Service Jar

Last fall I was listening to our church leaders speaking, when I heard this talk about service.  I had been pondering ways to teach my children to serve each other as well as others around us.  So one night our family talked about honeybees, and how it takes many bees working together to produce honey.  I related this to our family, how it takes all of us working together to make a strong family. 

I loved this quote from Elder Ballard,"Over its short lifetime of just a few weeks to four months, a single honeybee’s contribution of honey to its hive is a mere one-twelfth of one teaspoon."  This is a seemingly small amount, but is significant to the hive. 

We started filling a service jar (an empty pickle jar) with water for acts of service.  Each act of service received a teaspoon of water.  I will admit that I often forgot to ask my children about their service, so we probably could have filled the jar much faster.  My boys would often serve at school by holding the doors open.  When the jar was filled we celebrated by going to Classic Fun center.  The kids had a great time jumping on the inflatables, climbing through the jungle, and the boys played laser tag. I did not get very good pictures since the kids were in constant motion, but wanted to remember the day. 

Two things I have learned from this include our family's increased attention to the service that others do for us, and that each family member can serve.  Alyssa will often comment, "that's service" when she notices someone helping her out.  It was great to hear Parker say that I had served him by fixing dinner for him.  Even Spencer serves by helping Caleb with the dishwasher, helping Alyssa put her clothes away, or carrying dirty clothes to the hamper. 

Family Home Evening on Testimony

Parker has been saying that his testimony is about volcanoes, so I thought it would be a good topic for FHE. I found this good outline for a lesson. I like this quote from Elder Ballard, "Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies. Those who are entrusted to speak and teach in our meetings need to do so with doctrinal power that will be both heard and felt, lifting the spirits and edifying our people.”

“Although we can have testimonies of many things as members of the Church, there are basic truths we need to constantly teach one another and share with those not of our faith. Testify God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ. The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior’s Atonement. Joseph Smith restored the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true.”

I also like this talk by Susan Warner in General Conference in October 1998 . She taught an easy way to remember the important elements of a testimony.

I remember how my father taught me of his testimony with the fingers of his hand.

1. God is our loving Father in Heaven.

2. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer.

3. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and he was the instrument through which the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth and the Book of Mormon was translated.

4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth today.

5. This Church is led by a living prophet who receives revelation.

We are also going to make a wheel that teaches about testimony. Hopefully Parker will realize that testimonies are more than just volcanoes.