My family can follow Jesus Christ in faith by holding family prayer, family scripture study, and family home evening
by Melanie Day
 

To emphasize the blessings of being in families, play a game, the object of which is to find other members of one’s “Primary family.” On slips of paper, write a family name such as “Jones” or “Smith” for each child. Create as many families as you need for the size of your Primary. For younger children, give family names that are also colors, such as “Green” or “Brown” and write the names in that color or on paper of that color.
 

Explain that families pass on some family traits through genetics and traditions. Discuss family traits such as height and hair color. On the chalkboard, list some family traits for each Primary family you have created. For example, the Joneses tug at their right ears; the Smiths all cross their legs at the ankles; the Greens smile with their left eyes closed; the Browns scratch their elbows.
 

Pass the slips to the children and have them find the other members of their Primary families without talking or seeing anyone else’s slip—by observation only. Have the classes sit in a circle to observe each other while singing songs about families. During the songs, the children should exhibit their Primary family’s traits.
 

Discuss how it felt to be a part of the Primary family. What are the blessings of being in a family?  Picture a house. Are you imagining a building with windows and a door? A house is where families eat, sleep, and live. A house becomes a home when family members learn together, help each other, and do fun things.

Sing - We Are A Happy Family
 

Many years ago a fire destroyed a family’s house. A neighbor tried to comfort the family’s seven-year-old boy by saying, “Johnny, it’s too bad your home burned down.” Johnny thought for a moment and said, “Oh, that was not our home; that was just our house. We still have our home; we just don’t have any place to put it right now.” Johnny knew that the fire had not destroyed his family and their kind feelings for one another.
 

What are you doing to make your house a home? You invite the Spirit into your home when you show love and care for family members. You can make a difference in your family and in your home as you live the teachings of the gospel.   Our families have been instructed to do some things that will bless our homes and family...if we do them.  Can anyone guess what some of those things might be??   After the children have given some answers, tell them, "We're going to see if any of the things you mentioned are behind these pictures (see following activity)."
 

Activity -  You will need to print this Word document for this activity.  Number the backs of the pictures 1 through 14. Post the pictures on the board or the floor with the numbered sides showing. Use the Topics section of the Children’s Songbook (pp. 306–312) to choose songs to go along with the picture topics.  Have a child turn over two of the pictures to try to find a match. If they don’t match, another child takes a turn. If the pictures match, sing a song that goes with the picture’s theme. Children could be given the opportunity to lead the song or to think of hand actions to go with it.

Handout Idea - Taken from the June 2004 Friend, "Making your house a home."  Have the children cut out the flowers.  Have them write their family’s name on the nameplate on the house. When they have family scripture study, family prayer or family home evening, glue a flower on the house. As you add flowers, your house will become a home. Place it where it will remind you to make your own house a home!
 

Summary - Express gratitude for the many families we all belong to: our immediate family, the ward family, the national family, and Heavenly Father’s family.  Let them know that Heavenly Father will bless us as we are obedient and hold family prayer, family scripture study and family home evening.  If it is something you aren't currently doing, ask your parents if you can start and be willing to help and participate.  Share your testimony of the importance of family.