Do your kids make choices that scare you? Perhaps spending this evening with “Balaam” might help. Time for a little FHE Fun!
Opening Song. #336 “School Thy Feelings“
Opening Prayer. By invitation.
Emergency Preparedness Moment. What emergency preparedness activity would you like to do this week for your family? Make this a matter of prayer and you will be surprised at the promptings you can receive. These few minutes every seven days during FHE can help your children be ready for a variety of emergencies. Problem solving skills, first aid skills, putting together backpack 72-hour kits, or any other kind of creative endeavor shows your family you love them and teaches them how to take care of themselves in tough scenarios. What will you choose this week?
Devotional. Devotionals can be a way to bring a sweet spirit to FHE and to show your children you value the scriptures. Try using a “favorite verse” time to jumpstart the actual FHE lesson. A moment of short-verse-reading-and-testimony-sharing can bring a powerful spirit to your home and help settle the children for a more spiritual FHE learning time.
Lesson. Feel free to get ideas from the sample lesson listed below, but make sure to go to the Lord in prayer to determine what your family really needs for this week. You are the one the Lord has blessed to know your family’s spiritual needs during your weekly FHEs.
Items Needed:
Scriptures
You may want to read together as a family the story about Balaam and how he kept being enticed to hurt the Israelites (Num. 22: 5, 7-10, 12-14, 16, 18, 20-21, 23, 25, 27-31, 34-41). Or you may want simply to summarize it to the family.
Once the story has been shared, ask the family, what seemed to matter most to Balaam? Why was he enticed by the enemy king of Israel? What can we learn from Balaam’s stubbornness?
Have any in the family ever found it difficult to obey the first time they were asked by a parent? By a church leader? By the prophet at General Conference or from a teaching in the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet?
What character traits can we choose to build in ourselves so that we can be smarter than Balaam when faced with temptations or when we are feeling ornery? How does humility help us to avoid embarrassing ourselves in arrogant or dangerous situations?
Invite the family to think about Balaam as they sing the closing song, “I Have Two Ears,” and note the message of the song.
Closing Song. #269 “I Have Two Ears“
Closing Prayer. By invitation.
Struggling with your teens? C.S. Bezas’ book is an essential help for parents and youth leaders. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers teaches you how to create powerful change. Visit your local LDS bookstore or get your copy online here.
