God is Our Loving Father

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Toby Ward
5 years ago
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1 God is Our Loving Father I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. Psalms 82:6 Objective: Each family member will increase her/his understanding of Heavenly Father Preparation: Gather the following items: Picture of the father of your family Picture of a strange man (included) Picture of the First Vision (included) Picture of the Earth (included) Crayons or markers for coloring or scissors, glue, string for book marker Scriptures for each person Song books Print off items needed from this lesson. If you wish to play the game, prepare it by attaching the two halves together and preparing needed game pieces. Prepare one of the following videos: God is Our Father either on the Mormon Channel under Our Faith, or at the following address: or Before the Old Testament on the Mormon Channel under Family Time Just for Kids -- Old Testament, or at the following address: Prepare a poster by listing the scripture references down the left side and the attributes on the right as shown. John 3:16 D&C 130:22 Hebrews 12:9 D&C 109:77 Mormon 9:9 He is the father of our spirits. He Loves us. He has a body of flesh and bones. he is unchangeable. He lives in heaven. Prepare the Ice Cream Treat from HFRB p# IC-3

2 Opening Prayer: Opening Song: I Know My Father Lives CSB #5 1. God is our literal Father in Heaven (the Father of our spirits). Video: Show either the video God is Our Father or Before the Old Testament. (If not showing the video, show a picture of the world.) Discussion: Bring our the following points: Before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same. Explain that we all lived in heaven with Heavenly Father before we came to this earth. We are his children. He is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children. That is why we call him Heavenly Father. We also lived with our heavenly mother and all the rest of Heavenly Father s children. Everyone who has been born on the earth is a child of Heavenly Father. We do not remember living with Heavenly Father, but we know we are his children because we read it in the scriptures. Scripture: Psalms 82:6 Have someone read Psalms 82:6. Explain that the most High means Heavenly Father. Emphasize that every person on the earth is a child of Heavenly Father. 2. He knows and loves each one of us. Explain that Heavenly Father loves each one of us very much because we are his children. He knows our names and all about us. He knows what makes us happy and what makes us sad. He knows what is best for each of us. How does the knowledge that you are a child of God affect your attitude toward yourself? How does this knowledge affect the way you treat your family members and friends? What would your life be like if you did not know that you had a Father in Heaven to whom you could pray? Knowing that God is our Father and knows each of us brings us peace and joy and helps us understand the great value of each person on earth.

3. We can come to know our Heavenly Father. Object Lesson: Hold up the picture of a strange man to your family (inclosed). Ask: Who is this? Ask: What do you know about him?

3 3. We can come to know our Heavenly Father. Object Lesson: Hold up the picture of a strange man to your family (inclosed). Ask: Who is this? Ask: What do you know about him? Hold up a picture of the father of your family. Ask: Who is this? Ask: What do you know about him? After the family has explained all they know about the father, Ask how do you know this? Hold up the picture of Joseph Smith and the First Vision. Ask what do we know about our Father in Heaven? Explain that just as we know our own father, we can come to know our Heavenly Father as well. We come to know him through prophets testimonies, scriptures, and personal revelation. Scripture Activity: Using the poster prepared before hand, have the family find the scriptures and read them aloud. Have them draw lines connecting the correct attributes with the scripture references. 4. We can become like Heavenly Father. What is a baby dog called?

4 What will that puppy grow up to be? What is a baby chicken called? What will that chick grow up to be? Explain that just as animals grow up to be like their parents, we will grow up to be like our parents. Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind, and he wants to help us. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father. One of the ways we can do this is by coming to know Jesus Christ and following his example. Scripture: Have someone read John 14:7. Discuss: How does knowing Jesus Christ helps us to know Father in Heaven? How does knowing Jesus Christ help us to become more like our Heavenly Father? Explain that we all want to return home to Heavenly Father and to do so we must become like him. We Should try to become more like our Heavenly Father each day. Activity: Choose one of the activities at the end of the lesson. Closing Song: O My Father Hymns #292 Closing Prayer: Other Materials: 1. Joseph Smith told us that we should understand the following about the character of God the Father. As you read the six points, write these words on the chalkboard: 1. Eternal, 2. Merciful, 3. Unchangeable, 4. Truthful, 5. No Respecter of Persons, 6. Loving. First, that he was God before the world was created, and the same God that he was after it was created.

5 Secondly, that he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and that he was so from everlasting, and will be to everlasting. Thirdly, that he changes not, neither is there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting to everlasting, being the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; and his course is one eternal round, without variation. Fourthly, that he is a God of truth and cannot lie. Fifthly, that he is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him. Sixthly, that he is love (Lectures on Faith, comp. N. B. Lundwall [Salt Lake City: N. B. Lundwall, n.d.], p. 35).

NOW faith is the substance (JST: assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Some Perspectives on Faith: Hebrews 11:1: Alma 32:21: NOW faith is the substance (JST: assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And now as I said concerning faith faith is not to