FHE: "Joseph Fielding Smith"
Song:
"Seek the Lord Early," Children's Songbook, 108
Scripture:
Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63)
Quote:
"We have attained the status and strength that. . . we should carry the glad tidings of the restoration to every nation and to all people. And not only shall we preach the gospel in every nation before the second coming of the Son of Man, but we shall make converts and establish congregations of Saints among them." (Joseph Fielding Smith as quoted in Francis M. Gibbons, Dynamic Disciples, Prophets of God, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996], p. 236.)
Lesson:
Highlights from the Life of Joseph Fielding Smith:
1876: Born in Salt Lake City, Utah
1884: Baptized in Salt Lake City, Utah
1896: Received Patriarchal blessing that foretold many important things he would do
1899: Mission to Great Britain
1901: Employed in the Church Historian's office
1910: Ordained an Apostle
1921-1970: Served as Church Historian
1922: Published first book, Essentials in Church History (he went on to publish 22 more)
1945-49: President of the Salt Lake Temple
1955: Dedicated Guam for teaching of the gospel
1965: Became David O. McKay's counselor
1970: Became President of the Church
1970: Ensign, New Era and The Friend magazines begin publication
1972: Died in Salt Lake City (age 95)
(Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and William W. Slaughter, Prophets of the Latter- days, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 200], p. 136-7.)
Activity:
Remind your family that Joseph Fielding Smith loved to study the scriptures. Read and discuss Alma 37: 38-47 as described below, to see how you can benefit from reading the scriptures also.
If you have a compass, show it to your family and teach them how it works. If you do not have a compass, show the picture of Lehi with the Liahona (if available, use Gospel Art Picture Kit, no. 302) or a drawing of a Liahona as a ball with some pointers or arrows. (See Nephi 16:10 for a description.) Discuss what a compass or Liahona is used for.
Write the following quiz on a large sheet of paper or poster board and have your family look for the answers as they review Alma 37:38-47:
· Why was the Liahona given to Lehi's family? (Verse 39.)
· What made the Liahona work? (Verse 40.)
· When would the Liahona cease to work? (Verse 41.)
· What happened to Lehi's family when they failed to heed the Liahona? (Verses 42-43.)
· What did Alma compare to the Liahona? (Verse 44.)
· Where will the "word of Christ" point us? (Verses 44-45.)
· How can scripture study help us "look to God and live"?
Discuss as a family how often they look at and heed their personal Liahonas. Invite them to share an experience when the Spirit gave them direction as a result of scripture study.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter- day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 209.)
PDF Packet
Complete Text Version
"Seek the Lord Early," Children's Songbook, 108
Scripture:
Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63)
Quote:
"We have attained the status and strength that. . . we should carry the glad tidings of the restoration to every nation and to all people. And not only shall we preach the gospel in every nation before the second coming of the Son of Man, but we shall make converts and establish congregations of Saints among them." (Joseph Fielding Smith as quoted in Francis M. Gibbons, Dynamic Disciples, Prophets of God, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996], p. 236.)
Lesson:
Highlights from the Life of Joseph Fielding Smith:
1876: Born in Salt Lake City, Utah
1884: Baptized in Salt Lake City, Utah
1896: Received Patriarchal blessing that foretold many important things he would do
1899: Mission to Great Britain
1901: Employed in the Church Historian's office
1910: Ordained an Apostle
1921-1970: Served as Church Historian
1922: Published first book, Essentials in Church History (he went on to publish 22 more)
1945-49: President of the Salt Lake Temple
1955: Dedicated Guam for teaching of the gospel
1965: Became David O. McKay's counselor
1970: Became President of the Church
1970: Ensign, New Era and The Friend magazines begin publication
1972: Died in Salt Lake City (age 95)
(Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and William W. Slaughter, Prophets of the Latter- days, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 200], p. 136-7.)
Activity:
Remind your family that Joseph Fielding Smith loved to study the scriptures. Read and discuss Alma 37: 38-47 as described below, to see how you can benefit from reading the scriptures also.
If you have a compass, show it to your family and teach them how it works. If you do not have a compass, show the picture of Lehi with the Liahona (if available, use Gospel Art Picture Kit, no. 302) or a drawing of a Liahona as a ball with some pointers or arrows. (See Nephi 16:10 for a description.) Discuss what a compass or Liahona is used for.
Write the following quiz on a large sheet of paper or poster board and have your family look for the answers as they review Alma 37:38-47:
· Why was the Liahona given to Lehi's family? (Verse 39.)
· What made the Liahona work? (Verse 40.)
· When would the Liahona cease to work? (Verse 41.)
· What happened to Lehi's family when they failed to heed the Liahona? (Verses 42-43.)
· What did Alma compare to the Liahona? (Verse 44.)
· Where will the "word of Christ" point us? (Verses 44-45.)
· How can scripture study help us "look to God and live"?
Discuss as a family how often they look at and heed their personal Liahonas. Invite them to share an experience when the Spirit gave them direction as a result of scripture study.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter- day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 209.)
PDF Packet
Complete Text Version