FHE Tonight

We had a fun FHE tonight that I wanted to share. At the beginning of the year, a friend emailed me a book of FHE lessons that go along with the primary lessons/theme. LOVE IT! Feel free to use the following. Ben totally got it (5 1/2), but Annie was still a little bit lost.

Lesson 13: I Choose to Follow The Plan of Salvation Before I Came to Earth

Opening Song: “I Lived in Heaven” (CS, page 4)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony: 2 Nephi 2:27

Lesson: Ask the children to listen as you sing or read the words to the first verse of “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, p. 4) so they will know the answers to some important questions that you will ask them.
“I lived in heaven a long time ago, it is true; Lived there and loved there with people I know. So did you. Then Heav’nly Father presented a beautiful plan, All about earth and eternal salvation for man.”
· Where did we live a long time ago? (In heaven; see D&C 93:29, first sentence; Abraham 3:22–23.) “Long before this world was created, all of the spirits of the men and women who were assigned to this earth lived in a spiritual existence” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], p. 30).
· Who lived there with us?
· What was Heavenly Father’s plan for us? Explain that Heavenly Father wanted us to be able to receive a physical body, to learn to choose between right and wrong, and have the opportunity to become like him.
Explain that our life on earth is like a school. We are here to learn and be tested. If we make right choices, we will pass the tests and be able to return to Heavenly Father. Read and discuss the following quotation: “My brothers and sisters, we’re away from home. We’re off to school. Our lessons will not be easy. The way we react to them, the way we conquer and accomplish and live will determine our rewards, and they will be permanent and eternal” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 28).

Activity: Review the stages of our lives in the plan of salvation with the children. Make word strips of the various parts of the plan. Place the word strips around the room. Have children locate a word strip or figure, then stand in the correct order. Use simple costumes to have additional children represent a mother, father, and grandparent. Place this family in front of the Earth Life sign. Choose another child to stand in front of the Pre-mortal Life sign. Sing “I Lived in Heaven” (p. 4). Discuss the blessings of coming to an earthly family. Have the child move from Pre-mortal Life to the family in front of Earth Life. Have the mother place a baby blanket around the child to show the love that a family provides. Sing “A Happy Family” (p. 198). Explain that part of the plan is to leave earth life. Move the grandparent from Earth Life to Spirit World and talk of the sadness the family feels because the grandparent is no longer with them, but of the peace they feel in knowing that his or her spirit lives on. Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188). Discuss the role the Savior plays in the plan of salvation. Have a child hold a picture of Jesus Christ in front of the Resurrection sign. Sing an Easter song. Discuss how each child can qualify for the celestial kingdom as he or she chooses the right.