Come, Follow Me Printable Activity Sheet for Exodus 1-6 {March 29th}

   These original activity sheets that align with the Come, Follow Me lessons each week are totally free and easy to print from a Google Doc file.   They're designed to print double-sided 2-to-a-page and are perfect for introducing or reviewing the concepts from the Come, Follow Me lesson.  Our home ward hands them out along with the sacrament programs on Sundays, others use them in their family or Sunday School lessons.  I hope they add an element of fun to your gospel learning and help to engage even the most reluctant learners.  Make sure to come back each week for the latest!   

This activity sheet is based on the CFM lesson for March 29th and contains a coloring sheet, word search puzzle, and fill-in-the-blank scripture.   {These pages are 100% free and  totally original}

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I HAVE REMEMBERED MY COVENANT


TALKS TO REVIEW:  
"Reverence for Sacred Things"  by Elder Soares
"Be Still, And Know that I Am God" by Elder Bednar

Reverence FHE Lesson with visuals and stories

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Click here to access the printable activity sheet on Google Drive.  




Have fun learning the gospel together!  

NEW TESTAMENT Come Follow Me Teaching Resources and Ideas for November 6-12 {Hebrews 7-13}

 This blogpost features some  resources and ideas to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for November 6-12, 2023.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks.

PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET:   

These 1/2 page activity sheets are designed to be printed double-sided and cut in half.  They're geared for ages 8-14, but littler kids love the coloring pages and older kids/kids at heart often enjoy the activities.  They're perfect to use as attention getters or as reviews in your classes or families.  Our ward hands them out along with the sacrament program each week.

GAME:  FAITH CHARADES AND RELATING IT TO OUR LIVES 

Have some strips of paper prepared with names  of several well known people who acted in faith.  Make sure they are names  that your class will be familiar with.  Some examples could include, Moses, Noah, Joseph Smith, your Mom, President Nelson, Nephi, your Bishop, Moroni, Mary, Alma, King Benjamin, David, etc.

Start off the lesson talking about what faith is (Hebrews 11:1) and the people of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 ( Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob Joseph, Moses, etc). 

Introduce the game and tell them that you're going to talk a little bit more about some people of faith...some mentioned in Hebrews, some not.   Have the kids take turns picking a name and acting it out while the others try to guess who it is.   Give a little recap after each person is guessed on how that person acted in faith.  THEN ask what we can learn about faith in our modern day from that person.   This is the most important part of the lesson, so don't skip over this.  

What are some modern lessons we can learn from these people of faith?    

Noah:  live your life in a way that you can hear the warnings from God.  That might be a prompting to stop doing something or to start doing something you've been neglecting.  

Joseph Smith:  Make sure you're seeking truth in the right places.   There is a lot of false/misleading information out in the world (especially on the internet) and you want to make sure that you're looking for truth in places where God can inspire you.  

Moroni:   Don't be afraid to stand up for truth and righteousness, even when the world around you seems to be confused.   There are things that matter (our families, our testimonies, our faith, our covenants) and there are things that distract from the things that matter.  Those distractions are not necessarily bad things, though they can be, but anything that keeps us from doing what's right. 

David:   Sometimes the problems ahead of us look big and scary, but trust in God and He will help you through them.  

Mary:  Just because we aren't considered important in the eyes of the world, doesn't mean we don't have a great work to do.  Humble yourself and live so that God can help you reach your full potential. 

Moses:  We all have weaknesses. Don't let those weaknesses discourage you or get in the way of doing the right thing.

Plus a million more.  What did you come up with?  

QUOTES:   

"It matters not where we live or what our individual circumstances may be. Each day our righteous living can demonstrate a faith in Jesus Christ that sees beyond mortal heartaches, disappointments, and unfulfilled promises. It is a glorious thing to possess a faith that enables us to look forward to that day “when all that was promised the Saints will be given.”  "Seeing the Promises Afar Off," Anne Pingree, October 2003

"My declaration is that this is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need. There is help. There is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the “light that is endless, that can never be darkened.”3 It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo’s reach, we say, “What light through yonder window breaks?” It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun.4 To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His “more excellent ministry” with a future of “better promises.” He is your “high priest of good things to come.”" "An High Priest of Good Things to Come," Jeffrey R. Holland, October 1999

"When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, which President Thomas S. Monson just taught us, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”9 And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!" "Joy and Spiritual Survival," Russell M. Nelson, October 2016

VIDEOS: 

Hebrews 11:  Substance of Faith:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbGhD-FcCS8

Latter-day Kids:  Faith is the Evidence of Things Not Seen  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT5Pmj-0oqo

ENJOY LEARNING THE GOSPEL TOGETHER!!!

"Just Mercy" and "The Sun Does Shine" REVIEWS

I read "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" a couple months ago and can't get it out of my head.  The author, Bryan Stevenson, is a Harvard educated attorney who has dedicated his life and career to helping poor {mostly black} men on death row get the justice they deserve.   It really is a real-life version of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the parallels between the two stories that the author points out make for thought-provoking irony.

 It's one of those books that opens your eyes and makes you realize that there is still much wrong with the justice system in America.  I was stunned when I realized that everything he wrote about, happened in my lifetime.   I think I had this naive notion that people getting falsely accused for crimes they didn't commit was the very occasional exception.  I had never really thought about how much politics and pressure from the public plays a role in making arrests, often with little to no supporting evidence. 

Once you read this book, you  may want to continue on and read, "The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life, Freedom, and Justice,"  a memoir written by one of Bryan Stevenson's clients--a remarkable man who served 30 years on death row there was almost zero evidence for him committing.   Both books will leave you uneasy and wondering how many innocent people have perished without someone like Bryan Stevenson standing up for them.    Then you will wonder what needs to be done to help fix this broken system.

“Sometimes we’re fractured by the choices we make; sometimes we’re shattered by things we would never have chosen. But our brokenness is also the source of our common humanity, the basis for our shared search for comfort, meaning, and healing. Our shared vulnerability and imperfection nurtures and sustains our capacity for compassion.”

  Bryan Stevenson

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Come Follow Me Word Search and Coloring Page for James (11/27/19)

Here is the Come, Follow Me activity page for this week--complete with a coloring page and original word search!     They make for great review/quiet activities for kids and teens.  I use them with my family, in classes that I teach, and as a quiet activity to be handed out with the Sunday program.


I love these chapters and found lots of nuggets I want to discuss and study further.     I especially love the promise in James 4:8, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..."  I feel like ultimately that's really one of the main goals of this life--finding time in amongst the busyness of daily living to draw nigh to God.  And it's one of the biggest challenges I face and I'm realizing that there's no way to do it without a very deliberate slowing down and stepping back on my part to allow myself to invite and to feel His presence. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

"Come Follow Me" coloring page and word search for 2 Corithians 8-13

These pages are great for printing off and using as a Come, Follow Me review for the week.  Or as a quiet sacrament meeting activity.   Hope your families are enjoying these! 

Activity and Review Sheet for "Come, Follow Me" --1 Corinthians 8-13

Everyone raise their hand if you love word searches!   I keep hearing they're a favorite, so I make sure to throw one in a couple times a month.  There were even a few adults in my old ward that would pick these up when they saw the word search on it.  Sadly, I'm not very good at them, so I'm always last to find all the words in my family (and I'm the one who makes them....haha!).   

I love reading about charity.   I don't consider it a strength of mine yet, but I do feel like it's something I yearn to be better at and reading about it inspires me to do better.  I also love 1 Corinthians 10:13 and the feeling of hope I get when I read it. 

I hope you have a wonderful week. 

Activity and Review Sheet for "Come, Follow Me" --1 Corinthians 1-7

This week is a big week for our family--we are heading to Utah in a couple of days to drop Emma off at BYU and send my parents off on a mission to Paris!  I'm trying really hard not to think too hard about coming home to one fewer person in our house.  

This week's Come, Follow Me reading was filled with beautiful reminders that our bodies are a temple.  I think it's all too easy to forget what a gift our bodies are and that the Lord has set an excellent precedent for how to care for such an important gift.   I am inspired to do better and hope to help my kids develop an appreciation for what a gift their bodies are.  

Hugs to you!   Have a wonderful week!

Christmas Picture Book Review

 We have a family tradition of reading a Christmas book together every night in December.  It's taken me  17-years of parenting to collect enough books to read a different one for each of the 24 nights leading up to Christmas Eve and yet I'm still always on the look-out for new ones!  I consider it our advent calendar of sorts (without an actual calendar).  I've gone through our pile and picked the ones that I feel have the best messages, either because of the character traits it reinforces or because it helps us to remember Christ.  Here is a review of those books (in no particular order).  I'd love to hear what some of your favorite Christmas books are.  

Christmas Oranges--Little orphan children who have nothing band together to share their beloved Christmas oranges with a fellow orphan who has had theirs taken away as punishment.  The artwork is beautiful and the message profound and my kids love it.  It's a classic among Christmas stories and we love to give it as a gift at Christmas time, along with some oranges (or chocolate oranges).

A Christmas Dress For Ellen--Written by Thomas S. Monson, this book is about a very poor family who has recently moved to an isolated farm in Canada.  Their crops have failed them and they face a destitute Christmas lacking in the very basics in life, yet alone anything exciting for the children.  The oldest child, Ellen, is cynical and discouraged.   In a moment of desperation, the mother writes a note to her sister telling of their dire circumstances.  The sister rallies her community together and they tie quilts, sew clothes, and collect money to send to the family.  It arrives to the post office late on Christmas Eve and though the postmaster wants to go home and spend the holiday with his family, he drives the boxes through a raging snowstorm to their isolated home.    The joy that it brings to the destitute family, and Ellen in particular is heartwarming and the way the community rallied together to help someone they didn't even know, reminded me of the countless of selfless people who have rushed to the aid of those affected by Hurricane Sandy. 

The Tale of Three Trees--the touching tale of three trees' dreams to grow up to greatness--one to be a mighty ship, another to hold great treasure, and the other to stay tall and strong and point towards God.  Over time, the one that wanted to hold great treasure was disappointed to be made into a feedbox for animals, but then one day a baby is laid there and it knows that it has held the greatest treasure in the world.  The tree that was to be a mighty ship was made into a humble fishing boat who witnessed Jesus calming the stormy sea and he knows that he has carried the mightiest king of all.   Lastly, the tree that wanted to stay tall and strong is made into a cross and it knows that it will always point to God. 

The Crippled Lamb--Josh, a little lamb with a bad leg, always feels left out.  Abigail is a kind-hearted cow who has befriended Josh and reassures him that God has a special place for those that feel left out.  When the shepherds take the rest of the sheep to a faraway meadow and leave Josh behind, he is especially sad.  Then later that night he was awakened by the sounds of a tiny baby that was there in the stable with him.  It is the baby Jesus and Josh quickly goes to His side to help keep Him warm.   Josh is comforted and knows that this opportunity to welcome the Savior of the world was a special gift to him.

I Believe in Santa Claus--The words are simple, the artwork beautiful, but the way this book ties the secular with the religious is moving and powerful.  The first part of the book goes through listing (with beautiful pictures) simple facts about Santa Claus, then later in the book relates the characteristics of Santa Claus with characteristics of our Savior, Jesus Christ.   We love this book, but I'm sad to say that it's out of print.  I highly recommend searching for a used copy. 

The First Night--a very short book (perfect for toddlers or preschoolers) recapping the first Christmas night.  Artwork and text are simple, but lovely.  (Note:  The book on Amazon looks different from my version, but I confirmed that it's the same author and illustrator)


The Nativity: Six Glorious Pop-Up Scenes--simple and beautiful, this pop-up book was one of the first Christmas books we ever owned.  Although some of the pieces don't work anymore, this is still one of the kids' favorite books. 

Legend of the Candy Cane--this one is a favorite of ours (can you tell from the well worn cover?) It goes through the story of a candy store owner introducing a town to candy canes, then teaching them the symbolic meaning in the shape and color and how they are meant to help people remember Christ's atonement.    We love to give this book, with some candy canes, as a gift to friends.

The Gift of the Magi--this classic tale of a husband and wife who sell their most beloved possessions for the other's Christmas present is beautifully retold in this picture book version.  The language is a little lofty (even I had to look up a few words) and it's a little on the long side for reading in one sitting, but still it's one of my kids' favorite Christmas books. 

Christmas Day in the Morning--this very sweet tale is of a teenage boy that for Christmas, despite their meager circumstances,  desperately wanted to give something meaningful to his father.  Though he didn't love getting up early in the morning to help on the farm, on Christmas morning he awakened before his father, so he could surprise him by milking the cows.  His father was touched and it ended up being a memorable experience for both of them.  It's very beautifully retold and I'm not doing it justice with my review. 



Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect--This story is about Small Pine who, while still a young tree, promised to be one of the most beautiful trees in the forest.  Then one cold night, a frightened animal comes to seek shelter in her branches.  At first she hesitates, not wanting to mar her perfectly spaced branches and needles, then finally her heart is touched and she lowers her branches and gives shelter to the animal.  Time after time, she provides shelter, rest,  and food for the winter weary animals.  This year when the Queen comes to choose her Christmas tree (the greatest honor for a tree of the forest),  she passes by all of the perfect trees who have closed their proud branches to the animals of the forest and she chooses droopy, uneven Small Pine, for the good queen had recognized the love of Christ expressed in her imperfect branches. 


Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey--This story is about a grumpy woodcarver who is commissioned by a widow and her young son to carve a nativity set. Through the story, the widow and son learn of the tragedies that have hardened the woodcarver's heart, but through patience, love, and innocent conversations with the child about how the nativity set should be, his heart is finally healed.  The story is a little long for one sitting, but it is a sweet love story interwoven with beautiful references to the gentleness and love of Jesus Christ.


Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle--This is a sweet story about a young girl who recognizes the loneliness of an elderly neighbor at Christmas time and finds a way to add some joy and love (and the family's Christmas Jar) into his life.


Legend of the Christmas Stocking--This story is of a young boy who works hard to help earn money for his family while his father is away, but with the small percentage he keeps for himself he saves up for a coveted model ship.  Just before Christmas and his father still hasn't returned, he sadly realizes that his family will not have much for Christmas unless he contributes the money he has been saving for the ship.  Still he is stubborn about keeping it for himself, until at church he learns of the legend of the Christmas stocking, which touches his heart and he decides to share the money with his family.  On Christmas morning his father returns and brings the model ship as a gift. 




Silent Night, Holy Night. --a moving story about soldiers in World War 2 who stopped fighting on Christmas night and even enjoyed in some Christmas camaraderie with their enemies, which culminated in them singing, "Silent Night" together in their own languages.  Someone read this aloud at our ward Christmas party and had a cellist join in with playing, "Silent Night" during the ending of the book. It was very cool. 


Room for a Little One--a very simple, short tale of an assortment of humble animals who are drawn to a stable for warmth, then get to welcome the Savior into the world.  Sweet story, lovely artwork. 



An Angel Came to Nazareth--this book is a pretty simple recounting of the first Christmas night in rhyming style, but I am in love with the gorgeous artwork in here.  Look at that detail. (Just noticed that it's out-of-print as well, but used copies are available at a reasonable price)


Berenstain Bears and The Joy of Giving--I bought this book to help remind my kids about being unselfish and thinking of others during Christmas, but it caught me off-guard when I discovered a much deeper religious element as well.  They use the familiar Berenstain Bear characters, Brother and Sister Bear, who learn through their participation in a Nativity reenactment what Christmas is really all about. 

Click here to see some of my other Christmas posts.

Don't forget to tell me some of your favorite books!