A Strong Foundation in Christ Creates Strong Families FHE Lesson

I talk about making life meaningful.  I believe in treasuring time with our families, and teaching our kids that we are all in this together.  As an LDS family, we believe that families can be together forever.  That family relationships continue after we die.  Every week we gather as a family and have a “family night” or Family Home Evening (FHE).  We talk, teach, play games, and have treats.  It’s a great way to stay connected and teach vital lessons to our children.  One of the lessons I created is about having a strong foundation.  It’s about building a strong foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ which brings personal and family happiness as it leads us to the temple where we can be sealed together forever.  This family night lesson works great for teaching primary children at church too.  All you need is a some blocks (I used Jenga blocks), a temple figure or picture (or one of Jesus Christ), and your scriptures.

Strong Foundation in the Gospel = a Strong Family


*  Suggested Song: Families Can Be Together Forever (CS, 188 ); How Firm a Foundation (Hymn 85); The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (CS, 281)

*  Have someone read Helaman 5: 12 and/or Matthew 7:24-27.  Talk about what a foundation is for a house or a building.  If a foundation is not strong, the whole building will collapse when storms or problems hit.

*  From The Family: A Proclamation to the World read and discuss the following quotes.

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

“Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”

*  Do the following activity:

2.  As you start this activity during your lesson, divide out all the blocks among family members.  Explain you are going to build a strong family foundation (or personal foundation) for going to the temple someday as a family and/on your own.

3.  Take turns having each person come up and read the words on their blocks and build the foundation.  Build your blocks up just like you would for the original Jenga game.  Three blocks going one direction, and then the next three blocks going the other direction (as pictured).  Continue until all blocks have been used.