Guide to the Friend

Possible Ideas for Family Home Evening

  1. 1.

    In “Straw for the Manger” (pages 36–37), straw serves as a reminder of service. What other Christmas symbols are in your home? As a family, talk about other symbols in your home that remind you of Christ.

  2. 2.

    Many stories in the Friend this month talk about acting out the Christmas story. Host your own pageant by having a family scavenger hunt to look for costume pieces (“The Christmas Cane” on page 2 gives some examples). Then you’ll have them on hand for Christmas Eve so you can perform your own pageant.

  3. 3.

    Celebrate the birth of Joseph Smith like Daniel and his family did in “A Special Guest” (pages 8–9). Talk about the importance of asking for and receiving revelation. Elder Robert D. Hales gives some ideas on page 11.

  4. 4.

    “The Temple Is for Everyone” (page 22) talks about a girl who learns about the importance of temples. These sacred buildings are gifts from our Heavenly Father. Discuss what other gifts Heavenly Father has given your family.

Topical Index to this Issue of the Friend

  • (FLF) = For Little Friends

  • (f) = Funstuf

  • (IFC) = inside front cover

  • (m) = music

  • Baptism 22

  • Choose the Right 30

  • Church History 6, 23 (f)

  • Family 4, 8, 12, 16 (m), 30, 32 (FLF), 36

  • Family Home Evening 8, 36

  • Heavenly Father 8, 11, 32 (FLF), 36

  • Jesus Christ 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16 (m), 18, 20, 24, 27, 30, 32 (FLF), 36, 40, 42, 45, 49

  • Joseph Smith 6, 8, 23 (f)

  • Journals 6, 12, 40

  • Love and Kindness 4, 10, 12, 28, 30, 46

  • Music 16

  • My Gospel Standards 2, 4, 10, 22, 28, 40

  • Posters 10, 49

  • Priesthood IFC

  • Prophets 2, 6, 8, 9, 23 (f), 37, 45

  • Quorum of the Seventy 20, 22

  • Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 11, 47

  • Recipes 13, 26

  • Revelation 11

  • Scriptures 10, 12, 14, 23 (f), 24, 40, 45, 49

  • Service 3, 4, 10, 12, 28, 30, 34 (FLF), 36, 42, 46

  • Temple Square 6, 34 (FLF)

  • Temples 22

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