These are original ideas except for the Easter cookies
Easter lesson:
"Jesus said unto her I am the
resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
John 11:25-26
Gather up these items for an Easter basket: (attach a scripture to each one)
1. administering oil(Matthew 26:7)
2. broken bread(Matt 26:26-28)
3. twig or olive branch (Luke 22:39-44)
4. a hershey kiss (Luke 22:47-48)
5. a few silver coins (Matt. 27:3-9)
6. a willow branch or something that represents a reed or switch (Mark 15:19-20)
7. thorns from a bush or rose (Mark 15:17)
8. purple cloth (Mark 15:17)
9. a cross (John 19:17-19)
10.6 nails and a sword(John 20:24-28)(John 19:34
11.vinegar (Matt.27:34)(John 19:28-30)
12.a large smooth round stone (Matt.27:66)(John 20:1-2)(Luke 16:1-4)
13.torn cloth (John 19:23-24)
14.an angel of some sort(perhaps a christmas angel ornament)(Matt.28:1-8)(Luke 24:1-6,23)
16.a folded dish linen or cloth (Luke 24:12)
17.An egg or chick (John 11:25)(1Peter 1:3)(Alma 11:41)(Matt.28:7)D&C 133:56) (read about ressurection from the Bible Dictionary
18.A large Easter basket to put all these items into.(This lesson is best done the night before Easter morning)(you can use any symbols of the above; pictures,toy items, representations.)
19.Set out items for recipe
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important--don't wait til
you're half done with the recipe!)
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the
wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman
soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing
bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross,
He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it
and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus'
followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died
because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff
peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the
purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed
by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered
cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb
where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the
oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain
that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in
the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the
tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are
hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find
the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9
Family Home Eve. Lesson
1. Song "Easter Hosanna" (Childs Songbook)
2. Prayer
3. Begin the night before Easter by bringing the
Easter basket in and telling everyone that we are going on an Easter scavenger hunt to fill our Easter Basket. Use the list above for scavenger hunt items.
4. Make the Easter cookies and tell the story above.
5. Have your family sing the a closing hymn of choice, and say the prayer.
Easter Morning
1. Open with song "That Easter Morn" In Hymnbook
2. Prayer
3. Talk about the sepulcher being empty
4. Eat the cookies
5. Bring out the Large Easter basket filled with the strange scavenger hunt items. Ask your family what these items have to do with Easter? Let them look at all the items. Some can be easily guessed. Some are much harder.
6. Read the scriptures attached to each one, which tells the Easter story.
7. Watch General Conference
For other Family Home Evenings for April Click on links below
1. RESURRECTION
2. For a great fun night have an Easter Egg hunt and a picnic.
3. Talk about the crucifixion. Ask the children if they understand what that means. Have pictures of the Savior carrying His cross, and the crucifixion picture. Ask; "when Jesus died was he really dead?" Explain the story of death using the glove. When Jesus died he left His body like everyone else that dies and went to the Spirit world. (take hand out of the glove and leave the glove in a heap on the table.) Show the old glove in a heap. Bring out the flower bulb. Ask the children if that was something alive or dead. Tell them that it looks dead. Tell the children that when people die they are buried. Bury the bulb in a clay pot. Tell them the people in Jerusalem were buried inside caves. Tell them Jesus was dead for three days. Read the scripture on that. ( Matt. 27:62-64, Matt. 28:5-6 ) In three days he was resurrected. Demonstrate that with the glove by putting back on the hand. Tell the children that a resurrected body will live for ever. Bring out a pot exactly like the one you had and show the children a bulb that has flowered. Take it out of the dirt and show that the flower came from the old dead looking bulb. Explain to them that because Jesus was the first to be resurrected that all people will be able to live again after they die and be resurrected. Give each child a bulb in a baggy to plant.
