“Game: A Most Excellent Adventure in Family Land,” New Era, June 1991, 40

Special Issue:
Loving Your Family

Game:
A Most Excellent Adventure in Family Land

Rules of the Game

Sometimes the best way to learn more about your family and what they really feel comes from just talking together. This game gives you a chance to ask questions—some silly and some serious—that can help you find out if you know the members of your family as well as you think. Besides your family, you may want to invite your grandparents or other relatives to play with you. You could discover some interesting things that would make nice additions to a family history. Of course, this game can also be played with a group of friends.

Directions

Cut out the picture markers on page 41. Each player places his marker at the START. You may want to carefully remove the question page from the magazine. The page can then be passed to each player in turn. Borrow a spinner or die from another game to use in taking your turn and moving your marker.

Starting the game

Determine who will go first and in which direction the turn will move around the table. All ages can participate. Have someone help children who can’t read select a question to ask.

The first player spins the spinner or rolls the die and moves his marker that number of spaces on the board. The player follows any directions that are printed on the playing square. The player then selects a question from the block of color that corresponds to the color of the square landed on. For example, if the player lands on a yellow square, he selects a question from the group of questions in the yellow box.

The player does not answer the question himself. He gets to ask the question of any other player at the table. (Hint: when playing with small children, select the simpler questions.) Once a question has been asked, it can be used again by another player during his turn.

Play continues

After the question has been answered, the next player takes a turn. The second player spins the spinner or rolls the die and moves that number of spaces. There is no penalty for two players being on the same square at the same time.

Ending the game

All players take turns until one player approaches the “home” or finish point of the game. However, the first player to reach the finish is not the winner. When the player reaches the WELCOME MAT, he stops moving his marker. He continues to spin the spinner or roll the die and then gives his move to another player. However, the first player still retains the right to select a question and ask it of whomever he would like. When every player has reached the WELCOME MAT, everyone goes “home” together and the game is ended.

Some suggestions

If you would like to use the game as a springboard for family history, place a tape recorder on or near the playing table. The answers given by the participants, no matter their age, could be used later as interesting additional material for a family history.

Family Questions and Markers

What’s the nicest thing a brother or sister ever did for you?

Fill in the blank. I like it when my mom __________________________________________________________.

Fill in the blank. I like it when my dad __________________________________________________________.

Name something you do that you know irritates somebody in your family.

Describe your idea of the perfect family home evening.

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to your family on a vacation?

What is your favorite memory of a birthday?

What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?

What’s the weirdest thing you ever received for a present?

If your mom said she would fix you anything you wanted to eat for your birthday, what would you order?

If you could listen to anybody speak in sacrament meeting, who would it be?

What do you most enjoy doing with your family on Sunday?

If you could meet with the prophet all by yourself, what question would you ask him?

Who is your favorite Book of Mormon person?

What’s your favorite story about Jesus?

What’s your favorite snack to eat at a movie?

What do you like best for breakfast?

What’s your favorite food to eat late at night?

What food did you hate most when you were a little kid? Did you ever try to secretly get rid of it without your parents knowing?

If you could invite a famous person to dinner, who would it be? Why?

What is the strangest thing you ever ate?

What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at school?

What’s your favorite subject? Your least favorite?

If you were the principal, what changes would you make at your school?

Fill in this blank. I get nervous at school when __________________________________________________________.

Fill in this blank. I feel happy at school when __________________________________________________________.

Let’s say your best friend hurt your feelings. How would you handle the problem?

If you could take anything in the world for Show and Tell, what would it be?

If you could go back in time, when would you have wanted to live?

What country besides your own would you most like to visit?

What’s your favorite flower?

What kind of movies to you like best?

If your friends want to go to a movie you don’t want to see, what do you do?

What do you like about your appearance?

If you could change one thing about your appearance, what would it be?

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

What did you want to be when you were little?

What’s your favorite book?

What’s your favorite fairy tale?

If you could write your own book, what would it be about?

What color do you think is the happiest color?

Describe a scary dream you had once.

If you were in the Olympics, which event would you most like to compete in?

What’s your favorite sport to watch?

Name one person you would like to have as a friend.

What does a friend do that makes you mad? How do you deal with your anger?

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done with a friend?

Which friend would you most like to be stranded with on a desert island?

What kind of music do you like best?

Sing the silliest song you know.

What’s your favorite Primary song?

What’s your favorite hymn?

Who is your favorite singer or musical group?

What planet would you most like to visit?

If you were president of a planet, what would be the first rule you would make?

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Think of a good nickname for yourself.

What is the most boring thing you can imagine doing?

What talent would you most like to have?

If your bedroom was on fire and you had time to grab only one thing, what would it be?

What things were you once afraid of that you’re not afraid of anymore?

What would you do if you were at a party and people started gossiping about a friend who wasn’t there?