Purpose: To help your family gain and grow their testimonies and learn how to share them through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Possible scriptures: Job 19:25-26; John 7:17; John 8:32; James 1:5-6; 1 Nephi 10:19; Alma 5:45-47; Alma 30:41-44; Ether 12:6; Moroni 10:3-5; Doctrine and Covenants 6:22-23; Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24; Joseph Smith – History 1:24-25;
Possible Songs: The Spirit of God, hymn 2; How Firm a Foundation, Hymn 85; I Believe in Christ, Hymn 134; My Redeemer Lives, Hymn 135; I Know that My Redeemer Lives, Hymn 136; Testimony, Hymn 137; I Know My Father Lives, Hymn 302, Children’s Songbook page 5; Families Can Be Together Forever, Children’s Songbook page 188;
Possible Materials: The articles from the friend about Elisa and the Testimony Plants, and the article by Elder Uchtdorf. Scripture figures of Nephi and his family. A picture of Boyd K. Packer (see Church History below). A picture of Joan of Arc.
Preparation: Begin with prayer. Think about how your testimony is doing. Are you living in a way that will grow your testimony? Strong testimonies do not just happen. Read the suggested scriptures, along with 1 Nephi 2 (Starting with vs 16) and Alma 32 (starting with verse 27). Read through the lesson, including any links, and carefully select the most relevant material for your family. Gather paper and things to draw with, and possibly seeds and planting supplies. Children: Read or listen to the story about Elisa and the Testimony Plants. Watch the video of Alma teaching about Faith and the Word of God. Gather paper and things to draw with, and possibly seeds and planting supplies.
Lesson:
Discuss how last week’s challenge went.
Introduction: You may consider singing “Faith is Like a Little Seed,” from the Children’s songbook if it was not your opening song. Have someone read the story about Elisa and the Testimony Plants (or summarize it) and show the picture on the second page. Ask your family what the word, “testimony,” means. As they are discussing answers, pass out paper and drawing utensils, and ask them to draw their testimony. As they are drawing, read Alma 32:27-43. If your family is older or does not feel comfortable drawing their testimony, an alternative is to start planting your seedlings for your summer garden. I plant my tomatoes and peppers at the end of February, so this lines up nicely with planting season for us. Make sure to highlight that testimonies do not just appear. They take work to cultivate and grow slowly.
Talk about what should make up the foundation, or roots of a testimony. They are:
- Knowing that Heavenly Father lives and loves us.
- Jesus Christ, God’s son, lives and atoned for us.
- Joseph smith was the prophet of the restoration.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s church on the earth today.
- Our Church is led by a living prophet, seer, and revelator.
If we seek to grow these root principles, our testimonies can grow to include all other principles of the gospel. Ask your family why they think these 5 points are so important and the foundation of a testimony.
From the Scriptures: For younger families, introduce Nephi and his family by using these scripture figures. Read 1 Nephi 2:16. Ask the family what steps Nephi followed (first he desired. Then he asked Heavenly Father. But is that all? Lastly, he acted upon it. He didn’t rebel like his brothers did. He applied faith to his testimony) to gain a testimony. Read the July 2015 article from the Friend by Elder Uchtdorf. Talk about the steps Elder Uchtdorf says we should take. Why is it so important to work and cultivate our testimony?
From Church History: Each and every conference, we are given an opportunity to hear the testimonies of our prophet and the apostles. President Boyd K Packer shared regularly that his testimony didn’t have to be perfect to be enough. Hold up a picture of Elder Packer (maybe the military one from this bio?) Have your family read both of his testimonies shared in April 2014 and October 2007 (the sections marked out). President Packer says that he felt that if he could have such a witness, anyone could. He also points out that any amount of a testimony is a good place to start; a good foundation. This is a reassuring idea! Reiterate to your family that their testimonies do no have to be perfect to be enough as long as they’re willing to hold on to it.
From World History: Hold up a picture of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc was known for her testimony. She was unlike any girl in her era, doing things even the men couldn’t do, and she was a 17-year-old girl with no esteem or aristocracy. Ask a family member to read the excerpt from a 2006 talk by Elder James E. Faust about Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc was told she could either deny she had been inspired and die quickly or hold to her testimony and die slowly. She was scared and chose to die quickly, but the morning designated for her execution, she said she had been reprimanded by God and that she could not deny her testimony any longer. She was set on fire and died slowly because she would not deny her testimony. Elder Faust points out that just like Joan of Arc, we have a right to our testimony and a responsibility to act on it, even if that makes us different. By holding true to what we know, we can change history.
Further Discussion:
Ask your family to read all of 1 Nephi 2, instead of just vs 16. Lehi wished all of his children could have strong testimonies. But some of his children chose different directions for their life. No matter how strong your parents’ testimonies are, it isn’t enough unless you also grow your own.
Read Elder Bednar’s summary of a 2012 conference talk as well as Elder Eyering’s First Presidency Message in 2015. What is the difference between having a testimony and being converted? Make a graph and list the differences your family found in each article. Discuss what you list.
Recent Conference talks to consider in your discussion: Click here to find the most recent talks about testimonies.
Challenge:
Challenge each family member to be prepared to bear their testimony at the beginning of next Family Home Evening. Help them to be comfortable with the idea, and tell them it is a safe environment to practice where they know that everyone loves them and will benefit from their testimony. If anyone does not feel comfortable doing so next Family Home Evening, do not make them. Offer to help younger children.
Giving due credit: as usual, I read and learned from the Family Home Evening Resource Manual Lesson 16. I also studied Gospel Topics on Testimony and its included links.
