Purpose:
Possible scriptures: Psalm 35:9; Proverbs 3:13; Proverbs 16:20; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Matthew 25:40(31-46); John 13:17; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 12:6; 1 Nephi 8:10; 2 Nephi 2:25-27 (or just vs 25); Mosiah 2:17; Mosiah 2:41; Alma 41:10; 4 Nephi 1:15-16; Mormon 9:14; Doctrine and Covenants 52:40;
Possible Songs: Count Your Blessings, Hymn 241; Improve the Shining Moments, Hymn 226; Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words, Hymn 243; Let us Oft Speak Kind Words, Hymn 232; Scatter Sunshine, Hymn 230; There is Sunshine in My Soul Today, Hymn 227; You Can Make the Pathway Bright, Hymn 228; Be Still, My Soul, Hymn 124; Oh, What Songs of the Heart, Hymn 286; If You’re Happy, Children’s Songbook page 266; Smiles, Children’s Songbook page 267a; When We’re Helping, Children’s Songbook page 198b; Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, Children’s Songbook page 60; Happy Song, Children’s Songbook page 264;
Possible Materials: A pair of shoes for each family member.
Preparation: Begin with prayer. Read the suggested scriptures, 3 Nephi 12, and Matthew 5. Read through the lesson, including any links, and carefully select the most relevant material for your family. Children: Watch this video of the Sermon on the Mount, this video on Helen Keller. For especially young children, I love how Daniel Tiger talks about feelings. Ask a grownup to help you gather shoes.
Lesson:
Discuss how last week’s challenge went.
Introduction: Set out one pair of shoes for each family member. Ask whose shoes these are. Talk about the style and ask how you know whose shoes they are. Ask your family members to try to walk in someone else’s shoes. Try to walk the way that the family member walks. What observations can your family make? Ask your family if they have ever heard the expression, “walk a mile in someone’s shoes.” What does it mean? It means that we try to understand what the person might be thinking or why they choose to do something or behave some way.
When emotions are too strong, we can take a deep breath and calm down.
From Church History: Have your family read the following scriptures from the Doctrine and Covenants: 35:27; 38:15; 50:41; 61:36; 68:6; 78:18; 98:1-3; and 101:36. Why was this message so important for the early saints to hear that it was given so often? How is it helpful to remember to be calm and of good cheer? When we are scared, or nervous, or tired or frustrated, what can we do to change how we are feeling? One good way to help change the direction of our mood is to take a deep slow breath. Another way is to close your eyes and think of something happy. Sometimes we just need to think about why we are feeling a certain way.
From World History: Hold up a picture of Helen Keller. Tell your family that Helen got really sick as a baby. Her sickness left her blind and deaf! Because she couldn’t see people’s faces/expressions, or hear their voices or laughter or crying, she didn’t realize anyone had feelings. Ask your family how this would change how we would treat other people? Helen would often hit or shove to let other people know what she needed. She couldn’t speak or express herself. She didn’t know how to smile. We learn how to smile by seeing other people smiling, and Helen couldn’t see to learn. How would other people feel to be hit or shoved? How would Helen feel because she didn’t know how to express her needs? Are her feelings wrong or bad? No. But was she right to hit or push? Nope! Hurting someone else is not a good way to express your feelings. Feelings are always okay but how you behave with those feelings may or may not be. Why does Heavenly Father give us feelings?
From the Scriptures: Hold up the picture of Christ teaching on the Mount. Discuss the “Beatitudes,” as found in Matthew 5:3-12. What is talked about therein? Why does Christ focus so much on understanding the feelings of others? How might we be “blessed,” in these things?
Further Discussion:
Read this excerpt from Sister Bingham’s April 2022 talk. How can happiness be hollow? What is required for true happiness? Why?
Recent Conference talks to consider in your discussion: Fear Not: Believe Only!, By Jeffrey R Holland; Covenants with God Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory, by Jean B Bingham; Our Relationship with God, by D. Todd Christofferson; We Each Have a Story, by Gerrit W. Gong; The Power of Spiritual Momentum, by Russell M. Nelson;
Challenge:
Pay extra attention this week to how your words and actions affect others this week. Try to speak kindly and watch for those that may feel sad or discouraged. At next Family Home Evening, discuss what you’ve observed and how watching for others’ feelings has helped you better understand your own.
Giving due credit: as usual, I read and learned from the Sunbeams Manual Lesson 21 (Nursery Manual lesson 19),and Gospel Topics from Gospel Library on Happiness, .
