No Matter What Your Past Has Been,
Your Future Is Spotless!
This is one of my favorite mormonads because it brings so much hope.
Today's For The Strength of Youth Topic is:
Repentance
Thought:
Repentance brings the Spirit. If you see that you have weaknesses
which have brought you into some trouble, do not be discouraged;
but repent of that which you have done wrong,
by which you have lost more or less of the Spirit of God,
tell the Lord what you have done,
and resolve in your hearts that you will do it no more.
Then the Spirit of the Lord will be upon you.
(President Lorenzo Snow, Conference Report, 9 Oct. 1898, 56.)
Purpose:
To help your family understand how and why we repent.
Opening Prayer:
Song:
"Father in Heaven, We Do Believe"
Hymn #180
Scripture:
"He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and
I the Lord, remember them no more"
(D&C 58:42)
Object Lesson:
When we have a hurt on our bodies, even a small scratch,
what should we do?
(Clean it and put a bandage on it.)
What happens if we don't take care of a hurt?
(It can become infected and make us sick.)
When we use repentance the right way, we can clean up our
spiritual hurts and bandage them so they can heal and not cause
other problems later.
Remember . . .
The Savior gave His life for us and suffered for our sins.
This great sacrifice is called the Atonement.
Through the Atonement, you can receive forgiveness
and be cleansed from your sins when you repent.
When you do what is necessary to receive forgiveness, you will
know for yourself the power of the Atonement
and the love God has for you.
You will feel the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
which will bring you great strength.
The Savior's Atonement is for EVERYONE!
Story:
How Glad I Am to See You
(By Daniel Tyler)
A man who had stood high in the church while in Far West was taken down with chills or ague and fever. While his mind as well as his body was weak, disaffected parties soured his mind and persuaded him to leave the Saints and go with them. He gave some testimony against the Prophet. While the Saints were settling in Commerce, having recovered from his illness, he removed from Missouri to Quincy, Illinois. There he went to work chopping cordwood to obtain means to take himself and family to Nauvoo, and provide a present to the injured man of God if, peradventure, he would forgive and permit him to return to the fold as a private member. He felt that there was salvation nowhere else for him, and if that was denied him, all was lost as far as he was concerned. He started with a sorrowful heart and downcast look.
While on the way, the Lord told Brother Joseph he was coming. The Prophet looked out the window and saw him coming up the street. As soon as he turned to open the gate, the Prophet sprang up from his chair and ran and met him in the yard, exclaiming, "O Brother, how glad I am to see you!" He caught him around the neck, and both wept like children.
Suffice it to say that the proper restitution was made, and the fallen man again entered the Church by the door received his priesthood again, went upon several important missions, gathered with the Saints in Zion, and died in full faith.
(As quoted in Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People.)
Activity:
Make a poster with the word REPENTANCE
written in bold black
letters. With a red marker,
make large heart around the word.
Cut the poster into four pieces to form a puzzle.
On the back of each piece write one of four steps in repentance:
#1
Sorrow for Sin
#2
Confess
#3
Forsake the Sin
#4
Make Restitution for the Sin
Pass out the four pieces. Invite the child who has #1 to come up and
read what is written on the back of his piece of paper.
Have the child put the piece on the floor where everyone can see it.
Explain that sorrow means to feel very sorry that you sinned.
Have the child who has #2 come up and read her step.
Ask the child to fit the second piece to the puzzle on the floor.
Explain that to confess the sin means to pray and tell
Heavenly Father what you did and how sorry you are.
(Depending on the age of your family, you may wish to point out
that some serious sins must be confessed to the bishop too.)
Ask the child with #3 to read and post his piece.
Help the children understand that to forsake the sin means
to never do it again.
Ask the child with #4 to read and post the final piece to complete
the puzzle. Teach the group that to make restitution means to make
good or to give payment for a sin.
Example:
If someone stole a candy bar, she would have to pay the store
back for the price of the candy.
Extras:
Discuss the idea of repentance being a little step or a big one:
It is possible to step across the Mississippi River if you go where it begins.
The longer it gets, the bigger it becomes, and the harder it is to cross.
That's the way it is with repentance.
It is easy to correct a mistake right after the mistake has been made.
It is easy to break a bad habit when it is just begining.
The longer a person waits, the harder it is for him to repent.
Even though it may be difficult . . .
It is NEVER too late to begin the process!
Closing Prayer:
Here's the PDF:
Time for Treats:
Quick Jam Turnovers
Here's the Recipe:
12-oz. Tube Refrigerated Biscuits
3/4 cup Strawberry Jam
2 Tbsp. Milk
Garnish with a Powdered Sugar Glaze
Instructions:
On an ungreased baking sheet, flatten each biscuit with a fork
to twice its original size.
Place 1 Tbsp. of jam in the center of each biscuit;
Fold biscuits in half and seal the edges with a fork.
Brush tops with milk;
Sprinkle with sugar or powdered sugar glaze.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.
NOTE:
This would also be good for a quick and easy breakfast,
especially on hectic school mornings.
They can be made in the morning or the night before!
Have a GREAT Night!
Don't forget to add to your
FHE Journal!
Once again you've lightened my load, THANK YOU!!!
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