Lord’s Day”, General Conference Address, October 1991

  11. President James E. Faust • “It is expected that this new schedule of meetings and activities will result in greater spiritual growth for members of the Church.” (Church News, 2 Feb. 1980, p. 3.) It is hoped that priesthood leaders and members of the Church will honor the spirit of more family togetherness on Sunday. • “The Lord’s Day”, General Conference Address, October 1991

  12. “Let the Latter-day Saints be in their homes, teaching their families, reading the scriptures, doing things that are wholesome and beautiful and communing with the Lord on the Sabbath day.” President Hinckley Ensign July 1996,73

  13. “We urge bishops and other Church officers to do all they can to assist parents in seeing that they have time and help, where needed, as they nurture their families and bring them up in the way of the Lord. Wherever possible, Sunday meetings, other than those under the three-hour schedule and perhaps council meetings on early Sunday mornings or firesides later in the evening, should be avoided so that parents may be with their children. As we strengthen families, we will strengthen the entire Church.” First Presidency Letter February 11, 1999 President Gordon B. Hinckley President Thomas S. Monson President James E. Faust

  14. Church Handbook 2: pg. 138 (2010) • Leaders should ensure that Sunday meetings are not so numerous that there is little time for parents and children to be together on that day. • Where possible, leaders should avoid scheduling Sunday meetings other than those in the standard three-hour schedule, leadership meetings in the early mornings, and occasional meetings in the evenings.

  15. Church Handbook 2: pg. 5 (2010) • The First Presidency proclaimed: • “We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility.

  16. Church Handbook 2: pg. 5 (2010) • “We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, Feb. 11, 1999).

  17. The best place for a child to learn the gospel is in the home. Mothers and fathers have the responsibility to teach and care for their children (D&C 68:25-28).” First Presidency letter, 1 Aug. 1993 (Emphasis Added)

  18. “…you are your children’s best teacher… Teach your children the gospel in your own home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the Lord’s way of teaching. The Church cannot teach like you can. The school cannot. But you can, and the Lord will sustain you. Your children will remember your teachings forever, and when they are old, they will not depart from them.” To the mothers in Zion/pamphlet, 1987,10,11

  19. “The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed to an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father” President Boyd K. Packer in Conference Report, April 1995, 8; or Ensign, May 1995, 6

  20. For The Strength of Youth (2012) • Prepare during the week so that you can reserve Sunday for the many uplifting activities that are appropriate for the Sabbath day. … Your behavior and dress on the Sabbath should show respect for the Lord and His holy day.

  21. Elder L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament”, General Conference Address, April 2011. • I believe He also desires us to dress appropriately. Our youth may think the old saying “Sunday best” is outdated. Still, we know that when Sunday dress deteriorates to everyday attire, attitudes and actions follow. Of course, it may not be necessary for our children to wear formal Sunday attire until the sun goes down. However, by the clothing we encourage them to wear and the activities we plan, we help them prepare for the sacrament and enjoy its blessings throughout the day.

  22. Video

  23. Suggestions included were… • Gospel discussion and instruction • Writing personal and family journals • Holding family councils • Family organization efforts • Personal interviews between parents and children • Writing to relatives and missionaries • Family history work • Visiting relatives and those who may be ill or lonely • Missionary work • Reading stories to children • Singing Church hymns together Howard W. Hunter November 11; Elder L. Tom Perry, May 2003; For the Strength of Youth; Elder Earl C. Tingey, New Era, Feb. 1999,

  24. Other Ideas • Have Stations • True to the Faith • Lds.org/youth • Study Scripture Mastery Scriptures • Watch the church produced YouTube Videos (Mormon Messages) • Indexing • Scripture Stories Online (illustrated stories) • Gospel Art Book – teach story of picture • Nursery Manual • Strength of Youth • Preach My Gospel • Set goals together with Children • Children’s FRIEND activities • Old Testament Video Supplement with Pictures, videos, art • Church Manuals – teach each other lessons • Sing Hymns

  25. “The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed to an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father” President Boyd K. Packer in Conference Report, April 1995, 8; or Ensign, May 1995, 6

More Related