Faith and Prayer

Opening Song: A Child's Prayer (Children's Songbook 12)

Scripture: Alma 13:28-30

Activity: “Buckle-Buckle Beanstalk.” Family members are shown an object—a block or small toy —which they are to look for later. Then all except one person leave the room. The one left places the object in sight somewhere in the room. When the others return, the first person to spot the object cries, “Buckle-Buckle Beanstalk.” He then takes a turn placing the object while the others leave the room.

Closing Song: Did You Think to Pray? (Hymn #140) 

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer..." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

https://media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/prayer/family-prayer-mongolia-1154465-gallery.jpg

"There is the key to leading your family to rise to that spiritual place you want for them —and for you to be there with them. As you help them grow in faith that Jesus Christ is their loving Redeemer, they will feel a desire to repent. As they do, humility will begin to replace pride. As they begin to feel what the Lord has given them, they will want to share more generously. Rivalry for prominence or recognition will diminish. Hate will be driven out by love. And finally, like it did for the people converted by King Benjamin, the desire to do good will fortify them against temptation to sin. King Benjamin’s people testified that they had “no more disposition to do evil.”³

So building faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of reversing spiritual decline in your family and in your home. That faith is more likely to bring repentance than your preaching against each symptom of spiritual decline.

You will best lead by example. Family members and others must see you growing in your own faith in Jesus Christ and in His gospel. You have recently been provided great help. Parents in the Church have been blessed with an inspired curriculum for families and individuals. As you use it, you will build your faith and the faith of your children in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition to your example of growing in faith, your praying as a family can play a crucial part in making home a sacred place. One person is usually chosen as voice to pray for the family. When the prayer is clearly to God in behalf of the people kneeling and listening, faith grows in all of them. They can feel expressions of love for Heavenly Father and for the Savior. And when the person who prays mentions those who are kneeling in that circle who are in need, all can feel love for them and for each member of the family.

Even when family members are not living in the home, prayer can build bonds of love. Prayer in the family can reach across the world. More than once I have learned that a family member far away was praying at the same moment for the same thing as I was. For me, the old saying “The family that prays together stays together” could be expanded to “The family that prays together is together, even when they are far apart.” - President Henry B. Eyring (A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells. April 2019 General Conference)

How does having faith and praying in our families help strengthen our family? What blessings do we receive?

https://youtu.be/iB1SBdmy3JM