FHE LESSON {Stairway to Heaven}

This lesson was an idea I got from my cute cousin, Jill. THANKS JILL!

We haven't done an object lesson for a few weeks, and I could tell that my kids were missing it! They LOVE object lessons and they get SO much more out of the lesson! They get into the discussion and I LOVE it!

We started off with an opening prayer and we sang, "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus".

LESSON:

We read Matthew 6:24...

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 

(Mammon is idolatry, worldliness or treasure)

We discussed what this scripture meant. We talked about the ways that we may try to "serve two masters" (For example,our son brought up the example of trying to have the spirit in our lives, but also not being willing to stop watching things on TV or listening to music that has a bad message or bad words.). We talked about why it is impossible to do both.

Then we talked about how our choices determine the direction we are headed in.

I told them about a concept that my husband read in a book a long time ago. The concept is that all things, unless constantly acted upon, are in a state of digression. Nothing is in "neutral". You are either moving forward or moving back.

We used the example of a piece of furniture. The day that the furniture was finished being built, it began the process of "getting old" or breaking down. If special care is not taken the furniture begins to break down. We used our couch as an example. Something that is used everyday. We talked about what would happen to it if everyday we used it, walked on it, jumped on it, let holes develop and then get bigger, etc. Then we talked about what would happen if we were careful with it, repairing what needed to be repaired, not jumping on it, keeping it clean, etc.

We compared that to our lives. We talked about how our spirits require daily "upkeep". We must spend time each day reading scriptures & praying. If we do not, we are in a state of degeneration. We are breaking down. However, if we do take care of ourselves, we get stronger and remain close to the Lord.

We talked about the choices we make in our lives and how they can help us continue to move forward. Then we talked about how making bad choices, or not doing the things we should can make us slip backwards and fall into trap the adversary sets for us.

Then it was time for the OBJECT LESSON:

We found some stairs and I taped this lovely little drawing at the top. (and yes, we had to include our sweet Dawson. He is with them and waiting for us also!

Then we taped this picture at the bottom of the stairs.

The kids started on the middle step. Then Dad would read choices aloud and the kids would take a step towards Heavenly Father, Jesus & Dawson if it was a good choice or down toward Satans end of the stairs, if it was a bad choice.

I handed Ryan a list of choices and he, being the genius that he is, made up situations that involved specific choices we have seen in our home (fighting, being kind, etc.). This made it a bit more person for the kids. They could see how their actions this morning, or yesterday, effected their progress. Smart hubby! :)

The Good Choices:

• Honesty
• Kindness
• Sharing
• Obedience
• Prayer
• Reading Scriptures
• Going to Church
• Being Reverent
• Modesty
• Working Hard
• Eating Healthy
• Serving Others
• Temple

The Bad Choices:

• Telling a lie
• Being Mean
• Being Selfish
• Stealing
• Disobedience
• Forgetting to Pray
• Not Paying Tithing
• Immodesty
• Listening to Bad Music
• Watching Bad Movies, TV, etc.
• Lazy
• Eating A Lot of Junk Food
• Not Attending the Temple or Not Preparing to Go

At the end, we made sure they ended at the top of the stairs with Heavenly Father, Jesus & Dawson.

The kids absolutely LOVED this lesson! I think it really helped them see how each choice we make determines where we are headed. It was a good visual and physical activity to show them how important making good choices daily is.

At the end of the lesson we discussed the Atonement and how Christ has made it possible for us to "step" above our bad choices and come closer to our eternal goals.

Then we read these two scriptures, because they are my favorite, and because I am certain that we can never hear enough of these two!

Omni 1:26

"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

Mosiah 5:15

"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen."