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 August is “As I follow the direction and righteous examples given in the scriptures, the Lord promises me rich blessings.”

Family Home Evening Ideas

Look for the FHE symbol on the pages mentioned below.

1. Read “Faith in Every Footstep” (pp. 2–3). Talk about the many trials faced by Thomas Giles—blindness, death of family members, pioneer hardships. He faced them all with faith. Look around you at family members, neighbors, friends. If any are facing difficulties, decide if there is some way you or your family can help.

2. Learn and present the poem “Teach Me the Scriptures” (p. 7). Ask different family members to choose Alma, Nephi, Job, Joseph, or Ruth and prepare to tell his or her story. Repeat the second stanza of the poem together and talk about how the scriptural examples might help you live your lives well.

3. Prepare to read 1 Nephi 8:21–38. Use the illustrations in “Lehi’s Dream” (p. 12) as you read about Lehi’s experience. Then do the activity described in “Hold to the Iron Rod” (pp. 10–11). Discuss how important it is to hold onto the word of God as our guide, and resolve to begin or to continue to study the scriptures together as a family.

4. Tell the story “Baskets and Boxes” (pp. 14–15). Talk about the ways Heavenly Father answers prayers. Share experiences you have had with prayer. Kneel together as a family and give thanks.

5. Make the Sunday Box game “Fishing for Old Testament Facts” (pp. 24–25), and play it as a family. When you are finished, save it to play another time. Make “Fruit Pizza” (p. 48) for refreshments.