Nephi's Broken Bow - Visuals for Teaching Primary

I created these visuals to go with the lesson in the Primary 4: Book of Mormon manual, lesson #5, entitled "Lehi and His Family Are Led through the Wilderness."  

I used my own words and interpretation to choose the graphics.  The kids loved it and the visuals helped them pay attention to and understand the story.

Click HERE for the PDF files.

I designed it so there were two visuals on each page.  I printed on cardstock and then cut the pages in half.  For the lesson, have the kids read along (or listen) to 1 Nephi 16:17-32.  Lay out all the pictures on the floor and then have kids point to a picture when it fits with the story.  Put them up on the board using magnets.

Here are some links to supplementary material about Nephi's broken bow.  I personally like to study a lot about a topic before I teach it so that I can gain insights, even if I don't share all the info with the class.

Story from The Friend magazine called "Nephi's Bow" (and little boys).

"When Your Bow Breaks" Speech (more for adults)

The Book of Mormon Study Manual

Info about Nephi's Bows from the New Era

Primary Talk - Family Prayer

In 3rd Nephi 18:21, it says, “Pray in your families unto the Father … that your [families] may be blessed.” When Jesus visited the Nephites, one of the important things he told them was to have family prayer.

We can pray for lots of things as a family.  Here are some ideas.  We can pray for safety, to have the spirit with us to make good decisions, for family harmony, for a desire to study the scriptures, to be patient with our brothers or sisters, to prepare for missions and temple marriages, and so forth.  In our family we pray for the missionaries every night and also pray to have missionary experiences too.

In an Ensign talk from February 2001, it says, "Wise parents will recognize the protective power of regular family prayer. President Kimball taught: "No mother would carelessly send her little children forth to school on a wintry morning without warm clothes to protect against the snow and rain and cold. But there are numerous fathers and mothers who send their children to school without the protective covering available to them through prayer--a protection against exposure to unknown hazards, evil people, and base temptations."

Every morning we pray before we go to school.  My mom says that remembering to pray is more important than remembering to bring your lunch or wear your shoes to school.  You wouldn’t skip lunch or go barefoot to school, so why would we not remember to pray?

Talk - The Commandments

I was asked to speak about The Commandments.  A lot of the information from my talk comes from lesson 4 in the missionary book called “Preach My Gospel.”  Since I will be able to go on a mission soon, it was good for me to study from this book.

Since the beginning of time, parents have been giving rules to their children. Rules like not playing in the street or not playing with matches. Sometimes the rules seemed like a burden to kids, like their parents must have invented them to keep them from doing the things they really wanted to do—the things they thought would make them happy. As we grow up we learn how important these rules are, how we could have been seriously injured or even killed if we had not obeyed.

Like our earthly parents, God gives us commandments to help keep us focused on what is most important and how to stay safe. All of His guidance is meant to keep us safe, help us stay close to Him and, in the end, to give us more freedom and happiness.

Primary Talk - Heavenly Father Loves Us and Wants Us to Pray to Him

Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to pray to Him. We can pray to Him anytime, no matter where we are. He hears and answers our prayers.

Charlotte Clark was just six years old when her family left Nauvoo, Illinois, to travel west to the Salt Lake Valley. It was a long, long way to walk. Charlotte walked so much that she wore out her only pair of shoes. Every night when Charlotte knelt to pray, she asked Heavenly Father for a pair of shoes.

One day Charlotte and her sister were picking berries when Charlotte saw a pair of shoes. She and her sister ran back to their mother and father, saying, “Heavenly Father sent me shoes, and they fit perfectly!” Charlotte’s father was concerned that the shoes belonged to someone who had lost them. He told Charlotte that if the shoes belonged to someone in their wagon train, she should return the shoes to their owner.

Charlotte’s family showed the shoes to everyone, but no one claimed them. Charlotte’s prayer was answered.

Heavenly Father answers our prayers. The answers may not always be what we expect, but He will answer in the way that is the best for us. We can pray to Him anytime, anywhere.

(from The Friend, 2006)

Understanding the Sacrament Prayers & Renewing Baptism Covenants

I made this for our children to better understand the Sacrament prayers and to help them with their Faith in God goals (Living and Learning the Gospel, #1) which states "Explain how taking the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant. In a Family Home Evening, teach others about things we can do to remain faithful."

Hope this is helpful for you too.

Did you think to pray?

Here are some handouts that I made for a friend who teaches the Young Women at church.

Six per page:

This is the link to the lesson.

Things Always Work Out

I've been thinking about adversity and challenges lately. While hardships will always be a recurring part of our lives, I think the important thing is how we face them.  Everyone has their own set of problems.  The severity of our adversity tends to ebb and flow.  The truth is, we never really know what another person is struggling with.  But we all are struggling each day with something, rather big or small.  And if we think we have no struggles, then we have the struggle of pride, right?

Here are some of the ways I personally deal with challenges.

Have faith and hope, not fear and worry.  Our natural-man tendencies lead us to fear.  Having faith instead of fear is a choice and must be worked for.  Everyday.  Try to look at things optimistically instead of focusing on the negative.  Think about all the wonderful things in your life and all the wonderful things yet to be.  Don't allow yourself to mope, stay in bed, wallow in self-pity, or embrace depression.

Trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  They love us and wants to help us.  They will never abandon us.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), humility is key to learning to trust Heavenly Father.  I attempt to be one of those people who chooses to be humble, but it is really hard to keep pride out of our lives.  Challenges compel us to be humble and therefore should be valued.  Humility leads to trusting God and increasing faith.

Pray, pray, pray.  Pray for patience and to be faithful.  Pray for the Lord's will to be done.  I have the tendency to be bossy and have to be careful when I am praying that I don't try to tell the Lord exactly how to answer my prayers.  I am constantly facing the battle of "MY will be done" versus "THY will be done."  This concept has changed the way I pray.  Life experience has taught me that I don't have the full picture.  He does.  It seems logically smart to listen and be guided by someone who knows what I need and when and how I need it. 

Developing Divine Dependency

Allowing our lives to become negatively impacted as a result of the behaviors of others is unhealthy and damaging but learning to completely rely upon our Father in Heaven is essential. We learn to say, on my own I can’t, but God and I together can. Divine dependency replaces codependency. We detach from fear, frustration, and hopelessness and attach to God, seeking His strength and grace to guide and comfort our lives. Elder Richard G. Scott taught this form of dependence upon the Lord when we are “completely willing to be taught by the Spirit and committed to apply consistently the lessons learned. . . . Be ‘easy to be entreated’ . . . and you will be amazed at the problems and challenges that will be avoided or dissipated.”

Both prayer and love are needed when addiction is present within the family unit. “The intent of mighty prayer is to accept the Lord as the changer of the human heart. When we are frustrated with a loved one, it is hard to focus on loving instead of criticizing . . . In mighty prayer we can take our frustration to God; then we can take our love to our loved ones. The Father will intervene.”

We always remember to not interfere with God’s plan through codependent behaviors. “Only with God’s way is there a promise that those who are faltering can come back. Suffice it to say that unrighteous dominion, improper criticism, and coercion are not the Lord’s way.  We can bind the Lord with a promise that in doing things His way . . . we will not be tied down in resentment but lifted by the Spirit.”

An unknown author said, “Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there.” Surrendering to God frees us from the worry and fear of what the future may hold and provides the strength to “endure all things”.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained, “With enduring comes a willingness, therefore, to ‘press forward’ even when we are bone weary and would much rather pull off to the side of the road.”  His invitation is and always will be to, “look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36)

Thought of the Day - Pray for Guidance

In the Addiction Recovery Program we are often reminded that what we pray for may not be what is best for us.  We are able to see only a little way, and our vision is clouded by our present situation and daily happenings and distractions. 

 

If the problems I have to face seem beyond my endurance, I will not explain them to God; He already knows.  I will not tell Him what I expect Him to do about my difficulties; He knows what is best for me.

 

When I am faced with something which is beyond my power to perform, to decide, or to cope with, I will not struggle with it by myself.  I will ask Him to show me what steps to take.  This is prayer; not to ASK FOR anything but GUIDANCE.

 

“All true prayer somehow confesses our absolute dependence on God; it is a vital contact with Him.  It is when we pray truly that we really are.  From our prayers we receive light to apply….to our own problems and difficulties.”   (Thomas Merton:  No Man is an island)

Poem - Prayer is Like Brushing Teeth

I liked this poem that I received from my sister-in-law Michelle. I have always said that there really is not a good excuse for skipping your family prayers, personal prayers or scripture study. Somehow we find time to brush our teeth, shower, get dressed and eat every day. We would never think of skipping one of these things consistently and then using the excuse of lack of time. Since I developed this attitude with my scriptures and prayers it has been a lot easier to be faithful on these important habits.

The goal is to encourages children to pray twice daily. Since we should brush our teeth morning and night, a tooth brush seems a natural reminder for saying prayers morning and night. Attach the following poem to a tooth brush:
Saying your prayers is like brushing your teeth--
it's a habit you form, a commitment you keep.
You should brush your teeth both morning and night,
the same with your prayers if you're saying them right.
Don't let your spirit or teeth begin to decay--
PRAY (and brush) at least twice a day!

Talk - Family Prayer

The Lord directed that we have family prayer when He said: “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.” (3 Nephi. 18:21.)

I can testify that our family has experience many blessing from having family prayer. One story comes to mine: It was a raining night as we headed out to office max to pick up turbo tax so Cade could get started on our taxes, as the kids and I waited in the car and talk. When my husband returned I tried start the car and it would not start. The store was getting ready to close and we didn’t have any numbers of friends or even a cell phone at hand. We decided to have our family prayer. We prayed that if we couldn’t get the car started we would find someone to help. We tried to start the car again, and it still wouldn’t start. Cade went to see if he could find someone to help. Our son Noah blurted out “I will say the prayer again”. He pleaded with our Heavenly Father that he would really answer our prayers this time. After our pray I told Noah that the car might not start. He replied; “have faith mom it will”. At that moment I felt prompted to try and start the car again. Because the faith of a small child it finally started. We quickly prayed again to thank our Heavenly Father for answering our prayer. Before we headed home we stopped to use the bathroom at MC Donald’s. Noah was in one stalk and Autumn in another. Noah blurts out to Autumn “Pray really works”. That day I was truly humble by my 5 year old son, whose faith in Heavenly Father, that he would answer his prayers when he prayed.
Often the words given to our little children in prayer are more profound than they understand, but the humble, listening heart can hear the Holy Spirit speak through them.
3 Nephi. 26:14 And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter.

Kent Rappleye said: The counsel of our prophet was plain and to the point: “Parents, safeguard your families. … Pray together. There is no substitute for family prayer when all kneel together before the Lord.” End Quote

President Heber J. Grant Shared his feelings about family prayer: “I am convinced that one of the greatest things that can come into any home to cause the boys and girls in that home to grow up in a love of God, and in a love of the gospel of Jesus Christ, is to have family prayer. … I believe that there are very few that go astray, that very few lose their faith, who have once had a knowledge of the gospel, and who never neglect their prayers in their families, and their secret supplications to God.” End Quote

Share thought: As we raise our children in this society, I’m reminded daily from family and friends of all the different temptations our children have to face each day.

President Hinckley States. "I submit that a return to the old pattern of prayer, family prayer in the homes of the people, is one of the basic medications that would check the dread disease that is eroding the character of our society. We could not expect a miracle in a day, but in a generation we would have a miracle."

“A nation at prayer is a nation at peace.” The family is the basic unit of society. The praying family is the hope of a better society. END QUOTE

Family prayer is one of the best ways that you can keep your family spiritually grounded. It gives you the opportunity to invite the spirit into your home and your family's lives each day. It also gives you the opportunity to teach your children how to pray and what to pray for. Family prayer helps you to show your children how much Heavenly Father loves them, and where the gospel stands as a priority in your life.

I WANT TO SHARE SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP US WITH FAMILY PRAYER:

#1 Finding Time:
The challenge for parents is finding time to pray with our families, when we have busy schedules. Families can easily fall into the habit of prayering or no prayer at all. Gathering the family together can be quite a challenge when everyone seems to be headed in different directions at different times.

President George Albert Smith cautioned the Saints: “I fear that, in the midst of the world’s confusion, of hurry and bustle, many times homes are left without prayer and without the blessings of the Lord; these homes cannot continue to be happy.” END QUOTE
Kent Rappleye said: Wise parents will recognize the protective power of regular family prayer. END QUOTE

President Kimball taught: “No mother would carelessly send her little children forth to school on a wintry morning without warm clothes to protect against the snow and rain and cold. But there are numerous fathers and mothers who send their children to school without the protective covering available to them through prayer—a protection against exposure to unknown hazards, evil people, and base temptations.” END QUOTE

Story:
Elder Joe J. Christensen, of the Presidency of the Seventy, gave an encouraging insight to parents when he counseled: “Remember family prayer every day. With schedules as they are, you may need to have more than one prayer.”

Because of the steady example of my mother and father, I can bear personal witness of the value of these words of counsel from our leaders. When my parents had a family of four small children, family prayer in the morning was not too difficult to do on a regular basis. However, as we children got older, the morning schedule of our family became unpredictable and hectic. There were times when my father would have to leave for his job as an electrician at four or five in the morning. My mother would arise with him and they would have “family prayer” together before he left. Soon my sisters and brother would be up for work or school, and my mother would have “family prayer” with them. Many times I would be the last to arise in the morning and would rush to get ready and run out the door. Without fail, my mother would call to me, “Let’s have family prayer.” I would often complain that my ride was waiting or that I didn’t have time. I am most grateful that my mother would ignore my pleas and excuses and simply say, “You always have time for prayer.” In fact, my most prevalent memory of family prayer in the morning is when my mother and I prayed together. How grateful I am that she did not let busy schedules and the hustle and bustle of everyone leaving for work and schools get in the way of praying with her family, even though it sometimes was in stages. Now that our children are older, my wife and I often find ourselves kneeling in prayer with different ones at different times before they leave for the day. It is not uncommon to have “family prayer” three or four times in the morning.

#2 Don’t Forget:
President James E. Faust, once told of an interview President Kimball held with a bishop. President Kimball asked the bishop how often he held family prayer. The bishop responded that he tried to hold family prayer twice a day, but that his family probably averaged only once a day. The prophet answered: “In the past, having family prayer once a day may have been all right. But in the future it will not be enough if we are going to save our families.” END QUOTE

President Kimball said: “Never hesitate to gather your family around you for your prayers, especially in those times when more than morning and evening family prayer is needed. Extra needs require extra prayers.” END QUOTE

#3 Teach Your Children:
Children learn to pray as they listen to their parents pray, family prayer is meant to be a time for all the family to participate. Even very small children should have the opportunity to voice family prayer. “One cannot learn to pray by merely listening, but must be given experience.

Kent Rappleye states: As children participate in family prayer and hear their parents speak to God in humility, with faith in Jesus Christ, they can begin to learn things of the soul in a setting that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. During family prayer, children may begin to consider the answers to the great questions of the ages: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” Through family prayer—and their own personal prayers that are thus encouraged—children will begin to learn that they are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that they are here as part of a great and wise plan of happiness, and that they can hope to return to their Father after this life. It is through family prayer that children become acquainted with many eternal family values. END QUOTE

#4 Don’t Wait:
Some families that have not started family prayer should not wait. There is no better time to begin than right now. Family prayer is a habit that should be part of a family from its beginning—when a husband and wife become one through marriage. But families that have not had the habit can usually begin it with little preparation; the parents—or mother or father if the parent is single—can lead out and teach or encourage the children to follow.
President Hinckley has said: “I know of no single practice that will have a more salutary effect upon your lives than the practice of kneeling together as you begin and close each day. Somehow the little storms that seem to afflict every marriage are dissipated when, kneeling before the Lord, you thank him for one another, in the presence of one another, and then together invoke his blessings upon your lives, your home, your loved ones, and your dreams.”
END QUOTE

END:
President Thomas S. Monson said:
"Family prayer is the greatest deterrent to sin, and hence the most beneficent provider of joy and happiness. The old saying is yet true: 'The family that prays together stays together.'" END QUOTE

I hope that each of you will take the time to pray with your family and see the great blessing the Lord has in store for your Family.

I testify that if we all apply family prayer, we will not go away unrewarded. The changes may not be readily apparent, but they will happen. (Heb. 11:6). They may be extremely subtle. But they will be real, for God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Thanks to Michelle Walton for this great talk.

Object Lesson - Tug of War Temptations

This can be used for a Primary Sharing Time, FHE lesson, etc.

Tug-of-war temptations

Show a picture of a family and explain that there are three important things we have been asked to do regularly to strengthen our family. They are scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening.

Then we had 4 children come up, 2 girls & 2 boys, and hung signs on their necks that said Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister. We also had two signs that said Temptations of the world, which we had male teachers wear. Then we had the "family" do a tug-of-war against "temptations". Naturally, they lost.

Then we had 3 more teachers come up and wear the signs we made for Scripture Study, Family Home Evening, and Family Prayer. They joined the children representing the family and had another tug-of-war against "temptations and this time were successful!

The children loved it and it was a great visual for them.

(Thanks to Michelle Walton for this great object lesson!)

Poem - Prayer Bear

I used this originally while working with the Young Women, but it can be used for younger children too.

I'm your little prayer bear, I'll sit here on your bed.
I'm just a little reminder, to make sure your prayers are said.
I'll sit here and look so cute, and when the day is through,
You'll see me and remember you have journal writing too.
And just before you climb in bed, and close your eyes so tight,
I'll be there to remind you, to read your scriptures tonight.

Quote - Personal Prayers

I love this quote below and can testify that this applies to my own life. The more I sincerely offer my personal prayers, the better my life seems to be. My life might not be perfect, but I am able to deal with challenges effectively and peacefully when I am praying regularly.

Ezra Taft Benson said –
When I used to travel throughout the stakes and missions of the Church in earlier years, I often met people who were in trouble or who had great need. My first question to them was, “What about your prayers? How often? How deeply involved are you when you pray?” I have observed that sin generally comes when communication lines are down. For this reason the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, “What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you.” (D&C 93:49.)

Quote - Submission of our will is all we can offer to God

This is one of my favorite quotes in the world. I am trying to pray personally and as a family that we will know the Lord's will and be willing to do it. Everything we have, including our very existence, is a gift from God and I am very humbled by that. I know that there is no way I can every pay Him back. So I am trying to use the time and talents that He has given me to do what He would have me do. And the thing is, the blessings keep coming everyday so I will be forever indebted.

The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we 'give,' . . . are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

FHE Idea - Family Prayer

PROPHETS HAVE TOLD US TO HAVE FAMILY PRAYER

Choose a child to come up and tell them we are sending them out in the wilderness where it is really cold and they have snow. Tell them we care about them so much that we want to make sure they are really warm--put on them snow hat and parkas, mitten, scarves, etc. Then have one more child come up, and tell him that we are going to send him too, but that we are not going to give him any warm clothes.

Summarize quote from talk in 2001 February, Ensign by Kent Rappleye " Wise parents will recognize the protective power of regular family prayer. President Kimball taught: "No mother would carelessly send her little children forth to school on a wintry morning without warm clothes to protect against the snow and rain and cold. But there are numerous fathers and mothers who send their children to school without the protective covering available to them through prayer--a protection against exposure to unknown hazards, evil people, and base temptations."

Ask the children to name things we can pray for in family prayer: safety, have the spirit with them to make good decisions, family harmony, desire to study the scriptures, patient with brother or sister, keeping family rules, go on missions, get married in the temple, etc.

Hold up some medicine (wrapped with a label that says "Family Prayer") and tell the kids that you know a kind of medicine that President Hinkley says the our whole society need--that medicine is Family Prayer. Quote from 1991 February, Ensign talk by President Hinkley. "I submit that a return to the old pattern of prayer, family prayer in the homes of the people, is one of the basic medications that would check the dread disease that is eroding the character of our society. We could not expect a miracle in a day, but in a generation we would have a miracle."

For older children, you could also have them do a scripture chase for 3 Nephi 18:21 Explain the setting--where Christ was on Earth teaching the Nephites. "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." We didn't even need a prophet to tell us to have family prayer, because Christ himself to us to pray in our families.

Note: We have been having family prayer and scripture study everyday for about 4.5 years now and our family has become a lot stronger. Before that we were "hit and miss" but then we made a decision that we could not afford to deprive our children or family of this principle. I challenge everyone to pray as a family daily and to study the scriptures daily as well.