Powerfully Teaching Your Children Gospel Principles Lesson Plan: Honor Thy Father Objectives: Emphasize what we learn about honor in the example of Jesus Christ toward the Father. Talk about how we show honor to our fathers. Reinforces Principle of: Honor Respect Each lesson contains 5 timed activities: (Choose the activities that fit your family s schedule. Additional resources are provided as extra time may be available.) Reverence Time: Song, prayer, scripture and video clip Lesson Time: Lesson summary and points to ponder Story Time: Story Activity Time: Object lesson or activity Treat Time: Prayer, theme related recipe & music video
Approximate Time: 5 minutes Sing Together: Children s Songbook #209, Fathers. If you wish to have an online music file to accompany you visit: http://www.lds.org/cm (Note: Navigate to the Interactive Church Music Player where you can listen to and print Church hymns and children s songs.) Prayer: Scripture Time: Matthew 26:39 39. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Video Clip: Watch chapter 2 from Visit Israel with Dr. W. Cleon Skousen, The Last Days in the Life of Jesus Part 2 DVD. (Video clip is also provided for viewing online.)
Approximate Time: 10 minutes (For younger children, it may be helpful to summarize the following ideas): Lesson Summary: How do we know our Heavenly Father loves us? (Discuss ideas.) Our Father in Heaven wants us to dwell with Him eternally. His work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).... He sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to loose the bands of death and atone for the sins of the world: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This sacrifice is the greatest expression of our Father s love for us. True to the Faith Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. How can we show Heavenly Father that we love and honor Him? (Discuss ideas.) There are many ways we can honor our Heavenly Father. Some important ones include: Living with faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Recognizing our complete need and willingness to pursue a relationship with Him. Seeking His will and doing what pleases Him. Following His commandments. Radiating towards others the love we experience in Him. Sing: Children s Songbook #2, I Am a Child of God, Verse 1. Heavenly Father has given us earthly parents to help teach us what we must do to live with Him someday (Mosiah 4:14). We have been commanded to honor our earthly parents (Exodus 20:12). Father s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. This is a special day set aside to honor our fathers. It is not the only day we should honor our fathers we can do this everyday. When the Savior was on the earth He taught us to honor and respect our fathers (Matt. 19:19). How did the Savior honor His Father? (Discuss ideas.) Jesus Christ honored [His Father] by keeping His commandments and obeying His will. Our Savior taught us this when He said, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (John 6:38).... The Savior is our example and model of life. We must strive every day to follow his teachings and do the things that he did, for the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do (John 5:19). Lino Alvarez, Ensign, Nov 1992 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Points to Ponder: What can we do to follow the Savior s example and honor our fathers? (Discuss ideas.) Young people, if you honor your [fathers], you will love them, respect them, confide in them, be considerate of them, express appreciation for them, and demonstrate all of these things by following their counsel in righteousness and by obeying the commandments of God. Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 1991 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Are we all expected to honor our fathers? (Discuss ideas.) Most of us have fathers for whom we feel respect and love, and we find it easy to honor them. Others who may not have such feelings for their fathers may find it difficult to honor them.... If our fathers do not keep the commandments, we might question if they deserve to be honored. But the fifth commandment tells us simply to honor them it does not excuse us from this responsibility by adding qualifications such as if they are members of the Church, if they are rich, healthy, or educated, or if they deserve honor. Lesson 16: The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part B Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Honoring our fathers means more than just being obedient and respectful. It also means loving them freely. We need to remember that, like us, they are not perfect. While we are learning to be good children, they are learning to be good fathers. What other fathers should we honor? (Discuss ideas.) Besides Heavenly Father, who is the Father of our spirit bodies and our earthly fathers, who are the fathers of our earthly bodies, there are other fathers who are concerned about our happiness and success whom we should honor our grandfathers; our bishops, who are often called the father of the ward; or some people even have stepfathers. We should always honor all these fathers and make every day of the year Fathers Day. Friend, June 1981 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Quote: As the presiding priesthood officers in our homes, the father fills an irreplaceable role. Father is the patriarch of an eternal family unit. Heaven, to us, will be simply an extension of an ideal home. A. Theodore Tuttle, in Conference Report, Oct. 1973 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Approximate Time: 2 minutes Dallin looked at the shiny new lure he bought Dad for Father s Day. I bet Dad ll catch a record breaker with this, he told Mother. He just might, when he gets it on the end of the new pole, Mother said. We d better hurry and get them wrapped before he gets home or we ll ruin the surprise. Did you know that Aunt Leah and T.J. got Uncle Dennis a new pole, too? Dallin asked mother. They did! Mother exclaimed. Maybe the four of you will have to go fishing together. Dallin woke up early on Sunday morning and helped Mother serve Father breakfast. Eat fast, Dad, Dallin whispered, So you can open your presents. Father whistled. Boy, this is the prettiest pole I ve ever seen and look at this lure, he said while tearing the wrapping open. I m sure to catch a big one with this! Do you really like it? Dallin asked. It s the best Father s Day gift ever, Father answered. The only thing that could make it better would be a big bear hug. Dallin squeezed Father as tight as he could and then turned and smiled at Mother. I told you he would like this better than a new shirt and tie. Mother and Father laughed. We sure have a smart kid, Father said, while giving Mother a big hug. And a smart wife for listening. Thank you, both, for the wonderful gifts. You re welcome, Mother said, glancing at the clock. We better hurry, though. You don t have much time before your first meeting and we can t have the Father of the Ward late on Father s Day. There they are, Dallin whispered, spotting Aunt Leah and T.J. sitting on a bench in the chapel. And Uncle Dennis isn t here, again, Dallin drawled.
Dallin slid onto the bench next to T.J. Did your father like his present? he asked, T.J. He sure did, T.J. answered. In fact, he s using it right now! Shh, Mother said, putting her finger to her lips. You boys need to be reverent or you can t sit by each other. Dallin listened as the speaker talked about how we should honor our fathers. Then the two boys joined the rest of the primary children on the stand to sing a Father s Day song. When they were finished, Dallin, wondered how T.J. could be so happy when his father wasn t even here. I m glad Uncle Dennis isn t my dad, he thought. How could anyone honor him? After the Sacrament meeting was over, the boys walked down the hall to the primary room where Sister Poll taught a lesson on honoring our fathers. She then took a pile of letters out of her bag and handed one to each boy. These letters are from your fathers expressing their love for you, she said. But, before you read them, I want you to each write a letter to your father and tell him why you love and honor him. Dallin wrote about how proud he was that his dad was the Bishop and how grateful he was for the priesthood blessings he gave him each year at the beginning of school and when he was sick. It s an honor to have you for a Dad, he wrote. When Dallin was finished writing, he noticed that T.J. had turned his paper over and was still busy writing and he wondered... Why should we honor our fathers? Sister Poll asked. T.J. held up his hand. Because it s a commandment, he answered. And even though my Dad doesn t come to church and he goes fishing and stuff like that instead, he s still my dad, I love him and he loves me. Dallin struggled to keep the tears that welled up in his eyes from falling down his cheeks. How could he forget what Dad had told him about Uncle Dennis? He s a good man, Son. He just wasn t raised like you or me. I believe that someday his heart will be softened and he ll let the Lord in. And I ll try to always honor him, T.J. continued, and someday, I hope, he ll start coming to church with us, and that our family can be sealed together forever. by Margie Nauta Lee
Approximate time: 15 minutes What you need: Preparation Activity: A copy of the Father s Day Tool Belt card, glue and scissors. 1. Print and cut out the artwork. 2. Assemble according to directions. (Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.) 1. Read: President Monson taught, Let the Lord be the general contractor for the family even the home we build. Then each of us can be subcontractors responsible for a vital segment of the whole project. All of us are thereby builders. Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Oct 1991 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. 2. Ask: What are some of the tools the Lord has given each of us to build strong families? (Discuss ideas. Examples: Prayer, the Gospel, repentance, service, love, etc...) 3. Ask: What is the father s role in the family? (Discuss ideas.) 4. Ask: Is it our role to honor and sustain him in his role? (Yes.) 5. Explain: Each of us can help our fathers in their role to help build a stronger family. 6. Show children the tools one at a time and read each caption. Ask: How will doing this help our family become stronger? (Discuss ideas.) 7. Ask: Who is willing to do these things to help our father build a stronger home? (Have each child that is willing sign their name on one of the hearts on the back of the tool belt pockets without the children knowing what they are. Write To: Dad, on the other heart. 8. Explain: To have tools easily accessible when working fathers often keep them in a tool belt. (Put the pockets on the belt and then put the tools in the tool belt. 9. Sing: Children s Songbook #192 Home. 10. Give your father his tool belt card and lots of hugs and kisses.
Father s Day Tool Belt Card 1. Fold along white dotted lines with printed sides facing out. 2. Glue belt together. Set aside. 3. Place a thin line of glue along top edge of the two large pockets and the small hammer ring, leaving sides open so belt can slide through (this will be done during step number 9 of the activity). 4. Place a thin line of glue along the sides and bottom of the small pockets. Following the red guide, glue to large pockets. 5. Place a thin line of glue along the sides of the large pockets and glue together. The white hearts on the back of the pockets will be used to write on during step number eight of the activity. 6. Place a thin line of glue along the edges of the hammer ring and glue together. 7. Cut along the solid white line on the hammer ring. 8. Assemble tool belt during step number nine of the activity, by sliding the belt through a pocket, then through the hammer ring and then through another pocket. Slide a finger along the bottom edges of the pockets to make them slightly curl so that your tool belt will stand up. 9. Place tools in the four pockets.
Approximate Time: 50 minutes Prep Time: 30 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Dad s Ice Cream Cake Role 4 eggs, separated 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup flour 1/4 cup baking cocoa 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 cups ice cream, softened Line a greased jelly roll pan with waxed paper; grease and flour paper; set aside. Beat egg yolks on high for 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until thick. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking powder; gradually add to egg yolk mixture. Beat on low until well mixed (mixture will be thick). In another large mixing bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites and salt on high speed until soft peaks form. Fold a fourth of egg whites into the batter, then fold in remaining whites. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners sugar. Gently peel off waxed paper. Roll up cake in the towel jelly roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on a wire rack. Unroll cake; spread with ice cream to within 1 in. of edges. Roll up again. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until serving. Treat Time: Before everyone enjoys this treat, have children thank Dad for the important role he plays in your family. Given such urgent warnings about the future of our Father in Heaven s children, fathers must search their souls to be certain they are following their role in the Lord s plan to build up eternal families. L. Tom Perry, Liahona, May 2004 2009 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Closing Prayer and blessing on the food.