Guide to the Friend

The Friend Index 2002 (see pages 44–IBC [in the original magazine]) can help you find stories or articles for preparing lessons or talks for church or for family home evening. Look for the FHE symbol on the [original magazine] pages mentioned in the Family Home Evening Ideas. The Primary theme for December is “When Jesus comes again, He will come to the temple.”

Family Home Evening Ideas

1. In the Childviews section (IFC), read “Best Friend,” a letter from Nicholas Colon. As a family, practice ways each of you can avoid making wrong choices yourselves and ways you can influence others to choose the right. Use specific situations you each face, and help one another with solutions.

2. Tell the incident in “Song for a Prophet” (pages 36–38). Practice singing some of your favorite Christmas carols. Then, as a family, spend an evening caroling someone in your ward or neighborhood who has served or helped you—your bishop, the Primary president, a teacher, a kind neighbor.

3. Elder Henry B. Eyring shares a family history memory in “Family Testimony” (page 7). During the week, ask family members to think of a story from the past or the present that makes them glad to be part of your family. Begin with Elder Eyring’s memory, then share your family’s stories. Express your love and gratitude to each other and to Heavenly Father.

4. Make a copy of the Christmas message from the First Presidency (pages 2–3). Share it and then mount it on a heavy piece of paper so that it can be displayed. Read the story “Love, Rachel” (pages 4–6) and think of a way you and your family can share and serve this month.

5. Give a copy of Journal Page (page 19) to each family member and ask each of them to fill it out during the week. Invite a family member to tell the story of the Savior’s birth. Using page 33 as a visual, talk about how you have tried to live closer to the Savior this past year and about ways you can make more room for Him in your life during the coming year.