FHE: Testimony of Jesus Christ

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost,” by Robert D. Hales, Ensign, May 2008, 29-32.

Thought:

I testify that our Savior lives. He is the Only Begotten of the Father, and He will come again on this earth to reign. . . . He is the literal Son of God, who rose from the dead on the third day, bringing the reality of resurrection to all who will come to earth.

(Robert D. Hales, “Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost,” Ensign, May 2008, 29-32.)

Song:

“This is My Beloved Son,” Children’s Songbook, p. 76.

Scripture:

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

(3 Nephi 11:7)

Lesson:

Turn off the lights in your home. Focus a spotlight or flashlight on a figurine or picture of the Savior. Have the father read 3 Nephi 11:5-7. Ask family members to ponder what it might have felt like to be there. Ask:

• Who was speaking, and what was his message?
• According to footnote 7a, what are other times in history when God the Father has spoken?
• What words does Heavenly Father use to tell how he feels about his Son?

Invite the parents in your family to share what pleases them about each of their children. Ask each family member to read 3 Nephi 11:8 silently as they think of Jesus. Have them write in their journals their feelings toward and their testimony of the Savior.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 72.)

Story:

(In the words of President Lorenzo Snow’s granddaughter, Allie Young Pond.)

One evening while I was visiting Grandpa Snow in his room in the Salt Lake Temple, I remained until the door keepers had gone and the night-watchmen had not yet come in, so
grandpa said he would take me to the main front entrance and let me out that way. He got his bunch of keys from his dresser. After we left his room, and while we were still in the large corridor leading into the celestial room, I was walking several steps ahead of grandpa when he
stopped and said: “Wait a moment, Allie, I want to tell you something. It was right here that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to me at the time of the death of President Woodruff. He instructed me to go right ahead and reorganize the First Presidency of the Church at once and not wait as
had been done after the death of the previous presidents, and that I was to succeed President Woodruff.”

Then grandpa came a step nearer and held out his left hand and said: “He stood right here, about three feet above the floor. It looked as though he stood on a plate of solid gold.”

Grandpa told me what a glorious personage the Savior is and described his hands, feet, countenance and beautiful white robes, all of which were of such a glory of whiteness and brightness that he could hardly gaze upon him.

Then he came another step nearer and put his right hand on my head and said: “Now granddaughter, I want you to remember that this is the testimony of your grandfather, that he told you
with his own lips that he actually saw the Savior, here in the temple, and talked with him face to face.”

Leon R. Hartshorn, Classic Stories from the Lives of Our Prophets, [Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 1971].)

Activity:

Divide the family into pairs, with older and younger members paired together. Give each pair a pencil and a piece of paper.

Explain to them that their job is guess the answers given by teenagers to the following question: Name something associated with the birth of Jesus.

Have each team number their paper from 1 to 6 and try to guess and write down the answers the team members think were given by the teenagers. The answer they feel was given by the largest number of teenagers should be first, and so on; the answer given by the fewest teenagers would be answer number 6.

Read out the correct responses, and have each team correct its paper. A team receives ten points for a correct response written in the correct place. For example, a team would receive ten points if their number 1 answer matches the number 1 answer below. Teams receive five points for each response that matches a response given by the teenagers but is listed in a different order. These are the six most
common responses given by teenagers.

• 1. Star
• 2. Manger
• 3. Wise men
• 4. Mary
• 5. Stable
• 6. Christmas

(Allan K. Burgess and Max H. Molgard, Fun for Family Night: New Testament Edition, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1995], p. 29.)

Refreshment

Ice Cream Sundae Pie

• 1 graham cracker pie crust (buy it pre-made at the grocery store)
• 4 cups ice cream, slightly softened, any flavor
• 1 cup ice cream topping (fudge sauce, caramel, or butterscotch)
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Nuts, for topping
• Maraschino cherries, for topping

Place a thin layer of ice cream on top of the pie crust; cover it with a thin layer of ice cream topping. Continue alternating layers of softened ice cream and topping. Cover the pie with foil or plastic wrap and place it in the freezer. Freeze until the pie is firm, at least four or five hours. To serve, slice it into wedges and top with whipped cream, nuts, cherries, and extra topping. Serves 6 to 8.

(Clark L. and Kathryn H. Kidd, 52 Weeks of Recipes for Students, Missionaries, and Nervous Cooks, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007], p. 52.)

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