Family Home Evening
Celebrating our differences
Heavenly Father created us, and is watching us always. We are His children. We are all beautiful to him. (Some just don't act too beautiful). We should celebrate our differences. Not judge or condemn ourselves or others because of them. Instead of judging someone, hold off until you actually see the person for who he or she really is. Go even beyond that and see the potential of that person. We all are special. We each have something that we can do that no one else can do. We each can touch someone that perhaps no one else could. We all have a purpose a mission, and our own set of problems, talents, and differences.
1. Song, Prayer
2. Ask if the colors of the rainbow were all the same would the rainbow be as beautiful?
Don't we need all the different colors to make a beautiful world?
What about flowers..wouldn't it be a boring world if all the flowers were a daisy? We need roses and daffodills and all the flowers. What about animals? What if they were all dogs? This would be such a boring world, Is it the same with people?
3. Talk about peoples differences, and samenesses. (ex. most people have 2 arms. but some have long arms and some have short. Let family talk about differences and sameness for a while).
4. Is it good we are not all alike? Is it good we don't all like the same things, have the same ideas, talents, problems, abilities, spiritual gifts, tastes and missions in life?
5. Everyone is different for a reason. And we must learn to Love and cherish each person you meet. We must help people who have different problems than we do.
6. read.
"He calls upon us to care for the sick, the poor, the afflicted; to pray for and show compassion towards all of God's children, for "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). With Him there are no barriers of race or gender or language. As Nephi explained, "he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God" (2 Ne. 26:33).
In a world where we are confronted each day with so much callous indifference towards the less fortunate, Jesus spoke of the need to give meat to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothes to the naked, and to visit the sick and those in prison. He reminded us that inasmuch as we provide acts of charity to others, even unto those considered by some to be "the least," "ye have done it unto me" "(see Matt. 25:3545). (Elder Alexander B. Morrison)
7. We are not here to be judges of others but to be the best that we can be. For we ourselves are different and should celebrate who we are..not placing ourselves above or below others but equal to all of God's children. Read quote
"And when we try consistently to be our very best, when we care for and serve others, when we overcome selfishness with love, when we place the welfare of others above our own, when we bear each other's burdens and "mourn with those that mourn," when we "comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and . . . stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:89), then we honor Him and draw from His power and become more and more like Him, growing "brighter and brighter," if we persist, "until the perfect day" (D&C 50:24).
(Elder Alexander B. Morrison)("For This Cause Came I into the World")
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8. What are some ways you can become the best unique person you can be?
Accept all ideas, then read quote.
"In His earthly ministry, the Master outlined how we should live, how we should teach, how we should serve, and what we should do so that we could become our best selves.
In the search for our best selves, several questions will guide our thinking:
Am I what I want to be?
Am I closer to the Savior today than I was yesterday?
Will I be closer yet tomorrow?
Do I have the courage to change for the better? "
(President Thomas S. Monson, "Becoming Our Best Selves")
(Have this printed up and have each person put it up on their bedroom walls)
9. It is hard to be unique and different without others to love and support you. Read Quote
"The coastal redwoods are truly lords of their realm and a most exquisite creation of our Father in Heaven. They reign over associated trees because of their overwhelming height and majestic beauty. However, there is another feature of these towering giants that is truly remarkable and somewhat unknown to most of us. Even though they grow up to heights of 300 feet and can weigh more than one million pounds, these trees have a very shallow root system. Their roots only go down three to six feet but can spread out several hundred feet. As these roots extend out, they intertwine with their brother and sister redwoods and other trees as well. This intertwining of roots creates a webbing effect. Most engineers would tell you this shallow root system still would be impossible to keep the redwoods intact and protected against strong winds and floods. However, the interconnecting root systems are the secret of their strength and teach us a great lesson.
Let's acknowledge that these magnificent giants simply could not make it alone. Without being connected to other family members and helpful neighbors, they would not survive.
No man is an island;
No man stands alone.
Each man's joy is a joy to me;
Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another,
So I will defend
Each man as my brother;
Each man as my friend."
("No Man Is an Island," in Bryan B. Gardner and Calvin T. Broadhead, comp., A Collection of Inspirational Verse for Latter-day Saints [1963], 69) (Richard H. Winkel)
10. So who are we? Let family members answer what they will. Then read Quote.
"Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. We are [ individual] children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. Recently I observed young men who attracted attention to themselves because of their extreme styles of dress and grooming. One made a revealing remark when he said, "I'm trying to find out who I really am." This occurred after I had come from a Church meeting where Primary children had sung "I Am a Child of God."1 Such contrasting experiences emphasize the importance of knowing that we are literally children of God.
We are dual beings. Each soul is comprised of body and spirit,2 both of which emanate from God. A firm understanding of body and spirit will shape our thoughts and deeds for good."
("No Man Is an Island"
Elder Richard H. Winkel)
11. So what if our differences make us feel less than others or we feel inferior because we can't do what someone else can do? (you have not come to earth to do anyone elses job. You came to do yours! Read quote
"Recently I observed young men who attracted attention to themselves because of their extreme styles of dress and grooming. One made a revealing remark when he said, "I'm trying to find out who I really am." This occurred after I had come from a Church meeting where Primary children had sung "I Am a Child of God." Such contrasting experiences emphasize the importance of knowing that we are literally children of God.
We are dual beings. Each soul is comprised of body and spirit, both of which emanate from God. A firm understanding of body and spirit will shape our thoughts and deeds for good.
The Body
The marvel of our physical bodies is often overlooked. Who has not encountered feelings of low self-esteem because of physique or appearance? Many people wish their bodies could be more to their liking. Some with naturally straight hair want it curly. Others with curly hair want it straight. Occasionally some ladies, believing that "gentlemen prefer blonds," become "decided blonds."
Your body, whatever its natural gifts, is a magnificent creation of God. It is a tabernacle of flesh--a temple for your spirit. A study of your body attests to its divine design.
The Spirit
Next I speak of the spirit. Prior to our mortal existence here, each spirit son and daughter lived with God. The spirit is eternal; it existed in innocence in the premortal realm and will exist after the body dies. The spirit provides the body with animation and personality. "All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure."
"The spirit of man [is] in the likeness of his person." Jesus so explained, as the brother of Jared viewed the Lord's premortal body:
Spirit and body, when joined together, become a living soul of supernal worth. Indeed, we are children of God--physically and spiritually.
Physical Limitations
For reasons usually unknown, some people are born with physical limitations. Specific parts of the body may be abnormal. Regulatory systems may be out of balance. And all of our bodies are subject to disease and death. Nevertheless, the gift of a physical body is priceless. Without it, we cannot attain a fulness of joy.
A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames. Great spiritual strength is often developed by those with physical challenges precisely because they are challenged. Such individuals are entitled to all the blessings that God has in store for His faithful and obedient children.
Eventually the time will come when each "spirit and . . . body shall be reunited again in . . . perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame." Then, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become perfected in Him.
12. Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. May we always honor that heritage--in every thought and deed--I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." (" We Are Children of God"
Elder Russell M. Nelson )
13. Song and prayer and desert.
