May

Family Home Evening:       Nature-Evidence of Heavenly Father’s Love

 

Scripture:  D&C 59: 18, 20  “Yea, of all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, . . . And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess.”

Suggested Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me (CS p. 228)

Everything in our environment evidences in all its wonder, both in the way it functions so efficiently and in the way it enriches our lives with its beauty, that God organized the universe for his children (See Alma 30: 44). The body is a marvel of engineering. Families, the church, societies, and even governments were inspired for our growth and security. God revealed the plan of salvation with agency, responsibility, and repentance for our exaltation. He sent his son to show us the way.

Activity

Take a nature walk with your family. Stroll around your neighborhood and point out how beautiful the things are that you see around you every day. There may be some special places near your home, such as a wood, the seashore, the mountains, or a desert. Take advantage of these places to inspire a love of nature in your family.

Create a nature collage or scrapbook. Draw pictures, use pages from magazines, and have the older children match up scriptures with specific scenes. (Psalms 65: 9-13, 96: 11-12, 106: 1; Isaiah 32: 18; Romans 11: 36; D&C 59: 16-21; Moses 3: 9; Abraham 5: 9)

Challenge: While we appreciate all that heavenly Father has given us, he has charged us to tend to these gifts as well. What ways can we encourage good uses of the earth? How can we protect the earth? Can we experience our own little bit of creation through growing of gardens, exploring the outdoors?