FHE: Reverence

Subtitled:

"How Not to Make Mommy's Eye Twitch in Semi-Contained Rage at Your Utter Lack of Reverence During Church."

Lately, getting the kids to behave during sacrament meeting has been a...struggle.

*Thinking happy thoughts to keep from using Daddy Words when thinking about last Sunday...*

The kids are out of control and no amount of fruit snacks seems to help. So we decided to have a Family Home Evening on the issue. And I swear, if this doesn't work, I am going to start saying "You misbehaving during church makes Baby Jesus cry!"

Opening Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (yes, the Boy picked...)

Opening Prayer: Also The Boy (hey, he volunteered!)

Lesson: It was the Man's turn to teach the lesson. As soon as he got home from work, he had been working on the lesson upstairs in his office.


He starts by handing each child a small bowl with slips of paper inside. On the floor, he sets the cutest little chapel made from a folded paper print out. Then he asks da Boo for a slip of her paper. Confusion and mayhem ensue once the kids realize they don't get to keep those little bowls and have to actually hand over the papers. Eventually, we get things smoothed over and the lesson progresses. Da Boo gives the Man a paper. On it is a way to be reverent during church. The Man reads it and then we discuss how the kids can do these things, too. Da Boo gets to drop the paper into the chapel. We go back and forth like this, talking and trying not to bring up all the havoc they cause during church but instead focusing on what they should be doing:

• Say a quiet prayer in your heart during the sacrament, asking Heavenly Father to help you feel His Spirit.
• Shake hands with someone at church.
• If someone bothers you or talks to you during Church meetings, quietly and kindly tell them that you are trying to be reverent.
• Smile at others in the chapel when they look at you but do not talk. (Kids? Notice how they didn't say "immediately fall on the floor, screaming because you sibling dared to look at you and then loudly complain about how 'boooooooooring' the meeting is to you."? Are you taking notes here?)
• Pick up any litter you may see in the meetinghouse.
• If you have to talk, remember to do so quietly. (Then we practiced whispering because seriously, I think they forget how to do it.)
• Notice how special words, like thee and thou, are used when the prayers are given.
• Fold your arms, bow your head, close your eyes, and listen during the prayers. (Novel concept, I know, but let's give it a try!)
• Try to remember one of the stories you hear at church, in Sharing Time, in your class, or during sacrament meeting. Tell the story to someone after church.
• Walk quietly in the meetinghouse. Do not run or push other people. (Walking quietly does not include walking backwards quietly...)
• Say a quiet prayer in your heart during sacrament, thanking Heavenly Father for your blessings.
• Sing every song. If you do not know the words, hum.
• Think of Jesus during the sacrament. How many stories about Him can you remember?
• Think about something kind you can do for someone else during the coming week.

You can get the whole lesson here. And afterwards, when I was thinking about having a million more of the Man's babies because he did such a good job on the lesson, he admits that they had the same lesson in Elders Quorum a few weeks ago! Really? A Primary lesson? And they make fun of the women for having a centerpiece!

Closing Song: Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam (I gotta get the kids doing this one on film!)

Closing Prayer: Me.

Treats: Da Boo had picked out some yummy triple chocolate cookie dough while we were at the grocery store. It was on sale so I got it. Sooooo tasty!