Teach your children that “the gift of faith at times takes the form of miraculous healings of body and mind. However, faith is usually expressed in the simple trust and calm assurance that God will provide.” The activity, "Frame your life with faith," will serve as a daily reminder that faith brings "a perfect brightness of hope."
Why is it important to have faith in Jesus Christ? (Discuss ideas.)
It is important to have faith in Jesus Christ because it is by faith we are saved/made righteous by His gift (Eph. 2:8). Once we are His, we are new creations empowered to do good works (Eph. 2:10) and makes us worthy of salvation (Eph. 2:9).
“If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33).
POINTS TO PONDER
How can our faith help lead us back to our Heavenly Father? (Discuss ideas.)
“Faith is the light that guides you through the darkness.”
Author Unknown
STORY
"A Prayer of Faith"
Amy excitedly dressed in the soft cotton sheath and robe. “I’m so glad I get to be Mary,” she thought, admiring the costume in the mirror. “Purple is my favorite color.”
“Amy, are you ready?” Mother called. “Remember, I promised to be there early to help with makeup.”
Amy picked up the head covering of her costume and ran down the stairs to where Mother was waiting. “Almost,” she said, holding up the costume piece. “Except for this. Will you help me put it on?”
Mother combed Amy’s hair behind her ears and then fastened the head covering in place. “How’s that?” she asked. “Does it feel like it will stay in place?”
Amy gently shook her head to test the fit. “Perfect!” she said. “Thanks, Mom.”
Upon their arrival at the church, Amy was met by a fretful Katie dressed in a green sheath and robe.
“Oh, Amy. It’s just terrible,” Katie moaned. “Jason’s dad called Sister Larsen on his cell phone. They
were on their way home from the zoo and they got stuck in traffic. There’s a car on fire or something
and their car hasn’t moved for over an hour. He doesn’t think they’ll make it in time for the play.”
“Oh, no!” Amy cried, “Jason’s got the leading part. We just can’t go on without a Jesus! Who would raise Lazarus from the dead?”
Mother who was unloading her makeup kit and some props from the trunk of the car had overhead the girls conversation. “Mary, Martha,” Mother said, calling the girls by their cast names. “Where is your faith? If Jesus could raise your brother Lazarus from the dead, don’t you think He can clear up a traffic jam?”
The two girls looked at each other and in unison whispered loudly, “We need to pray.”
Mother chuckled. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you two were really sisters.”
“Well, we do have the same Heavenly Father,” Amy said, “So that does make us sisters. Right, Katie?”
“That’s right,” Katie agreed. “Let’s go talk to our Father, Sister. We don’t have much time.”
The two girls scampered around to the side of the church to find a quiet place to pray. “Look,” Amy
said pointing at the mulberry tree. “I don’t think we have enough faith to pluck that tree out of the ground and plant it in the sea, but we do have enough faith to get Jason here.”
“He’ll be here,” Katie said confidently, kneeling down with Amy beneath the tree. “I just know he will!”
Read: “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this
sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
(Luke 17:6 )
Let children pluck the veggie trees and plant them in the sea (dip). Then enjoy eating!
After dipping coat with the sunflower seeds for an extra yummy treat.
Ingredients:
Fresh broccoli florets
Celery sticks w/leaves if possible
Carrot sticks
Your favorite vegetable dip
Blue food coloring
Sunflower seeds-shelled (optional)
Directions:
Slice the carrot sticks into several thin strips without cutting all the way through the bottom to create tree limbs. Make thin slices in the top of the celery sticks to form additional tree limbs. Cut broccoli florets into bite size pieces. Place vegetables in ice water for 2–5 minutes to crispen and to help open up the carrot trees.
Mix a few drops of blue food coloring into the dip to make the sea.
Optional: Cut a circle out of a piece of plastic (a sour cream lid works well) or a piece of cardboard slightly smaller than your serving bowl. Cut several large X’s into the circle. Push vegetable trees into the X’s. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top (for soil) to cover the plastic.
ACTIVITY
Activity: Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.
1. Read: “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say
unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea;
and it should obey you.” (Luke 17:6 )
2. Ask: How big is a mustard seed? (Discuss ideas.)
4. Ask: Did the Apostles gain enough faith to use their priesthood to perform similar
miracles ? (Discuss ideas.)
5. Ask: How can we use our faith to help the Lord’s work move forward?
(Discuss ideas. Examples: Be a good example, share the gospel, pray for the needs of others, etc.)
7. Give each child a frame to color. Glue frame to a piece of cardstock along the sides and bottom, leaving top open. Put picture in the frame through the top
opening. Tape in place if needed. Glue mustard seeds onto the front of frame.
8. Bear your testimony of faith and encourage children to look at their picture each day to help them remember to have faith in Jesus Christ and to use that faith to make their lives and the lives of others brighter.
What you need:
A copy of the “Framed in Faith” activity per child, scissors, glue, cardstock, tape, colored pencils, crayons or markers, mustard seeds and a “4x6” or “5x7” photo of
each child.
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