Sabbath Day FHE Lesson

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com

Sabbath Day Lesson by Sandi Guengrich (from a FHE lesson exchange), Digitized by Lara Goold

Materials needed: scriptures, ice cream sundae ingredients (for refreshments that relate to lesson)

Purpose: To make our Sabbath Day more holy by doing the things Heavenly Father and our Savior would want us

to do.

Scripture: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; But the

seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work…For in six days the Lord

made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord

blessed that Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

Opening song(s): “Remember the Sabbath Day,” Children‟s Songbook, page 155 (this song may also be sung to

the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”).

“Saturday,” Children‟s Songbook, page 196

Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Sunday Sundaes: Display the Sunday Sundae visuals on a magnetic board (or flannel board).

First discuss why the bowl of plain ice cream is not a sundae (because it has nothing on it). Then

discuss the other items and why or why not you would want to put them on your sundae. Point

out that the items you do not put on the sundae are items that you may really like to eat, but that

they just wouldn‟t be good on a sundae.

Sundaes are like day-of-the-week Sundays. Like plain ice cream, they are not really Sundays if

we choose to do nothing (sleep all day, be lazy all day). There are many things we want to do on

our Sundays and many things that we do not. Discuss activities both for Sunday and not for

Sunday. Emphasize that there are many good activities that are great for the other days of the

week, but do not “taste good” on Sunday. If desired, make your own list of activities that would not

“taste good” on a Sunday and another list that would be good (use the 101+ Sabbath ideas on pg. 8 for

inspiration)

Lesson: ―A Day for Jesus‖—Point out that our Sunday activities should be things that make our Sabbath

day more of a day for Jesus. Read the story, “A Day for Jesus,” with visuals. Discuss the good

feelings and strong relationship with our Savior that come from choosing good Sunday activities.

Read Scriptures and Discuss: Have a family member read the scriptures in Matthew

12:10-13 and Luke 6:6-10 about Jesus healing on the Sabbath. Discuss reasons the Savior taught

that His healing was an appropriate Sabbath activity. Discuss how there are some services which

may be considered work which should sometimes be done on the Sabbath. Point out jobs which

people must do, even on the Sabbath (doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, etc.) I point

out to my kids that one of them was born on Sunday and how grateful we were for the doctors

and nurses that took care of us that day. Point out that even though it is necessary sometimes to

do certain work/services on the Sabbath, our focus should be on seeking to find ways to keep the

Sabbath holy, not seeking for excuses to do activities we really should not.


“True Sabbath Day Choice” Story: Use the visuals to tell about a True Sabbath Day Choice a

child made. Talk about how this person made a hard choice and went the extra mile to keep the

Sabbath day holier. Talk about how the Lord blesses us when we keep the Sabbath day holy.

Enrichment Activities: (pick one or more of the following activities that suits the ages and needs of your family and add

it as a part of your FHE night or do it during the week)

Make a Sabbath ―Can Do‖ Box—Fill it with Sabbath appropriate activities and keep it put

away the rest of the week, so they have something fun and different to look forward to on

Sundays. See page #8 for specific ideas of what to include.

101+ Sabbath Ideas (starting on page #8)—as a family, go through the list of 101+ ideas for

appropriate things to do on the Sabbath. Have each child pick 1 or 2 ideas they would like to do

over the next month and then do them. Each month pick new ideas. Feel free to make up your

own ideas to add to the list.

Mark your calendar—give young children a calendar and have them color in each Sabbath day

with a red crayon (and stickers, if desired). Continue your discussion of things to do that will

“taste good” on a Sunday.

Preparation Collage—gather magazines and newspapers (or draw your own pictures) and make a

collage of the things that you can do to be prepared for the Sabbath day. (going grocery

shopping, washing & ironing clothes, cleaning the house, getting out your shoes, scriptures, etc.

so you won‟t have to search for them on Sunday, etc.) Hang up the collage where it can remind

you to be prepared.

Closing song(s): “I Always Have a Happy Feeling When I Go to Church”, Children‟s Songbook, page 157

“Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning,” Hymns #280

Closing Prayer:

Ice Cream in a Bag (plus sundae toppings) from http://recipeshoebox.blogspot.com

1 cup half and half

2 Tbs. sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

ice

rock salt

quart size ziploc bags

gallon size ziploc bags

desired toppings (chocolate syrup, sprinkles, candies, etc)

Pour half and half, sugar, and vanilla into quart size ziploc bag. Seal. Meanwhile place 4-6 cups ice and 1/2 cup rock salt into the gallon size bag.

Place sealed half and half mixture into the bag filled with ice and salt. Seal.

Toss, knead, wiggle, and whatever else you can think to keep the bags in motion for about 5 minutes (they used hot pad holders to keep their fingers

from getting too frosty). Half and half mixture will thicken into ice cream consistency after about five minutes. Remove from bag, add desired

toppings, and serve immediately. Enjoy!


Sunday Sundaes—print and cut these visuals for use with the Sunday Sundaes activity


A Day for Jesus— by Joy Rodriguez, Friend, July 2001

(Picture #1) Mom has always told me that Sundays are special days. They did not seem special to me, though. I

didn‟t get to play with my friends or have fun at the park. I thought Sundays were boring. Mom said that Jesus

asked us to give Him just one day of the week for His very own. She said that there were many things that I

could do to give Jesus His one day.

(Picture #2) One Sunday when I was feeling especially restless, I decided I would try to give Jesus more of the

day. I remembered that Grandma and Grandpa wanted me to send them a letter, so I sat down and colored a

picture of Jesus for them. I put it in an envelope and got it all ready to mail. It made me feel good inside to think

about how happy Grandma and Grandpa would be when they got my picture.

(Picture #3) The next Sunday when I found myself with nothing to do, I decided to give Jesus more of that day,

too. I looked at my Friend magazines and found some pictures of Him that I liked. I showed them to my dad,

and he read me a story. It made me feel good inside to spend some quiet time like that with my dad.

(Picture #4) Each Sunday after that, I found things that I could do to give Jesus His one day. Every time I do

something special for His day, I feel good inside. Now I believe my mom. Sunday is a special day. It‟s true that

I don‟t play with my friends or have fun at the park. I have a different kind of fun—the kind you feel inside

your heart when you‟ve given Jesus the one day of the week that He‟s asked for: the Sabbath Day.


A Day for Jesus—print and cut these visuals for use with, “A Day for Jesus story”.

#1 #2

#3

#4


True Sabbath Day Choice—print, cut, and mount these “puppets” onto popsicle sticks to use for relating the True

Sabbath Day Choice story on the next page

Jenelle

bringing

Michelle

a gift

another

day

Michelle and Jenelle

together

Mom & Dad talking with

Jenelle

Swimming party


True Sabbath Day Choice –based on a true experience related by Jane McBride Choate in the August 2001 Friend

(show swimming pool) Michelle‟s parents had planned a swimming party to celebrate her eleventh birthday.

Michelle had already invited Jenelle, but Jenelle had told Michelle that she‟d have to let her know. Jenelle knew that she

wouldn‟t be going to the party, but she didn‟t want to say that in front of the other girls.

(show 2 girls together) The two girls had been friends since they were six years old. But after Jenelle‟s family had become

members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nine months ago, things had changed between them. Jenelle wanted

Michelle to understand that becoming a Latter-day Saint didn‟t change what Jenelle felt for her friend, but Michelle was having

a hard time accepting that.

After school, Jenelle trudged home more discouraged than ever because Michelle had announced that everyone else she‟d

invited to her party would come. At least Mom will be home, Jenelle thought. She’ll know what I can do. I always feel better

after talking things over with her.

(show mom, dad, and Jenelle talking) At home, she quickly found her mother in the kitchen. “What am I going to do?” she

asked once she‟d told her mother the whole story.

Mom put her arm around Jenelle‟s shoulders. “You have to decide what‟s more important to you—going to your friend‟s party

or obeying the commandments.”

Jenelle sighed. She knew what she should do. That didn‟t make it any easier, though. She didn‟t want to hurt her friend‟s

feelings. And more than anything, she wanted to go to the party. Almost more than anything, she thought. She couldn‟t break

one of the commandments, especially when the prophet had spoken about the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day holy in a

general conference talk.

She knew what she had to do. After school the next day, she hurried home and wrapped the present she‟d made for Michelle,

then walked to her friend‟s house.

(show Jenelle with gift and balloons) “I made you something special for your birthday. I‟m sorry I can‟t come to your

birthday party. It‟s because it‟s on a Sunday.”

Michelle tore open the paper and held up a birdhouse. “This is great! You made this all by yourself?”

Jenelle nodded. “At Primary activity day.” She told Michelle about Primary and the activity days for girls her age.

“So what‟s the big deal about your going swimming on Sunday?” Michelle asked “We‟ll be going in the afternoon, after your

church lets out.”

“The prophet said that we need to keep the Sabbath Day holy.”

When Michelle asked what that meant, I told her that it means that we don‟t shop on Sunday or go swimming or to ball

games—stuff like that.

When she asked what we did do, I told her that we go to church, spend time with our families, listen to music. Read the

scriptures and sometimes my mom and dad take a nap!

Michelle asked who this prophet was, why I had to do what he says, and why he was so special. I said, “He teaches us things

Heavenly Father wants us to know.” When Michelle asked if that means he talks with God, I firmly answered YES! Michelle

asked if I have to do everything he says, and I explained that we don‟t have to, we CHOOSE to. Michelle asked if I could come

to her party next year if it were on Saturday, and I hugged her as I smiled and told her I was already counting the days.


Our Sabbath “Can-Do” Box

Stacilee Whiting, “Our Sabbath „Can-Do‟ Box,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 70

Our family has a “can-do” box that‟s brimming with appropriate activities for Sabbath worship. Over time,

we‟ve added or rotated many things, but we started with just a few dress-up items. It all began when we saw a

Sunday dress-up box that one of our ward members had. The children absolutely loved it because they could

reenact scripture stories in costume. Simple props like a bathrobe; an old dress; a child‟s plastic sword, shield,

and armor; and many other inexpensive or recycled items are possibilities.

We also wanted to encourage letter writing, so we added a container of writing supplies. We included addressed

envelopes, stickers, and colored markers and pens. Even our youngest child loved sending letters to ward

missionaries and family members.

Of course, we had to have a variety of wholesome games, including word searches and crossword puzzles. We

even recycled leftover Primary lesson materials and old singing time props. The children were delighted to play

with these appealing teaching materials.

Be creative and customize your Sunday box with a variety of things. Church magazines, audiovisual materials,

wholesome books—there‟s so much to enjoy. If everyone in the family is invited to contribute something, your

“can-do” box will be filled with wonderful activities for a Sabbath day.

**************************************************************************************

101+ Sabbath Day Activities written by Jay and Victoria Gunther

1. Children and adults could read their Church magazines from cover to cover.

2. Prepare any future talks or lessons.

3. Use crock pot recipes to cut down on extra cooking.

4. Prepare Family Home Evening lessons for the next day.

5. Visit those you know who are in the hospital.

6. Attend temple classes.

7. Invite someone who may be unable to cook for themselves such as an elderly person or shut-in, to share dinner with your family, or take dinner to them.

8. Make a list of members who may need a ride to sacrament meetings. Invite them to ride with you.

9. Surprise someone in need with a visit.

10. Find a unique way to fellowship less active families.

11. Have family scripture study. Younger children may want to draw representational pictures beside their favorite scriptures. This

will enable them to find the same scripture and remember what it was about in the future.

12. Visit the temple grounds as a family or bring a non-member friend.

13. View the movies inside the Visitors Center or take a tour.


14. Give time to a nursing home or to others who may need help reading letters from loved ones or writing them.

15. Re-visit families on your Home and Visiting teaching routes who may need to be visited.

16. Utilize time together in the car or at dinner to discuss what each family member learned at Church that day.

17. Check out filmstrips from the library and view them.

18. Rest and reflect on what was taught in Church classes.

19. Listen to scripture tapes or view scripture videos.

20. Read material that is Church-oriented or uplifting.

21. Tape morning broadcasts of BYU devotionals and play them back during the day and throughout the week.

22. Read children's scripture story books to them. Visit the ward library and find out what is available to check out.

23. Pair children up in separate rooms together with games or books, etc. This allows each child time to build a one-on-one relationship with each of his/her brothers and sisters. Partners are rotated each Sunday.

24. While children are spending special time together, Mom and Dad can spend time alone together and perhaps fix an unusual or creative breakfast for the children.

25. Label and catalogue the family picture journal (photos, slides or videotapes of family.)

26. Have a simple and short music lesson. Familiarize children with music symbols and words. Teach them how to lead music.

27. Prepare stories about your children to tell them.

28. Tell children stories of when you were their age.

29. Have grandma or grandpa tell stories about themselves or the lives of other relatives.

30. Record these personal profiles for Book of Remembrance or journals.

31. Decorate special jars for tithing and mission funds.

32. Take a walk as a family. Discuss the blessing Heavenly Father has given us through nature.

33. Invite married family members home for a visit or go visit them.

34. Decorate a Sunday "Things to Do" box and fill it with ideas. Draw one out each Sunday to do.

35. Plan and rehearse a family musical recital.

36. Perform the recital at a nursing home or children's hospital.

37. Make shadow portraits or silhouettes of family members or of the prophets. Include them in scrap books or use to decorate

cards.

38. Tape a special program for a missionary or loved one far away. Include talks, stories and songs.

39. Make phone calls or write letters to those special friends and loved ones to let them know you're thinking of them.

40. Prepare home or visiting messages for the month.

41. Set goals or begin a "Pursuit of Excellence" program. Chart your success each Sunday.


42. Compose an original song expressing a lovely thought or deed. Encourage children to express themselves also.

43. Develop greater love and appreciation for music by listening to great works.

44. As a family, invent a design, crest, emblem or logo to display on a family banner. When it is complete, unfurl it during family home evenings or other special family occasions.

45. Practice a skill such as knitting, etc. Make a gift for a friend.

46. "Adopt" a friend. Select someone special.

47. Have a "Hands Across the Water" day. Let return missionaries in the ward help you select a country. Help family members to become familiar with the customs of LDS around the world.

48. Customize copies of the Book of Mormon for the missionaries to give out by marking important scriptures and adding your

personal testimony.

49. Produce a puppet show depicting a historical Church event.

50. Dramatize events from the Bible and Book of Mormon with family members. Be sure to dress for your parts.

51. Form a rhythm band to help younger children learn the music to hymns and Primary songs.

52. Construct an "I'm Grateful For..." mobile to hang in children's rooms.

53. Take turns role playing and acting out stories.

54. Make a set of paper dolls representing the members of your family. Use them in flannel board stories or at Family Home Evening to demonstrate proper reverence, behavior at Church, manners and attitudes.

55. Make gifts such as sachets from cloves, oranges and ribbon to give away to "adopted friends."

56. Have each family member make a personal scrap book. Include pictures, important letters, certificates, school and Primary papers.

57. Make some kind of book. Write a story inside with a good moral. Illustrate it and then make a tape recording, complete with

sound effects and music. Younger children may then look and listen to the book themselves.

58. Make a tape or letter. Have children set goals for the year and share feelings or testimonies. Save the tapes and letters for a year and then listen and/or read them.

59. Compose some poetry or write a story.

60. Write letters, thank-you cards, get-well and thinking-of-you notes.

61. Make family progress charts, achievement cards and award certificates.

62. Use salt dough or clay or construct a nativity scene, Liahona, or other Church artifact. Use your imagination.

63. Learn the missionary discussions (you never know when you may need them).

64. Make puzzles from pictures in old Church publications.

65. Clip and file favorite articles from Church publications for future reference.

66. Expand your collection of visual aids for lessons and talks by removing pictures from old Church magazines and mounting them.

67. Make personalized, handmade cards for birthdays, I love you, thinking-of-you or get-well cards.


68. Remember birthdays for the upcoming week of ward members, Church leaders, relatives, etc. Mark them on a calendar as a

reminder to call or mail a personalized card.

69. Make a scroll story with butcher paper and two sticks.

70. Plan a family service project. Ask your bishop for ideas.

71. Invent a Church-related game or play one you may already have.

72. Study religious history.

73. Make dot-to-dot pictures of objects like the golden plates or the start of Bethlehem to keep little ones quietly entertained.

74. Memorize scriptures, hymns, stories , or poems.

75. Read a good play as a family. Have each member assume one or more parts.

76. Have each member of the family take turns reporting on a General Authority, prophet, bishop or other Church leader. Tell stories

and display or draw pictures.

77. Have a story swap. Each member of the family must have a story of courage or valor to swap about a relative, Church leader or famous person.

78. Listen to tapes of conference or talks of the General Authorities.

79. Practice playing or singing hymns.

80. Look at books containing great works of art with children. Discuss each painting with them.

81. Set missionary goals whether they are full-time, stake or personal.

82. Invite a family in the ward you would like to know better to your home for a family fireside.

83. Set genealogy goals.

84. Have personal family interviews.

85. Write a family song or cheer.

86. Write a family newsletter to send to friends and relatives.

87. Write a giant letter to the missionaries from your ward. Each person writes his letter on the same large piece of butcher paper.

88. Plan family outings, picnics, camp outs, vacations, and holidays.

89. Make a picture book for each family member. Include pictures of themselves at different ages, other family members, and special

events.

90. Take a few minutes to plan next Sunday's activities. Decide what must be done during the week to prepare for it.

91. Plan a family D.I. drive day where the family cleans the house and garage in search of items to donate.

92. Tape Church meetings for members who usually are unable to attend.

93. Practice reverence with children by sitting quietly for a short period of time. Listen to quiet music or conference tapes.

94. Play this game or make up a variation. Cut the Articles of Faith and several scriptures which have been memorized by players

into words. Mount the cut words on cards. Deal six cards to each player and put the rest into a draw pile. Take turns starting a scripture or Article of Faith. As each player takes his turn, add an appropriate card from your hand to your own and the other


players' sentences. If you do not have a card that can be played, discard one card to the bottom of the draw pile and take a new

one. If drawn card is still inappropriate, pass. Winner is the fist one to use all the cards in his or her hand.

95. Play the Scripture Hunt game. Each player takes a different page of scriptures. After reading that page, each player then writes a

one sentence question, the answer to which is found somewhere on the page. At the signal, swap pages and questions. The first player to locate the correct answer to his question is the winner.

96. Play Hang Man, or Word Scramble on chalk boards. Use Church-related words.

97. Learn some new finger plays with the children.

98. Have a memory jolt (quiz) contest. See what is remembered from last Sunday.

99. Make your own filmstrip stories. Dip an old filmstrip in bleach for a few minutes. When the emulsion is loose, rinse the film under running water (do not touch the bleach). Wipe dry and then add your own pictures with permanent colors.

100. Select a talent you would like to develop. Set some goals to help you achieve the talent and then work toward developing it.

101. Each Sunday, feature a different family member in a "Why I Love You" spotlight. Display a picture and a hobby or craft of that person in a prominent place for a week. Write a brief history of the member and list all of their qualities and strengths.

102. To encourage family to know who the current prophets and apostles are, photocopy their pictures from the center of the

conference issue of the Ensign. Make enough copies for half the members of your family. Play a simple game by putting a small treat (M&M, small marshmallow or nut, etc.) on each individual's picture. Divide into partners. One partner decides which one of the

individuals pictured is going to be "it", and either writes I down, or tells mom or dad. The other partner tries to not name who was picked. He will call each apostle or member of the First Presidency by name. ("Was it President Thomas S. Monson?") For every

person he names who was not the named, the other partner gets to eat all the remaining treats. (BTW, our children call this game "Don't Eat the Prophet.") :-)

103. Keep a notebook with a section for each child to use for interviews. At our house, an interview consists of us meeting one-on-

one with the children, and asking them, "Okay. What would you like to talk about? What would you like help with? What would you like to see done differently around here? What would you like to have happen in the next week or so? It there anything you want or

need that isn't being taken care of?" Take careful notes of what is discussed and follow through during the week. At the end of the interview, mom and dad might then have a request for the child such as, "it would mean a lot to me if you would work on (whatever)

during the week." Because they have had their concerns listened to, they are usually very willing to work on our concerns. Review the children¹s list with them during the next interview, so they can see that you did what they asked where you could.

104. Study the General Conference addresses as a family, so that everyone knows what counsel our living prophets are currently

giving us. Determine what you are going to do in your home as a family to implement their counsel.

105. Appoint yourselves to the unofficial Ward Welcoming Committee. When a new family comes to church, show up at their house

later that day with a plate of cookies and note saying who you are, prepared in advance. Make it a point to check with the quorum

and Relief Society secretaries to find out the names and addresses of new people in the ward. Sometimes just one person or family

can make all the difference between people feeling unwelcome, and having them feel, "Gosh! This ward is so friendly!" Be that one

person or family.

106. Have an object lesson contest in your family. Pick one or two items around the house-any simple tool or item-and have

everyone come up with a story about how that item can illustrate a gospel principle. Leslie North

107. One of the things we have tried is that my mother gave us a scripture to memorize and a topic. With that topic we had to write a short 5 min talk. We could use the scripture that we had memorized, (it was usually related.) The older kids would help the

younger kids. Then after a set amount of time, we would al give our talks to each other. Mom has kept these talks in a binder for our use if we ever had to give talks in church. It was neat to see how much we could learn about a certain topic, and it is neat to watch

the younger kids grasp on to the gospel, and be able to memorize scriptures and testify of their truthfulness. Heidi Scott

108. We hold our lesson for Family Home Evening on Sundays. Then on Monday, we plan a fun activity or a "field trip", like going to the library, the park, etc. These are things and /or places we wouldn¹t go to or do on Sunday. This has worked wonders in our home

for having regular Family Home Evening. Brent Gadberry

109. Bake cookies for an elderly couple or a less active family in your ward. Leave them on a pretty plate on their doorstep, ring the

doorbell and run. Christian Larson

Documents

Sabbath Day FHE Lesson