2016
Sharing Traditions
December 2016

“Sharing Traditions,” Friend, December 2016

Friend to Friend

Sharing Traditions

By Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy; from an interview with Linda Davies

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

“Love one another, as I have loved you” (1 John 13:34).

Sharing Traditions

I grew up in Hawaii, USA. People from all over the world lived there. I had friends from lots of countries. I learned a lot from them about their traditions.

My Japanese friends taught me how to eat with chopsticks. They also taught me to take my shoes off at the front door. We always did this at our school.

Your family may have their own traditions. These are special activities your family shares. Sharing our traditions with others is like sharing the gospel. It makes us feel happy, warm, and loved.

In the gospel, we have commandments. They are kind of like traditions. But they are much more important because they are from Heavenly Father. We live the Word of Wisdom so our bodies can be healthy and strong. We keep the Sabbath day holy. And we take the sacrament to remember Jesus and how He died for our sins.

Other gospel traditions are reading the scriptures, praying, and having family home evening. These things bring us closer to our families. They help us choose the right. They teach us that Heavenly Father loves us.

Not everyone has the same traditions we do, but we can still share Heavenly Father’s love with them. There is a Primary song about sharing and love. It can help us to remember to share our Heavenly Father’s love with others. “As I have loved you, love one another. This new commandment: love one another. By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Children’s Songbook, 136).

Heavenly Father’s Family

God gives His love and goodness to everyone. We can learn a lot of good from others, and we can share a lot of good too. Everyone belongs in Heavenly Father’s family.

How can you learn from and share with others? Use the words below to fill in the blanks. Check your answers below.

  • Ask a friend about their family ________________________________.

  • Focus on what you have in ________________________________.

  • Share your favorite ____________________________ with a friend.

  • Make a friend’s favorite __________________________ together.

  • Invite a friend to a ________________________________ activity.

  • Smile or say ___________________________ to someone new.

  • Write a _______________________________ for a friend about something you learned from them.

  • Invite a friend’s ____________________________ to family ________________________ evening.

  • Answers: traditions, common, scripture, food, Primary, hello, note, family, home