July-Learning and Living the Gospel

This month in Learning and Living the Gospel it says "tell a story from the Book of Mormon that teaches about faith in Jesus Christ. Share your testimony of the Savior." This also doubles as a requirement for the religious square knot. In primary this year we are studying the Book of Mormon and each week the kids learn a new story. It's a great time to have them come home and explain to you what they are learning, and what their understanding of it is. Also have them tell you how it is helping their testimony to grow.

March-Learning and Living the Gospel

Under Learning and living the gospel it says to read D&C 89. Then discuss how Heavenly Father blesses us when we faithfully live the word of wisdom. Help plan and conduct an activity to teach the Word of Wisdom to others. This would be great to read with them and let them know what each thing is and means. Then have them plan a family night where they talk about the word of wisdom. Some ideas would be to have them draw the various things that are against the word of wisdom as well as things that are not. Have them add some things that arent healthy but ok in moderation. Then they can pass them out to the family and have a garbage can and then a basket implying ok to have. They could have the family members take turns placing their items where they think they go and then talk about each item, and whether it is for or against and why. It can be a fun learning experience for the and them for others when they do a lesson.

February-Serving Others

I'm sorry I am so late in posting a new idea for the month. Ths month I chose serving others. It s the month holding the holiday Valentines Day, so what better way to show someone you love them then by serving them. One of the ideas in there is to plan and serve a nutritious meal. What a great skill for young men and women to have! Men will need to know how to do this to help out wth their own familiies when they are grown, as well as when they are away at college and serving missions. Helping them pick their won favorite meal, and letting thme know to include a vegetable, starch, and meat. It would be a great way for them to as well, make something for their family, younger siblings so mom and dad could go out, or for mom and dad, with this great holiday coming up. Another one is for them to plan and complete their own activity to serve others. How fun to see what they consider serving someone else, and what they would like to do to serve someone else! Happy Valentines Day and good luck serving someone else this month!

January-Developing Talents

As the start of the year is with us, we generally do New Years Resolutions. Its a great time for the boys to set goals and for us as parents to help them achieve them. In Developing Talents it says to plan a physical fitness program for yourself that may include learning to play a sport or game. Participate in the program for one month. There is also another one that says List five things you can do to help around your home. Discuss the importance of obeying and honoring your parents and learning how to work. It will help the boys if we sit down with them and help them to set realistic goals, and sometimes set the same one to do with them.

December-Learning and living the gospel

It says to tell a story from the Book of Mormom that teaches about faith in Jesus Christ. Share your testimony of the Savior. This is the perfect time of year for this! Nearing Christmas we are learning and teaching and remember Christs birth. 3 Nephi is a great place to have them read and then share. The people in the America's had to have great faith in Christ, that he would come, that he would be born and killed in another part of the world they didn't even know existed, and then that he would come visit them. There are also many other stories in the Book of Mormon, such as Nephi and the brass plates, Abinadi, Ammon and King Lamoni, and so many more throughout the whole thing. What a great time to remember others faith and help build our own.

November-Learning and Living the Gospel

Read D&C 89. Discuss how Heavenly Father blesses us when we faithfully live the Word of Wisdom. Help plan and conduct an activity to teach the Word of Wisdom to others. Most of these activities can be done for family night. It can be such a great time to see what they come up with activity wise. It can be object lesson, or a game that they can do together.

October- Learning and Living the Gospel

With conference this weekend it's a perfect time for Learning and Living the Gospel. It says to read a recent conference address given by the Prophet. Decide what you can do to follow the Prophet and do it. Listening to conference will also work instead of reading it. There are so Many talks given with many different principles what a great time to talk to our kids about what they can do. Another great one for this time is to prepare a pedigree chart with your name and your parents and grandparents names. Prepare a family group record for HR family and share a family story. Discuss how performing temple work blesses families. That can serve as a great family night. I know my kids love listening to stories of my life and their grandparents life. Letting them connect to their past can be a lot of fun.

September-Preparing for the Priesthood

In Preparing for the Priesthood it says to read "The Family:a Proclamation to the World." Make a list of things you can do to help strengthen your family and make a happy home. Share this list with your parents of primary leader. Another one is to learn about the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood which is in D&C 107:20, and Joesph Smith-History 1: 68-73. It's a great time to talk about what can be expected and also what is expected of them as priesthood holders, and how important it is for them and those around them.

August-Developing Talents

This month as we get ready for school to start again, it's a great time to make goals and plans for the coming school year. In developing talents it says to read D&C 88:118, then discuss what it means to seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Improve your personal study habits by doing things such as learning how to choose and read good books or being prepared for school each day. Sitting down with your child and helping them plan a way to feel prepared for the new school year, and having a study plan in place. Another one in the same category is to learn and practice good nutrition, good health, and good grooming, including modest dress. As you go school shopping and planning lunches for school it's a great time to have a talk with your child about whats important to them, and the appearance they want to put forward about who they are and what they stand for.

July-Serving Others

The summer is such a fun time to do activities as a family. In Serving Others it says to plan and hold a parent child activity, such as a dinner, picnic, hike, day trip, or service project. Letting your child pick an activity to do with you and plan it, gives them such a great time to have one on one time with you, a chance to talk, also to see what activity they really enjoy. If they need ideas we have so much here in Farmington. we have Several trails, buffalo ranch trail, Lagoon trail, the new rails to trails, legacy and more. Their are several fun hikes, Adams canyon is a great one with a waterfall up top they can play in. Another one in Serving Others is entertain young children with songs or games you have learned or made yourself. Show that you know how to care for a young child. A lot of the boys can babysit younger siblings, play a game of baseball, soccer, or basketball with neighbor children. Jumping on the tramp, or playing ring around the roses are some more examples. It's also fun to see what games and activities they can come up with.

June- Preparing for the Priesthood

As the school year comes to an end we get a greater appreciation for education and school. In the preparing for the priesthood section it says to read D&C 88:77-80, 118 and D&C 130:19. Discuss with a parent or Primary leader how important a good education is and how it can help strengthen you as a priesthood holder in your home and family and in the Church. There have been many in families and in the ward you are graduating this year and month, that would be great examples to talk to. Parents are also a great one to talk to. It's also a good time to share your testimony with your sons.

May-Developing Talents

Nearing the end of school there are a lot of concerts, plays, and cultural events for many students. Under the developing talents section it says to visit an art museum or attend a concert, play, or other cultural event. Share your experience with your family or activity day group. This makes for a great family activity as well. Eagle Bay Elementary is having many of their grade levels doing a program during school hours for the students. Parents, ask your children how it went. Have them talk about it during dinner with the family or during family night. Farmington Junior High is also doing a last vocal concert as well. Another option is to make an item from wood, metal, fabric, or other material, or draw, paint or sculpt a piece of art. Display your finished work for others to see. Makes a fun creative activity to see what your children can come up with.

March-Ways the Holy Ghost can help us

In learning and living the gospel there is an activity on the Holy Ghost. It has the boys read and mark n their scriptures John 14:16-17, 2 Nephi 32:5, and Moroni 10:5. It then says to discuss ways the Holy Ghost can help you. This is a great family night lesson or a good one on one discussion for a parent and child and a testimony builder. Another option is in Serving Others. It says to read the 12 article of faith and discuss what it means to be a good citizen and how your actions can affect others. This is a great one for the boys, especially now when we are entering into Spring and Summer and they are outside a lot more, at parks, and general things in the community.

February- Serving Others

February is a good month to show others how much we care about them. Its a time to demonstrate love, and a time to be with those we love. In the serving others category there is one that says "plan and hold a parent-child activity, such as a dinner, picnic, hike, day trip, or service project." With the weather getting warm its a great time to have your son plan an activity for the family, or a date with a parent. There is Adams Canyon for hikes, a park in the neighborhood, we even have tennis courts. With Valentines they could plan a scavenger hunt for the family to do, or have the family make valentines and take them to a grandparent, uncle or aunt, or someone in the neighborhood that they care about to let them know that they are being thought of. Its a great time to see the creativity of your child.

January Learning and Living the Gospel

In Learning and Living the Gospel one requirement is for the boys to give a family home evening lesson Joseph Smith's First Vision. This can be found in Joseph Smith History 1:1-20 Then to have the family talk about how Heavenly Father answers our prayers. There are 5 Mondays in January and the boys could do this on one of those days. The bears will be preparing this family home evening lesson on January 3, 2011 from 3:30-4:30pm at the church. Another requirement is to sing the song "Choose the Right (hymn number 239) and than explain what agency is and what it means to be responsible for your choices. Then discuss how making good choices has helped you develop greater faith. This is also another great Family Home Evening. Another idea is in Serving Others. Idonna Murray fell at the end of last month and broke her hip. In serving others it says to read the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). Then to plan and complete a service project that helps a family member or neighbor. Idonna could use help in so many ways at this time, as well as others in the ward. There are 3 ideas for this month, good luck and have fun!

Learning and Living the Gospel-October

As we get ready to have conference this month it seemed fitting to focus on Learning and Living the Gospel. This one is easy for the boys to do and can be done at home. It states "Read a recent conference address given by a prophet. Decide what you can do to follow the prophet, and do it." The boys could just listen to conference this weekend and decide what they can do to follow the prophet. It is a great opportunity as parents to have a meaningful talk with our kids about what the prophet has asked of us. Another one that most boys are doing right now, is in developing talents. It says to plan a physical fitness program for yourself that may include learning to play a sport or game. Participate in the program for one month. It is soccer and football season, and we are getting ready to head into basketball season. These activities count for this one. Thanks parents and have fun!

September- Developing Talents

This month we are working on Developing Talents. It states: Write a poem, story, or short play that teaches a principle of the gospel or is about Heavenly Father's creations. The Bears will be doing this on September 13 from 3:30-4:30 at the church. They will talk about sharing your world with wildlife, and then write something to go with it. The boys can write anything to do with nature, family, religion, after all everything is God's creation. This is also one that connects with the Religious Square Knot patch.

August Activities-Learning and Living the Gospel

This month we are going to complete an activity in Learning and Living the Gospel. If the boys Learn to sing "Choose the Right" (Hymns, no. 239), explain what agency is and what it means to be responsible for your choices. Then discuss how making good choices has helped you develop greater faith. The Bears will be completing this one on August 18 included in their "Ways we Worship" activity.