FHE {WORDS}

A while ago I came across an idea that really appealed to me for family home evening. The general topic was on words. We used this idea tonight in Family Home Evening - and it seemed to really work well with our 5 year old - not too sure how much younger you could make it work with - but I think you could adjust the lesson to suit anywhere up to just adults.

Materials: Cardboard, scissors, pen, scriptures, Book of Mormon reader, or perhaps flannel board characters of the people of Ammon.

The Lesson:

Read the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's or The People of Ammon - stress how they buried the weapons and would NEVER again take them up.

Then have a discussion about how words can cut us just like swords can and how it hurts etc. (and talk about all the unkind words floating around your home - if you have any that is!)

You will then produce a heap of mini cardboard swords - depending on ages and numbers - then write down the words you have come up with on a sword. (Kels was great at coming up with words - she suggested "please stop that" but we said that wasn't going on a sword!)

After you have written the swords out - explain to the family that you aren't going to use these words anymore - and as soon as they are buried they can't be used again - just like the people of Ammon buried their swords - and even if people are angry or tired or someone looked at them the wrong way - they can never use those swords again - just like the POA would never again pick up their weapons even to defend their own lives.

Then go and bury them in the garden - the kids LOVED this - and dug numerous holes - you could just throw it in the bin or burn them or something.

Hoping that this will work really well - I will post the original source asap - as it was not my idea - just loved it and am not sure where it came from!