What You'll Need: scriptures, a dictionary, GAB 136/GAK 520: Gordon B. Hinckley, printed worksheet, blank paper, writing tools.Scripture: Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good.
Opening Song: Kindness Begins with Me (PCS #145)
Lesson:
The words we say are very important. Words help us communicate with one another. They show others how we are feeling and what we are trying to say.
(show family a Dictionary)
- Does anyone know what this book is?
It is a book filled with words. There are millions of words in the English language which we use to talk every day. But not all words are the same. There are some words that make people feel good and other words that make people feel bad. Some words are so bad that they are called SWEAR WORDS. People use these bad words when they are angry. They are not good words. Swear words offend Heavenly Father and drive the Holy Ghost away.
(display GAB 136/GAK 520: Gordon B. Hinckley)
Swearing - Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Don’t swear...Stay away from conversation that is sprinkled with foul and filthy words. You will be happier if you do so, and your example will give strength to others."
We should choose to not say swear words. It is especially important to not take the Lord's name in vain. We hear other people say "Oh my God" all of the time. It's on television, at school and in songs. But it is like making fun of our Heavenly Father. He has commanded us not to say His name in that way.
You can’t control what other people say, but you can let them know when you don’t like their choice of words. Standing up for what you know is right might be hard, but other people are probably bothered by the swear words too. By letting people know you don’t want to hear bad language, you are not only speaking up for yourself—you might also be speaking up for other people around you.
Respect -The way you talk to your family members and parents is important. The For Strength of Youth pamphlet says, "Speak kindly and positively about others. Choose not to [make fun of others], even in joking". Sometimes people say things they think are jokes, but they can hurt others' feelings. Saying unkind things to your friends or family is never okay.
The Lord has commanded us to Honor our Father and Mother. That means you should speak to your parents with respect. Even when we fight and angry words enter our minds, it is important to try your best not to say them, because once you say unkind words they cannot be un-said.
Written Words - Sometimes people think they can say unkind words about each other on the computer or by texting. Sometimes, this is even worse than saying them. Writing a mean joke where everyone can see it can invite others to share the same unkind words. Writing bad things online (even if you don't use your name) is still hurtful and wrong. Those bad words can hurt others more than getting hit or pushed because it hurts their heart. When people say mean things about us, it is hard to forget and you would never want your unkind words to make someone feel sad, lonely or picked on.
The words we use and the things we say are very important. They show people who we are and what we believe in. You will never feel bad about being too nice to others.
Bear your testimony about the impact words have had on your life, both positive and negative. Bear testimony to the power of words for good and evil and that the Holy Ghost can be with us when our language is clean.
(For tips on sharing your testimony please click here.)
Activity: Choose from the following activities as they best suit your family.
SMALL CHILDREN // WORDS LEAD TO FEELINGS
Print list from lesson. Have family members list words commonly used in your home (yes, even the bad ones) in the appropriate column. Make a commitment to try to only use happy words for the coming week and see if your home feels more happy. Put the list where everyone can see it on a daily basis. If name calling and other sad words are a concern in your home, you may want to set up a reward system for using happy words throughout each day.
OLDER KIDS // KIND WORDS WORD SEARCH
OLDER KIDS, TEENS, & ADULTS // FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH REVIEW
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25 Way Righteous Comments:
Thank you for a wonderful lesson- my girls have come home from school recently with words that they do not understand are innapropriate for our family- thanks for a great lesson plan to tackle anger management and language use!
My 10 year old is struggling with speaking to adults with respect. This seems like a perfect lesson to address that. Thank you so much for making this available to all!
Your blog has changed our lives. Sounds dramatic, but it's true. We've not missed FhE since we found it. Thanks for being inspired to do this blog.
This lesson and last week's about attitude are just what our family needed, thanks for making it so easy for us to hold FHE regularly in our family! Your hard work and time dedication to creating these lessons is greatly appreciated!
O.K. I have been coming to your blog off and on for a while now. I first saw your articles of faith on pinterest and printed them off. Then I started coming to get ideas for my primary lessons and so on. I figured it is finally time I leave a message and sing your praises.... You're amazing and incredibly talented. You're a great designer and I love your FHE lessons. I decided I would follow your plan for FHE in May and I LOVE YOU. We have had two of the best fhe lessons we've ever had. I felt organized, we say songs that applied (instead of Popcorn 3 times:) and our kids were fully engaged. THANK YOU for all your efforts and for sharing your time and talents with this online audience, what a difference you are making in our little family- I so appreciate it! I will be coming back every week and telling all my friends. You're amazing!!!
Thanks for the lesson, we used it tonight. We also talked about body language and how that can convey a good or bad/sad feeling toward someone.
Thank you for all your hard work you put in to these, just found you and love how the lessons are put together! Thanks
I like that the suplimental material goes right along with the lesson. I remember going over that page in the Friend, but to have it right when I need it to go perfectly along with the lesson is so helpful-the work is done for me! Thank you!
I am so happy to have access to your wonderful lessons. I have used a few already from previous years and truly appreciate having a lesson at my fingertips so we can more easily enjoy the blessings of consistent FHE. Keep 'em coming! And Thanks!
Another great lesson. Thank you.
Love your simple gospel based lessons!!!
Thank you for you FHE lessons! They are perfect for the ages we have in our family and the lessons hit on all of the important points!
We are in great need of this lesson right now. Thank you for sharing your talent and hard work with the rest of us. I love that the activity is provided and I could just print it right out. Please know that your efforts are greatly appreciated and I pray that you will be blessed for your generosity! Happy FHE to you!
Thank you for sharing!! I am excited to give this lesson and re-emphasize the need for using "kind" words.
I love that this teaches the importance of speaking to adults with respect. My kids seem to think sarcasm and joking around count as respect & I've been struggling with a way to teach them. Thank you for all of your work!!
This lesson is great! Our children are having a hard time speaking kindly to one another and it is also starting to come out in school as well. We are trying to do everything we can to work on this and hopefully create a better atmosphere in our home! This lesson has some good ideas for that and I am excited to teach about it tonight! Thanks for your help!
Your efforts are divinely inspired! Thank you for putting this material together for our family to learn from. We ALL need this lesson.
Thank you for your time spent on making my time planning FHE easier!!!!
This is fabulous, and perfect for my family! Thank you!
Thank you!!! We used this tonight and it helped us develops conversation that was edifying for everyone!
Keep up the great work!
I've been trying to print this lesson but each link just directs me to the .jpg file on blogspot...not a downloadable .pdf, is there another link I could try?
At the top of the post there is an orange button that says CLICK TO DOWNLOAD LESSON PDF.
Emilie, When I click on the "download" button, it just takes me to the picture of the jpg. I know it's worked for me in the past, but for some reason I'm having the same problem as Heather!
Emilie, I'm having the same issue getting the lesson to download- when clicking on the orange button, it just takes me to a photo of the "click to download" button.
I fixed the DOWNLOAD BUTTON link! It should work now. THANKS for letting me know!!
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