Monthly Themes for 2009
MY ETERNAL FAMILY
“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the
teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ”
(“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” paragraph 7).
Objective: To help children understand the eternal nature of families and to
teach them how they can strengthen their families now as well as prepare to be
fathers and mothers in the future.
January Theme
I am a spirit child of Heavenly Father.
“All of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6).
“I Lived in Heaven” (CS, 4) or “The Family Is of God” (Friend or Liahona, Oct.
2008)
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Heavenly Father loves me and has a plan for me (Alma 12:30; Abraham 2:11;
3:22–27).
2.I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to earth (Jeremiah 1:5; D&C 138:56;
Preach My Gospel, 48; GP, chapter 2).
3. I am created in the image of God. My body is a temple (Genesis 1:27; 1
Corinthians 3:16–17; D&C 89; David A. Bednar, “Ye Are the Temple of God,”
Ensign, Sept. 2001, 14–21).
4. The family is ordained of God and is central to His plan (“Proclamation,”
paragraphs 1, 7; Genesis 1:28; GP, chapter 36; Family Guidebook, 1–3).
February Theme
I came to earth as part of a family.
“The family is ordained of God” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7).
“How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns, no.
85, verses 1 and 3)
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Adam and Eve were the first family (2 Nephi 2:19–20; Moses 3:15–24; 4:12;
5:1–2, 12, 58).
2. Heavenly Father blesses righteous families in the scriptures (Genesis
18:1–16; 21:1–8; Alma 53:10–23; 56:45–56).
3. The priesthood blesses my family ( James 5:14–15; D&C 121:36; GP, chapter 13;
“Priesthood,” TTF, 124–28).
4. God’s creations bless us (Genesis 1; D&C 59:16–20; Primary 6, lesson 3; GP,
chapter 5).
March Theme
Family members have important responsibilities.
“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house,
even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of
learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).
“My Eternal Family” (pages 10–11 of
this outline)
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love (1 Nephi
8:12; “Proclamation,” paragraph 7; GP, chapter 37).
2. Mothers nurture the family (Alma 56:47– 48; 57:21; “Proclamation,” paragraph
7, GP, chapter 37).
3. I will obey my parents (Exodus 20:12; Colossians 3:20; GP, chapter 37).
4. I have many family members who can help me (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7; 2
Nephi 4:3–12; FHE, 95–97).
April Theme
Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with my Heavenly Father again.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” ( John 14:6).
Song of your choice about Jesus
Christ from the Children’s Songbook, Hymns, Friend, or Liahona
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. In the premortal life, I chose to follow Jesus Christ (Abraham 3:24–27; GP,
chapters 2–3).
2. I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior ( John 3:16; Alma 34:8–10).
3. Scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening can strengthen my
family (1 Nephi 19:22–23; D&C 88:118–19; “Family Home Evening” and “Family
Prayer, ”TTF, 65–66, 122; FHE,3–6, 17–19).
4. By following Jesus Christ, we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and
Jesus again (D&C 59:23; Articles of Faith 1:3).
May Theme
Baptism and confirmation are ordinances that bless my family.
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” ( John 3:5).
“Baptism” (CS, 100) or “I Want to Be
Baptized”(Friend, July 2005, 45)
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Baptism is the first ordinance of the gospel (2 Nephi 31:17; Articles of
Faith 1:4; “Baptism,” TTF, 21–26; GP, chapter 20).
2. Jesus Christ was baptized (Matthew 3:13–17; 1 Nephi 11:27).
3. I will be baptized and confirmed (Mosiah 18:8–10; 3 Nephi 27:20; Articles of
Faith 1:4; Primary 3, lesson 11; FHE, 120–23).
4. My family is blessed as we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi
32:5; Moroni 10:5; D&C 130:22).
June Theme
Faith, prayer, repentance, and forgiveness strengthen me and my family.
“Successful . . . families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, [and] forgiveness” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7).
“Seek the Lord Early” (CS, 108)
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ strengthens me and my family (Alma 32:21;
Ether 12:6; “Faith,” TTF, 54–56; GP, chapter 18).
2. Prayer strengthens me and my family ( James 1:5; Alma 37:37; Primary 3,
lesson 19; “Prayer,” TTF, 118–23).
3. Repentance helps me return to Heavenly Father (3 Nephi 9:22; D&C 58:42).
4. As I forgive, I will be forgiven (Genesis 37:5–35; 45:1–15; Matthew 6:14; D&C
64:9–10).
July Theme
I will strengthen my family. “And ye will not have a mind to injure
one another, but to live peaceably” (Mosiah 4:13).
Song of your choice about Jesus
Christ from the Children’s Songbook, Hymns, Friend, or Liahona
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Family prayer strengthens my family (Alma 17:3; 3 Nephi 18:21).
2. Reading the scriptures strengthens my family ( John 5:39; 2 Nephi 4:15;
“Scriptures,” TTF, 155–59; FHE, 17–19).
3. Family home evening strengthens my family (3 Nephi 17:3; 22:13; “Family Home
Evening,” TTF, 65–66; Family Guidebook, 7–9).
4. Reverence and keeping the Sabbath day holy strengthen my family (Exodus
20:8–11; GP, chapter 24).
August Theme
Temple blessings unite families.
“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
“Families Can Be Together Forever”
(CS, 188)
Weekly Gospel Principles
1.The temple is the house of God (D&C 88:119; 124:40; “Why Symbols?” Ensign,
Feb. 2007, 12–17).
2. I will prepare now to go to the temple (Alma 34:32; 37:35; “Worthiness to
Enter the Temple,” TTF, 172; Russell M. Nelson, “Prepare for Blessings of the
Temple,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, 17–23).
3. My family can be together forever through the ordinances of the temple (D&C
138:47– 48; GP, chapter 36; Primary 3, lesson 35).
4. Family history and temple work bless all the generations of my family
(Malachi 4:5–6; Abraham 1:31; GP, chapter 40; “Family History Work and
Genealogy,” TTF, 61–64).
September Theme
Prophets teach me how to strengthen my family.
“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, . . . whether by mine own voice
or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. I learn about prayer from the scriptures (Matthew 6:9–15; Enos 1:1–18; D&C
88:63; Joseph Smith—History 1:14–20; Primary 7,lesson 11).
2. Heavenly Father wants me to pray to Him often—anytime, anywhere (Matthew
6:5–8; Alma 34:17–28; 37:37; Primary 3,lesson 34; GP,chapter 8).
3. The prophet today teaches me how to strengthen my family (to meet the needs
of the children in your Primary, select teachings from past general conferences
as found in the Ensign or Liahona and in the section titled “Come Listen to a
Prophet’s Voice” in the Friend; Articles of Faith 1:6; “Prophets,” TTF, 129–30;
GP, chapter 9).
4. I will hear the words of the prophets when I listen to general conference
(Amos 3:7; D&C 21:4–5; GP, chapter 10).
October Theme
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches me about families.
“The family is central to the
Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“Proclamation,”
paragraph 1).
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is modern-day revelation (D&C 68:4;
Articles of Faith 1:9).
2. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches the importance of marriage
(“Proclamation,” paragraphs 1, 7; Genesis 2:24; GP, chapter 38; “Marriage,” TTF,
97–99).
3. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches my family how to be happy
(“Proclamation,” paragraph 7; John 15:12; “Happiness,” TTF, 79–80; Primary 2,
lesson 6).
4. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches my family the importance of
work (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7; Exodus 20:9).
November Theme
My family and I can serve others.
“By love serve one another”
(Galatians 5:13).
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. I am thankful for my family. I will serve them (Matthew 23:11; Mosiah 2:17;
Primary 2, lesson 39; GP, chapter 28).
2. My family will serve others (Matthew 25:34– 40; Mosiah 2:17; 4:15).
3. I can be a good example for my family (Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 4:12;
Primary 3, lesson 45).
4. I will prepare now to become a mother or father (Titus 2:4–6; Mosiah 4:14–15;
Alma 37:35; D&C 68:25; “My Gospel Standards”).
December Theme
My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ.
“I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” ( Job 19:25).
Weekly Gospel Principles
1. Jesus was born into a family (Luke 2:1–20; Matthew 2:1–13; Primary 3, lesson
47; GP, chapter 11).
2. I remember Jesus when I partake of the sacrament (Matthew 26:26–28; 3 Nephi
18:7, 11).
3. Remembering Jesus helps me choose the right ( Joshua 24:15; 3 Nephi 27:21–22;
Primary 3, lesson 3; “Agency,” TTF, 12).
4. Jesus will come again (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; “Second Coming of Jesus
Christ,” TTF, 159–61).