Guide to the Friend

The Guide to the Friend can help you find stories or articles for preparing lessons or talks for church or for family home evening. The Primary theme for June is “I will follow Heavenly Father’s plan for me in faith.”

Family Home Evening Ideas

Look for the FHE symbol on the [original magazine] pages mentioned below.

1. Prepare a drawing of your family tree on heavy paper and cut it into a puzzle. If possible, include at least four generations. On strips of paper, write down a short story or interesting fact about each person on the family tree. Read President James E. Faust’s message “Your Fascinating History” (pages 2–3) and discuss it. How does learning about family history help us know who we really are? Why is it important to find out more about our ancestors? Put together the family tree puzzle. Whenever someone puts a family name in place, have him or her read the fact associated with that person. (If you do not have access to four generations of family history, you may want to fill the family tree with names of your immediate family, grandparents, and aunts and uncles.)

2. “Snapshots of Heaven” (pages 10–12) and “Stop!” (pages 46–48) tell the stories of children who must rely on the perspective of someone else to guide them. How are these children blessed? How can you be similarly blessed? Discuss which people we can safely follow, like prophets and parents. Remember your gratitude for the help given to you by fathers or other priesthood leaders, like bishops and home teachers. You may want to make them a recipe from “Kitchen Krafts” (page 27) to show your appreciation.

3. Have you ever prayed for something you didn’t receive? Read about Ben’s experiences with prayer in “No Answer” (pages 20–22). What does Ben learn that can help you in your prayers? Discuss times your prayers were answered—including times you are grateful Heavenly Father did not give you what you had hoped for. For additional insights, you may want to read “Improving Our Prayers” by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in the March 2004 Ensign. Go to www.lds.org and search for it in Gospel Library.

4. We can learn from the examples of people who have gone before us. Read the poem “Crossing the Waters” (pages 24–25). How might your “journey” after baptism be like that of the Israelites or pioneers? How will it be different? List ways you’d like to follow their good examples and how you can prepare.