FHE 7/9: The Race of Life

This week's FHE lesson is inspired by President Thomas S. Monson's talk, "The Race of Life."

POINTS TO PONDER BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

QUOTES:

• "In our times of deepest reflection or greatest need, the soul of man reaches heavenward, seeking a divine response to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after we leave this life? Answers to these questions are not discovered within the covers of academia’s textbooks or by checking the Internet. These questions transcend mortality. They embrace eternity."
• "The Apostle Paul likened life to a race. To the Hebrews he urged, “Let us lay aside … the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”⁹
  In our zeal, let us not overlook the sage counsel from Ecclesiastes: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.”¹⁰ Actually, the prize belongs to him or her who endures to the end."
• "The toy boats of childhood had no keel for stability, no rudder to provide direction, and no source of power. Inevitably, their destination was downstream—the path of least resistance.
  Unlike toy boats, we have been provided divine attributes to guide our journey. We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life but with the power to think, to reason, and to achieve.
  Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line."

SONGS:

• I Will Follow God's Plan
• Listen to the Still Small Voice
• Dare to Do Right
• As a Child of God

OBJECT LESSONS:

• Really, President Monson's already got the object lesson embedded in his talk, likening life to a race.  So I'm going to skip this part this week, since almost all the activities below involve race-themed ideas.  :)

GAMES & LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

• Organize family races at a local park or gym or field.  After a few relays, discuss the meaning of truly "enduring to the end." 
• Make paper boats and float them in a race just like in President Monson's story!  (Could be in a bathtub, down a gutter, or in a stream/river.)  Talk about his quote that "the toy boats of childhood had no keel for stability, no rudder to provide direction, and no source of power. Inevitably, their destination was downstream—the path of least resistance. Unlike toy boats, we have been provided divine attributes to guide our journey. We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life but with the power to think, to reason, and to achieve."  Discuss with your family what some of those divine attributes are that help us "win the race."
• (Older children) Print off a copy of the talk for each family member.  Have "the big three" questions printed on separate pieces of paper: Where do we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?  Assign each family member one of the questions (could be several to a group if necessary) and have them: (1) find the answer to that question as found in President Monson's talk,  (2) find a scripture that supports it, and (3) tell of an experience they've had with that question.  Have each group share.

HANDOUTS & FREEBIES

• Have family members color their own Plan of Salvation clipart FOUND HERE.  This Plan is really what answers all those big questions. After they color, you can cut them out and use them to talk about that race of life and where our real destination/goal is.
• I've made bookmarks again for you!   These are 4x6 prints, as usual.  You can download the JPEG HERE.

CRAFTS & MORE:

• Create paper boats for the race activity above.  Directions HERE.
• Create a family collage or coloring pages for each other of all the things that help us win the race of life!

TREATS:

• Race-themed treats, such as this food bicycle or this winner's trophy JELLO dessert, are always a hit.  You can do any sort of finger food with these cute race flag toothpicks in them, or just some "recharging" trail mix and water.