Pattern to Bless Our Families

Just in case you don't get the Daily Gems...

“First, we must love the Lord with all our hearts, and we must love our children. Second, we must become a worthy example to them by continually seeking the Lord and striving to live the gospel. Third, we must teach our children the gospel and how to live its teachings.”

Cheryl C. Lant

FHE ~ Captain Moroni

Opening Song: “My Flag, My Flag” Children’s Songbook, p. 225

Scripture: Alma 43:17

Lesson/Activity:
Ask your family if they can think of items we wear or display that reminds us of our beliefs. (CTR rings, Young Women Medallions, pictures of the temple, and so on.) Read with your family Alma 46: 11-13 and identify the symbol Moroni made to help remind the Nephites of their beliefs. Have them mark in their scriptures the six things Moroni caused to be written on the Title of Liberty. Why do you think he chose to remind the Nephites of those things?
• How did the Nephite people react to the Title of Liberty and why was it so effective?
• How did the people who followed Moroni feel about their cause compared to how the people of Amalickiah felt about their cause?
• Where did Moroni place the Title of Liberty, and what long-term effect did it have on the people?


Treat: Cinnamon Chocolate Pudding

1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cans (12 fl. oz. each) Evaporated Milk, (3 cups)
1 cup (6 oz.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted
COMBINE sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon in medium, heavy-duty saucepan; gradually stir in evaporated milk. Stir in morsels and egg yolks. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thickened.
POUR chocolate mixture into dessert cups. Chill for at least 1 hour; sprinkle with coconut

Southwestern Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa

My sister gave me a bunch of mangos and so I decided to try and put them to good use. This dish was amazing! It was so good. It calls for red peppers, but I just had green on hand, and it tasted great.

Southwestern Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa

1 env. Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp. chili powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 mangos, peeled, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red pepper (or green)
1/2 cup chopped green onions

Mix dressing mix, oil, lime juice, cilantro and chili powder until well blended. Pour 1/2 cup of the dressing mixture over chicken in resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Refrigerate 1 hour to marinate. Mix remaining dressing mixture, mangos, red peppers, and onions in medium bowl; cover. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Grill chicken until cooked through. Serve with mango mixture.

FHE ~ Hold to the Rod

Opening Song: "The Iron Rod” Hymn #274

Scripture:
1 Nephi 8:24 “And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

Lesson/Activity:
Needed:
Yarn or string; Small and large candle or flashlight; Small and large treats
Preparation:
Start the string in the main room and thread it around the house everywhere. Put under the table over desks everywhere. Set the small candle somewhere before the end. Put a few sweets with it and a person (or two) to act as a deceiver. The large candle goes at the end of the string with all the best of the treats. (The candles should only be able to be seen when you are near them.) Turn out all the other lights in the house.
The lesson:
Have everyone follow the string. Tell them there is a big treat at the end, if that can just hold on. Have one or more deceivers along the path try and draw them away. If they hold on, they get the biggest treats at the end.
Read 1 Nephi 8:24 and 1 Nephi 11:25.
-What does the iron rod represent?
-What blessing did we get when we held to the rod (string)?
-What blessing do we get when we follow the word of God?
Bare your testimony about how our lives are blessed when we follow the word of God.

Closing Song: “Do What is Right” Hymn #237

Treat: Easy Peanut Butter Pie
Graham Cracker Crust
1 Cup Peanut butter
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. Cool whip
Mix all ingredients together (except crust) Refrigerate and set.

FHE ~ Integrity

Opening Song: “Primary Colors,” Children’s Songbook, p. 258

Scripture: D&C 124:15

Lesson/Activity:
Materials needed: a coin and a disc the same size cut from cardboard Procedure: Show the coin. Explain that they all know what this is. It is a coin that is genuine and can be spent anywhere in the country. Show the piece of cardboard. Ask what makes it different from the coin. It is the same shape. It is about the same weight. We could take a coloring pencil and make it the same color. What is the difference? Yes, the coin was made in a mint, having authority, and the coin is so marked as the official coin of the realm and can so act.
Every day of our lives we fill with many acts. As we live our lives through, lets make sure we are genuine, and our acts are as they are intended to be.
Integrity is often described as having the moral courage to make our actions consistent with our knowledge of right and wrong. When we have this moral courage others will know they can depend on us to always be “genuine” like the real coin rather than the false one.


Treat: Easy White Mousse
3 bars (6-oz. box) Premier White Baking Bars, broken into pieces
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
MICROWAVE baking bars and 1/2 cup cream in uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The bars may retain some of their shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted; cool completely.
BEAT remaining cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract in small mixing bowl until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat).
FOLD melted baking bar mixture into whipped cream; refrigerate. Spoon into serving bowl or individual dishes.

What's Your Language?

I'm sure most of you have read, or at least heard of, the book "The 5 Love Languages." It is an awesome book. My husband and I read it together many years ago.

What I want to tell you today is how I think it is so easy to forget our spouse's love language. For instance, mine is "Quality Time" which means I feel most loved when my husband spends time with me (or other people; it doesn't have to just be with your significant other). It can be anything from going on a walk, going on a date, or just talking at home with no other distractions.

My husbands love language is "Acts of Service" which means he feels most loved when I go the extra mile like doing the dishes when its his turn, making him a late-night snack, etc.

Now, every day I want to show my husband how much I love him. But even deep down I know what I need to do (acts of service), it just comes naturally for me to speak my love language. And then I get confused when I tell him I went to spend quiet time with him and he doesn't even care about it!! It's because that doesn't say "love" to him.

So, I just want to say that if you don't already know what your spouse's love language is, find out today. (It would be a fun date to get the book, take the test, then read about your languages.) Then, remember, remember, remember to show your spouse love by speaking their language. Good luck!!

FHE ~ Attitude

Opening Song: “If You’re Happy” Children’s Songbook, p. 266.

Scripture: (Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Lesson/Activity:
Ask family members which of the following would be the most difficult for them to deal with:

1. Moving from your home because your parents lost their jobs.
2. Spending many weeks in a hospital because of illness.
3. Temporarily living in a shelter and relying on food storage because of a natural disaster.

Together, read 1 Nephi 16:13-21 and find out what challenges Lehi’s family faced. Ask why this would be a difficult challenge. How does it compare to the three examples above?

Ask your family to look again at verse 20 and tell how most of the group, including Lehi, reacted to the lack of food. Murmuring may be a common reaction to hardship and hunger, but did complaining help solve their problem? Compare the complaining of this group with what Nephi did in verses 22–30. How could Nephi’s non-complaining and productive example help us in our difficult situations?

Closing Song: “Count Your Blessings” Hymn #241


Treat: Mud Pie

½ Gallon, Chocolate Ice Cream, softened
1 pkg. Oreos, crushed
¼ cup butter, melted
Hot Fudge
Whipped Cream
Mix crushed oreos and melted butter together and press onto a greased 9x13” pan to form crust. Press softened ice cream onto crust. Freeze 1 hour. To serve, cut into pieces and drizzle hot fudge over it. Top with a dollop (or more) of whipped cream