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 July is “I follow Heavenly Father’s plan by repenting and being baptized.”

Family Home Evening Ideas

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

1. Read President Gordon B. Hinckley’s message “Set upon a Hill” (pages 2–3). Why does the temple remind him of a city set on a hill? How can we be like a city set on a hill? When we live righteously, we have the Holy Ghost with us and it shows in the way we act, look, and feel. Discuss ways to be good examples.

2. Complete the activity “Jonah Repents” (page 19) and use it to share the story of Jonah and the whale. What must we do when we have made a mistake? Can you think of other examples of repentance in the scriptures? Read “The Giraffe Lesson” (pages 4–6) and discuss how Ann repents.

3. To learn about baptism, complete the activity “Fill the Font” (pages 24–25). Then put eight different colored squares of paper on the floor and have family members participate along with Logan while you read “Logan’s Baptism” (pages 28–29). Have family members identify which “square” they are on (which ordinances they have yet to complete) and what they can do to progress.

4. Read “The Skipper’s Son” (pages 10–12). What difficult decision does Feike face when his father decides to be baptized? Discuss the sacrifices others, such as ancestors or early Saints, made that have influenced where you are today. What righteous decisions can you make that will influence your future families for good?

5. In the story “Higher Ground” (pages 34–36), a prophet reminds members of Ronda’s community that they can be like pioneers. How can we? Have each family member write on paper strips 20 things that are most important to them, including both things they own and things that cannot be seen, like a testimony. Make a “Pioneer Handcart” (page 33). Decide which 10 paper strips you would put inside. Then if you can, cut it down to five. Discuss why you chose what you did and how you can always focus on righteous priorities.