Kids sneaking behind their parents’ backs to date before they’re old enough? Youth cheating on tests? Downloading MP3s without paying for them? Our children face a tough world that offers poor modeling and the illusion of easy-living-without-consequences. Give your children the gift of integrity this Christmas – it’s the gift that keeps on giving throughout a lifetime. Time for some FHE Fun!
Opening Hymn: #145a A Special Gift is Kindness (Children’s Songbook)
Opening Prayer: By invitation.
Emergency Preparedness Moment: With difficult weather, health, and economic crises surrounding families, what brief emergency skill would you like to share with your family tonight during Family Home Evening? You never know: a few minutes now could save your life!
Happy Moments Time: This can be quick, but fun. Who has a happy moment from the week to share? A triumph? A success, no matter how small? Take just a few seconds to celebrate, and the memories you create will be long-lasting! Everyone likes to hear “job well-done” and children need to know when they’ve done well.
What’s Your Favorite Scripture? What scripture hit home the most during private scripture study from this past week? Even the smallest of tykes—if consistently looking at even little Bible stories—can have uplifting words to share. It need not take more than a few minutes, but sometimes these discussions can have the greatest impact during Family Home Evening.
Review: Perhaps take a few moments to follow up on goals set in last week’s FHE. How did they turn out? What experiences did people have? What would you like to continue?
Activity:
Items Needed:
- Paper plates
- Crayons
- Dictionary
Share the following quote from the Young Women’s Personal Progress manual: “I will have the courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong.” What does this statement mean? Does anyone know the vocabulary word that describes when actions match beliefs?
Pass out a paper plate and a few crayons to each person. Invite the family to listen to the definition and examples of the word “Integrity”; then begin drawing a scene or picture on the plate that illustrates integrity in action or being used. (You may want to use a child’s dictionary or use your own examples if you have very young children.)
DEFINITION OF “INTEGRITY” AT MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values; incorruptibility; an unimpaired condition; soundness; the quality or state of being complete or undivided; completeness
EXAMPLES OF INTEGRITY GIVEN AT MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM:
? He’s a man of the highest integrity.
? I admire her artistic integrity.
? She had the integrity to refuse to compromise on matters of principle.
? Without music, the film loses its integrity.
? They are trying to preserve the cultural integrity of the community.
? The earthquake may have damaged the building’s structural integrity.
? Many were tempted by a piece of the equity action and compromised their integrity. —Bruce Nussbaum, Business Week, 28 Jan. 2002
(as found at Merriam-Webster.com)
How do we connect what we say we believe (i.e. Article of Faith #13) with our actual choices? Enjoy your family’s comments. Then let everyone show and explain their drawings of integrity in action.
How is being honest in all situations like having integrity? Yet how is integrity MORE than just pure honesty, or kindness?
Let your family know the reason the drawings were done on plates was because our daily actions feed our souls. Integrity chosen in the heat of a moment feeds our soul with powerful “food” that will strengthen and nourish us the next time we face a difficult choice.
Here are a few quotes to share:
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, “I have felt impressed to speak today about the need for integrity—old-fashioned, personal, practical integrity. To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous…” (April 1990 General Conference)
Presiding Bishop H. David Burton shared, “President James E. Faust suggested that integrity is the mother of many virtues. He noted that integrity can be defined as ‘a firm adherence to a code of moral values.’ He also suggested that ‘integrity is the light that shines from a disciplined conscience. It is the strength of duty within us…’”
Sister Carol B. Thomas, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency at the time, said, “We can easily spot … someone with integrity. They’re honest. They do the right thing when nobody is watching. They keep their word and they keep our confidences. They repay their debts, and they clean up their own messes. They accept responsibility for their actions…Integrity makes you whole and complete.” https://lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/integrity?lang=eng&format=conference
Close by sharing your love for your children and any spontaneous testimony you feel impressed to express. Sing the following children’s song and ask your children to pay close attention to the words.
Closing Hymn: I Believe in Being Honest (#149 Children’s Songbook).
Closing Prayer: By invitation.
Refreshments: While refreshments aren’t necessary at the end of each Family Home Evening, they do provide a time for the family to “let their hair down” and to enjoy each other’s company. What refreshment could you make that you could also take to someone this evening to let them know they are loved?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
“Integrity,” Young Women’s Personal Progress manual
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