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.