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 “Heavenly Father promises to hear my prayers and answer them.”

Family Home Evening Ideas

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

1. Read President Thomas S. Monson’s message “Frame Your Life with Faith” (pp. 2–3) and “Water in the Desert” (pp. 4–6). How do the people in each story exercise faith? What do they need? What do they hope for? Heavenly Father can fulfill both our needs and our hopes when we ask Him in faith according to His will. Make a list of blessings in your life that have helped your faith grow. Keep it in your journal to remind you to exercise faith whenever you face a challenge.

2. In your own words, tell the story from the life of President Wilford Woodruff in “This Is the Place” (pp. 10–11). How is being a Church member different today than it was back then? How is it similar? Share your favorite pioneer stories, remembering that there are many different ways to be a pioneer. Name some of them. Learn and sing “To Be a Pioneer” (Children’s Songbook, pp. 218–19).

3. Display a key labeled “trust.” Then read “The Bread Man” (pp. 12–14) and discuss why Dee’s grandfather has so many keys. When we have integrity, others give us their trust. Think of ways trust opens doors. For example, it can help us build relationships with other people and allow Heavenly Father to give us opportunities. Have family members draw and display a picture of a key or, if possible, carry a real key in their pockets throughout the week. This can remind them to take note of their words and actions and discover if they can become more trustworthy.

4. Read “Living the Gospel” (pp. 20–22). Then imagine you are writing a story like this about your own family. What is interesting about each family member? What do you like about where you live? What are your favorite things to do as a family? How do you stay strong in living the gospel? After discussing these things together, assign some family members to write down your family’s story and other family members to find photographs, take digital pictures, or draw pictures to illustrate the story. You may want to save the story in your family’s scrapbook or book of remembrance.

5. Play the game on pages 24–25, 27. How can you follow Paul’s example and prepare to be a missionary? Enjoy Cherry Chocolate Parfaits together afterward (p. 23).