Theme: Preparing to Hear our Prophet Speak

Opening Song: "We Thank Thee, Oh God For A Prophet" Hymn #22

Opening Prayer:

Scripture: D&C 1:38 "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same"

Lesson: What Is a Prophet?

A prophet is someone who God reveals His word to us through. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are blessed to know that there is a prophet on the earth, who serves as President of the Church, and that through this prophet the Lord makes known His mind and will. When the prophet speaks to us in the name of the Lord, he speaks what the Lord would say if He were here.

We also believe "all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" (9^th Article of Faith).

It is a blessing to be members of the true Church and to know that our prophet speaks the will of the Lord for today. Knowing that the Lord speaks through His prophet reassures us that the Savior lives and that He loves us and is interested in us.

The prophet who leads the Church will never lead us astray. He tells us things that pertain to our lives now. The prophet gives us instruction from the Lord at general conference, which is held twice each year. He also gives the Lord’s counsel to us at other conferences held throughout the world. Many of the prophet’s addresses are printed in the Church magazines. It is almost time for us to hear from other church leaders and for us to hear from our Prophet again. This month we are going to prepare to listen to these leaders in General Conference. We are going to do this in our Family Home Evenings.

In addition to the President of the Church, other men are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. These are the prophet’s counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve. These Brethren also receive revelation, bring us the will of the Lord, bear witness of the divinity of Christ, teach the plan of salvation, and perform ordinances.

President Harold B. Lee said: "If you want to know what the Lord has for this people at the present time, I would admonish you to get and read the discourses that have been delivered at this [general] conference; for what these brethren have spoken by the power of the Holy Ghost is the mind of the Lord, the will of the Lord, the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1973, 176; or Ensign, July 1973, 121).

Adaptation For Young Children

Diane S. Nichols, "Sharing Time: The Prophet Speaks for Heavenly Father," Friend, Jan. 2001

Pretend that it’s a beautiful summer evening and you have been playing outside with your brothers and sisters. Now imagine that your mom calls to you and asks you to tell them to come in for dinner. You are speaking for your mom, delivering a message for her to your family. Will they listen?

Throughout the ages, Father in Heaven has chosen certain men to speak for Him. These men are called prophets. They teach us what Heavenly Father wants us to know. They warn us about what will happen if we disobey. They also tell us about the wonderful blessings that will come when we do obey. Will we listen?

The scriptures tell us about the prophets who were called by Father in Heaven to speak for Him. Noah was asked by the Lord to warn the people that if they didn’t repent, a terrible flood would come and cover the earth. Noah’s family were the only ones who listened, and they were saved from the flood (see Gen 6-8; 2 Peter 2:5).

The prophet Lehi was shown that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come and be the Savior of the world. Lehi’s son Nephi prayed to know if the words of his father were true. The Lord visited Nephi, and he believed all the words of his father. Later, Nephi also spoke for the Lord (see 1 Nephi 1:18-19; 1 Nephi 2: 16-18).

As a young boy, Joseph Smith went into the woods to pray to Father in Heaven and ask which church he should join. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and gave him instructions that opened the way for the restoration of the gospel in our day (see JS History 1:11-20).

We have a living prophet today, Gordon B. Hinckley. He is the President of the Church, and he speaks to us for the Lord. He was chosen by God and called through proper priesthood authority. President Hinckley testifies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he teaches us the gospel. All the prophets testify of Jesus Christ and teach us what He wants us to do (see Jacob 7:11; D&C 21: 1, 4-5).

When we pray to Heavenly Father as Nephi did, we can know that the words of the prophets are true. Prophets are men who "walk with God" (see Gen. 6:9). They keep His commandments and are obedient to the things He tells them to do. When we hear the prophet, we will know that he speaks to us for the Savior. Yes, we will listen.

Activity: Prophet Game

To find the board - go to the church website http://www.lds.org/ and search the "Friend" and enter: "Follow Prophet Game" and it will be the 5th line.

Our prophets help us prepare to go to the temple by teaching us how to live righteous lives. Each prophet has shared his knowledge of what Heavenly Father wants us to do. If we follow their counsel, we will be worthy to someday enter the holy temple. Here are some of the things that they have told us:

Joseph Smith: We must love others, even our enemies as well as our friends.

Brigham Young: Truth is obeyed when it is loved.

John Taylor: The gospel whispers peace.

Wilford Woodruff: We need to be guided by the Spirit of God.

Lorenzo Snow: The time has now come for every Latter-day Saint … to do the will of the Lord and to pay his tithing in full.

Joseph F. Smith: I feel in my heart to forgive all men.

Heber J. Grant: I assert with confidence that the law of success, here and hereafter, is to have a humble and a prayerful heart, and to work, work, WORK.

George Albert Smith: All the people of the earth are our Father’s children.

David O. McKay: Every member a missionary!

Joseph Fielding Smith: The Church … is a world church; the gospel is for all men.

Harold B. Lee: Keep the commandments.

Spencer W. Kimball: Lengthen your stride.

Ezra Taft Benson: Read and study the Book of Mormon.

Here is a game for two or more players to help you remember the order of the prophets of the Church and what they said. Think about how you can use each of these gospel truths in you own life to help you prepare to enter the temple when you are older.

Instructions

1. Use a die, or cut out the numbers above and put them into a sack. Use different-color buttons or other tiny objects as markers.

2. When it is your turn, roll the die or draw a number and go forward or backward that many spaces.

3. You must land on each prophet’s space in the order in which he served as President of the Church. Then go only forward until you reach the temple.

4. Optional: Divide the players into two or more teams and see which team can get all its members to the temple first.

Refreshments:

English Toffee Bars

1/2 c Butter

2 c All-purpose flour

1 c Packed light brown sugar

1 c Pecan halves

TOFFEE TOPPING - (recipe follows)

1 c Milk Chocolate Chips - (Hershey's)

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In large bowl, combine butter, flour and brown sugar. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until fine crumbs form (a few large crumbs may remain). Press into ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Sprinkle pecans over crust.

Prepare Toffee Topping; drizzle evenly over pecans and crust. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until topping is bubbly and golden; remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle milk chocolate chips over top; press gently onto surface. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Cut into bars.

About 36 bars.

Toffee Topping: In small saucepan, combine 2/3 cup butter and 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue boiling, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Use immediately.

Closing Song: "Latter-Day Prophets" (Children’s Songbook )

Closing Prayer: As chosen