As my three boys have advanced through the cub scout program, this easy activity has become a beloved tradition. If you have a Wolf Cub Scout, I highly recommend this activity. You’ll knock off several Wolf requirements and a few Faith in God requirements in one fell swoop – and have a blast doing it.

Thus, Super-Charged!

Though not structured like a traditional Family Home Evening, we’ve always done this as a family party and consider it a fantastic FHE.

Tips: Use what you have and keep it simple. This is meant to be easy and fun, and certainly doesn’t need the “polish” you tend to see when the grown-ups are in charge. If you make this a family party, it’s much easier to let go of the reigns and let your kids truly make this party their own.

Let the Party begin:

Let your Wolf scout help plan the party. The party can be indoors or outdoors, but outdoors fulfills more requirements.

He should help decorate, help prepare a treat, and help prepare your picnic lunch or dinner. Our youngest boy just threw his party, which actually fell between lunch and dinner. His menu consisted of popcorn and rice krispy treats (both of which he helped make), peanut butter crackers, mini marshmallows, and juice boxes. As you can see, he was in charge of the menu. However, if the meal is “nutritious” it will qualify for an additional requirement in the Faith in God program.

If the dinner is something that he cooks outdoors, that fulfills yet another requirement. Hot dogs or hobo dinners are easy ideas.

Have him plan and help set up the following games (see pg 128 of the Wolf book for illustrations of these games):

Pie Pan Washer Toss (Each player tosses five washers at a pie tin. Score 1 point for each washer that stays in the pan. You can also use buttons.)

Bean Bag Toss (Have him make the beanbags for each person to use and keep as a party favor and knock off another requirement. If you don’t have time for that, use tiny stuffed animals for the beanbags.)

Bean Bag Archery (This one is on page 90 of the Wolf book. My sons draw the targets on paper.)

Marble Sharpshooter (Each player rolls five marbles at glass bottle targets. Score one point for each marble that rolls between the bottles and misses them. We’ve substituted empty plastic jars used for freezer jam.)

Ring Toss (Use rolled up newspaper shaped into rings for this traditional game.)

A Game of Marbles (See this fun site for a refresher on how to play marbles.)

Obstacle Course (He can make up his own ideas; here are the ideas from page 197 of the Wolf book – jump across an imaginary river, crawl through a cardboard tunnel, jump up and ring a bell, toss a ball into a can, do one forward roll, walk like an elephant for five steps.)

The Super-Charged Super List:

That’s it! Depending on what you did, your wolf cub scout just fulfilled 2 requirements and 8 or 9 electives, along with some of his Faith in God requirements! Here’s the complete list:

Wolf requirements 8c or 8e, and 10b; and Wolf electives 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 9a, 9b, 18a or 18b, and 18d. Faith in God, Serving Others 4 and 7 (plus part of requirement 5 if you have younger siblings at the party).

Looking for more activity ideas for your party? Check out Wolf requirement 1, and Wolf electives 18c or 18e.

My favorite FHE’s are the ones where one of my children taught the lesson. And not just because I got out of teaching for the week.

It’s sweet to see them sharing a thought or reading a story from The Friend with that serious, reverent demeanor they tend to have when they’re the ones in charge. Rather than resisting the idea of teaching a lesson, my children seem to love the opportunity.

In general, I let them pick their own topic and source of inspiration. On occasion I’ll suggest an idea that comes from their Faith in God booklet, or something along those lines.

If you sometimes like to do the same, this post is for you.

Below are all the requirements from the various LDS programs which require a child or youth to lead a Family Home Evening.

Faith in God

Learning and Living the Gospel, requirement #1: Explain how taking the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant. In a family home evening, teach others about things we can do to remain faithful.

Learning and Living the Gospel, requirement #2: Give a family home evening lesson on Joseph Smith’s First Vision (see Joseph Smith—History 1:1–20). Discuss how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers. (Also counts toward the Cub Scout Religious Square Knot Patch)

Personal Progress

Faith Value Requirement #3: Living gospel principles requires faith. Read about faith in the Bible Dictionary or True to the Faith. Faith in the Savior Jesus Christ leads to action. Choose a principle such as prayer, tithing, fasting, repentance, or keeping the Sabbath day holy. In your own home or another setting, plan and present a family home evening lesson about how faith helps you live that gospel principle. If possible, ask a family member to share an experience that has strengthened his or her faith. Share your own experiences as well. In your journal write down one of those experiences and describe your feelings about faith.

Knowledge Value Requirement #4: Select a gospel principle you would like to understand better (for example, faith, repentance, charity, eternal families, or baptismal covenants). Read scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets that relate to the principle. Prepare a five-minute talk on the subject, and give the talk in a sacrament meeting, in a Young Women meeting, to your family, or to your class. Record in your journal how you can apply this gospel principle in your life.

Knowledge Value Requirement #7: At Young Women camp you learn skills in first aid, safety, sanitation, and survival. Review these teachings in your Young Women Camp Manual [link downloads PDF file] and note in your journal how you could apply them in your home to keep your family safe. Develop a list of basic supplies your family will need in case of an emergency. Teach a family home evening lesson or share with a Young Women leader what you have learned and what additional skills you would like to learn to be prepared for emergencies.

Good Works Value Requirement #4: Teach a lesson about service in family home evening or in another setting. Use pictures, music, examples, or demonstrations in your lesson. You may want to use the manual Teaching, No Greater Call as a resource.

Duty to God

While there are no longer specific requirements for young men to teach a Family Home Evening in the new Duty to God program, most “Learn” and “Act” activities are followed by a “Share” activity, which can nearly always be fulfilled by teaching a Family Home Evening lesson about the topic the young man has been studying.

There once was a horse.*

This horse loved strawberries.

These strawberry bushes look awfully good to our horse. What our horse doesn’t know is that these strawberry bushes are full of thorns. Holes lurk beneath many of the branches.

Beyond the dangerous bushes lies a beautiful garden.

The strawberry bushes in the beautiful garden are good for our horse and safe to eat.

Ask: How do we get our horse past the strawberry bushes that will hurt him and into the beautiful garden?

(My children suggested a bridle, which I drew on the horse. I suggested a fence might be helpful too.)

Read Alma 38:12: “Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love…”

The strawberries can represent many different passions human beings have. The strawberries with thorns and hidden holes represent unbridled passions. The strawberries in the beautiful garden represent passions bridled by correct principles.

So if the passion we’re talking about is money, unbridled passions would be greed, covetousness and miserliness.

The bridled passion for money would be a righteous desire to provide for one’s family, avoiding debt, saving money, keeping our wants modest and giving to those in need.

If the passion is food, unbridled desires would be gluttony and fad diets. (But not chocolate addiction! Oh no.)

The bridled passion for food would be following the principles of the Word of Wisdom.

If the passion we’re talking about is praise, unbridled passions would be an unhealthy desire for fame or popularity, caving in to peer pressure, gossip, lying and fear of rejection.

An healthy outlook on the normal human desire for acceptance involves looking to the proper source for that acceptance.

As President Ezra Taft Benson put it: “If we love God, do His will and fear His judgment’s more than men’s, we will have self esteem.”

If the passions we’re talking about is sexual desire, a normal and God-designed passion within us all, then unbridled passions include pornography (there it is!), sexual relations outside of marriage and other sexual sins.

The bridled passion of sexual desire is a healthy, loving sexual relationship within marriage. (I conducted a separate FHE on healthy sexuality the following week.)

So, back to our strawberry bushes. Our horse likes strawberries. And that’s okay. Our horse is supposed to like strawberries. He was created to like strawberries.

But what happens if our horse goes to the strawberry bushes outside of the beautiful garden? What if he doesn’t learn to bridle his passion? What if he jumps the fence?

He’s going to get hurt.

What do those thorns and holes represent?

• Spiritual damage from sexual encounters outside of marriage
• Low self-esteem from sexual encounters outside of marriage
• Pornography addiction
• Lack of ability to control sexual urges which may begin as teenage promiscuity and repeat itself later in life in the form of marital affairs
• Teenage pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted diseases

What does the fence represent?

God’s commandments (found in the scriptures), guidance by Church leaders (such as that found in For the Strength of Youth – just as pertinent to adults I believe), and guidance by righteous parents.

What does the bridle represent?

Self control.

Here I interjected this little thought:

There’s something important to understand about Satan. First, he is our enemy. He hates us and wants nothing more than to destroy us any way he can. Do not expect him to avoid using every weapon he has against you just to be nice. He’s not nice, he shows no mercy and he will use every weapon he can.

Second, he will use something good and distort it to suit his evil purposes.

Therefore, one weapon that is an absolute plague on the earth today is pornography.

I explained this next part pretty much the way the LDS counselor explained it.*

Our minds and our bodies are designed to react to sexual stimulation, physical or visual. It’s the way God created us and that’s just the way it is. So this is what happens when a young boy (or an adult, for that matter) first views pornography.* *

The boy views a sexually arousing image.

The boy’s body has an instant physical reaction to it, as he is designed to do. In other words, he likes it. His body will NOT be disgusted by it. His body will like it. (The counselor actually explained the anatomical and neurological process, but I didn’t retain all that information, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.)

The boy will most likely know he’s not supposed to like things like pornography. Intellectually, he may not like what he’s seeing at all. In short, he’ll know that what he’s viewing is bad.

The boy will put those things together in the following way:

1. I liked that
2. That was bad
3. I liked bad.
4. I am bad.

That is a universal reaction that leads to shame, secrecy and damage to self esteem. All of which is one leg of the vicious addiction cycle. (He talked at length about the addiction cycle too, but I won’t get into that either.)

So, Satan knows your body is going to react to something like pornography, because he knows you’re supposed to like strawberries. But what does he do to get sweet boys like you to look at pornography? He knows you’re not going to go looking for it.

Satan becomes the hunter.

What might a hunter do when he’s hunting deer? (Yes, I know, I’m mixing my animal metaphors, but bear with me.)

Let’s imagine the hunter lays traps.

The hunter lays traps where he knows his prey is going to walk, like on a deer path through the woods or next to a food source.

Then, the hunter is going to hide that trap.

What’s going to happen when our deer walks along the path, sees nothing but leaves, and steps in a trap?

SNAP!

The deer didn’t do anything wrong by walking along that path. But he’s caught nonetheless.

What does an animal do when it’s caught in a trap? Can the animal get out unharmed? The animal will have to chew its own leg off to get out of that trap.

Because here’s the next part. Satan knows that if you look at pornography, you will have a physical reaction of pleasure.

He also knows you’ll feel guilty about it. Ashamed.

He wants you to feel ashamed. He wants you to feel embarrassed. He wants you to hide and be in the dark.* * *

Satan works in secrecy.

He doesn’t want you to tell a soul about what you saw or how you felt or what you might be tempted to do next. He wants you to drown in your feelings of worthlessness. He wants you, bit by bit, to cycle into pornography addiction.

He wants you to chew your own leg off.

The other way an animal can get out of the trap is if a human being opens the trap for him and sets him free. How do we get out of the pornography trap?

We tell someone who can help. And we don’t wait.* * * *

Back to the strawberry fields and the fences and the bridles. Trust the wisdom of the people who built the fence to keep you away from harm. They know where the thorns and holes are most likely to be hidden. Exercise your free agency and bridle your passions. Be committed to that. Be committed to following the commandments no matter what. Do this, and the fruits of the beautiful garden will be yours. They will be sweet to the taste and cause you no harm.

What blessings come from bridling our passions?

“Bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.”

Love of self. Love of others. Love of God. Holy, virtuous principles lead to these things.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

________________________________________________________________________________________

* This is an actual FHE lesson I taught when my sons were aged six through ten. It was inspired by a joint Relief Society/Priesthood lesson taught by an LDS counselor specializing in sex addictions. He’s considered an expert in his field. He didn’t teach us grown ups with a horse and strawberries, that was my idea for my children.

* * The average age children are first exposed to pornography is age 11. That means some children view it much sooner. More often than not, the first time a person sees pornography (whether child or adult) is on accident. Malicious web designers purposely design their sites to be accidentally discovered, because they know how ensnaring that first experience can be. This sex addiction counselor spent a significant portion of his lesson explaining how easily people are trapped (adults with pornography addictions almost always began by accidentally stumbling across pornography online) and how important it is to A) educate kids about this danger, healthy sexuality, etc. and B) put multiple filters on your computer.

Filters are not foolproof. That’s why you have more than one. Determined kids might be able to figure out a way around them, that’s why you educate your kids, keep the lines of communication open and stay very aware of what they’re doing online. But you put filters on your computer for the same reason you lock your front door: to keep malicious intruders from barging into your home and doing damage. The lives of sweet, innocent, trustworthy children have been blown to bits because they accidentally saw pornography. This guy sees it all the time. The statistics back him up. Don’t make the mistake of thinking your children are immune. The potential damage is not worth the risk. Filter your computers.

* * * I’ll never forget my ten-year-old listening to this with rapt attention and with wide eyes saying, “He does?” He later told me that when he and his dad had gone camping several months prior, he was looking through the newspapers his dad had brought for starting campfires. In it was an ad of a scantily clad woman, dressed (or barely dressed) in some sort of animal skin. This (not surprisingly) caught the attention of my innocent, preadolescent boy. He hid the paper, went back to it several times during the trip, and finally threw it in the fire to get rid of it. He never discussed it out of fear and shame, and it had been corrupting his perception of himself. He wondered if he was a bad boy.

This FHE lesson gave him the permission to talk to me about this. He was visibly relieved to know that it’s natural to like the way a beautiful woman looks and that doesn’t make him bad. We talked about respect for ourselves, respect for women, healthy sexuality, and blessings that come from following the commandments. This talk freed my child from Satan’s trap.

Which he found in a newspaper.

Soft-core porn is all around us and social acceptance of it doesn’t dilute its poison at all.

* * * * For those already deep into pornography addiction, Satan may tell them they’re too far gone for help. Which is another way to keep them in the dark. Or as they go through their addiction cycle – which includes periods of abstinence before falling back into the trap again – Satan may encourage them to feel that they can control it on their own or to think the problem “really isn’t that bad because…” Again, Satan works in secrecy. Pornography addiction requires more counseling and education than a trapped deer can provide for itself.

Generally speaking, we don’t watch movies for Family Home Evening but after seeing The Blind Side (I’m late in the game, I know, I know), I decided to make an exception.

This is a movie I thought my young boys could relate to. It’s a true story (which always seems to capture their attention) and it has football. Not that we’re big on football around here, but what boy isn’t going to be drawn to football?

More than that, I knew this movie would have impact. And who can resist the message? Who wouldn’t be touched and inspired by this amazing true story?

I prefaced the movie with a little bit of background information, to give them context in which to understand the story.

I probably stopped the movie another three or four times to discuss what was happening, ask questions (Why did Leigh Ann invite Big Mike into her home? What made Michael different or the same as other boys in his neighborhood?) and provide more background information to help them understand upcoming scenes.

We talked about it some more when it was over and we were feeling all warm and fuzzy and (yes) a bit teary-eyed.

I was not disappointed in my sons’ reactions to this movie. The ultimate payoff? My ten-year-old saying, “It makes me want to be a better person.”

Me too, sweetheart. Me too.

Not only is this FHE Super-Charged, it’s largely child-led. So sit back and relax, Mom. Time to let your children teach you.

This can be one lesson or several, depending on how in-depth you get and what ideas your children might have for FHE as you discuss this with them ahead of time. Personally, I love it when my kids come up with so many ideas that I have to push what I had planned to next time. That gives my procrastinating self a whole week to feel ahead of the game.

Preparation:

If you have a child aged 8-11, he should read the story of the First Vision found in Joseph Smith – History 1:1-20 and be prepared to share the story in FHE. Invite him to think of other things that can be part of his lesson about this.

If you have a daughter aged 12-17, she can similarly lead the lesson below by reading the story of the First Vision. This lesson can either be the beginning of her challenge to pray regularly for three weeks or an opportunity to report on that experience once completed. (See the PP requirement below.)

If you have a Deacon-aged son, reading about the First Vision fulfills a Quorum requirement, so long as he discusses it with a priesthood leader afterward.

Opening and/or Closing prayer: offered by your Faith in God-aged child, if you have one.

Opening Song:

A Child’s Prayer (Children’s Songbook #12). Best children’s hymn ever. I love this song. (Link includes words and audio.)

Lesson:

Tell the story of the First Vision (led by the child/ren who prepared for this, if applicable).

Group Discussion: How does Heavenly Father answer our sincere prayers? Share experiences when prayers have been answered.

How does prayer protect us and help us stay close to Heavenly Father and the Savior? Share feelings about this.

Why is it important to pray regularly? What are some things that prevent us from praying regularly?

(If you have Wolf or Bear Cub Scouts, further discussion questions are in the Faith Character Connection below.)

Activity:

Make something tangible to help children remember to say morning and evening prayers. Challenge them to practice this for the next three to four weeks (or whatever length is appropriate for each child).

One  option is to make a paper chain out of strips of construction paper or scrapbook paper, with enough links for each morning and evening prayer. Each child hangs the chain by their bed and removes a link after each personal prayer is said.

Other options are to paint a prayer rock, make a prayer rug or create a prayer chart to hang by your child’s bed.

Treat:

Make these easy “Praying Arms” soft pretzels. (Or buy the soft SuperPretzels sold in Costco’s frozen food section.)

This lesson fulfills part or all of the following requirements:

Faith in God – Learning and Living the Gospel #2: “Read the Prophet Joseph Smith’s testimony in Joseph Smith—History 1:1–20, and discuss it with a priesthood leader.”

Faith in God – Learning and Living the Gospel #5: “Give an opening and a closing prayer in family home evening or at Primary. Share your feelings about how prayer protects us and helps us to stay close to Heavenly Father and the Savior.” Which also fulfills part of the Cub Scout Religious Square Knot patch.

Wolf Cub Scout requirement 11c: “Give two ideas on how you can practice or demonstrate your religious beliefs. Choose one and do it.”

Bear Cub Scout requirement 1b: “Make a list of things you can do this week to practice your religion as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious community. Check them off your list as you complete them.”

Part of Webelos Cub Scout requirement 8e: “For at least a month, pray or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, temple, mosque, synagogue, or religious group.”

Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts also work on the Faith Character Connection (Wolf requirement 11a and Bear requirement 1a): “Know. What is “faith”? With your family, discuss some people who have shown their faith – who have shown an inner strength based on their trust in a higher power or cause. Discuss the good qualities of these people. Commit. Discuss these questions with your family: What problems did these faithful people overcome to follow or practice their beliefs? What challenges might you face in doing your duty to God? Who can help you with these challenges? Practice. Practice your faith while doing the requirements for “Duty to God.”

Personal Progress Faith requirement #1: “The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn about faith from the scriptures and living prophets. Read Hebrews 11, Alma 32:17–43, Ether 12:6–22, and Joseph Smith—History 1:11–20. Read two general conference talks on faith. Exercise your own faith by establishing a habit of prayer in your life. Begin by saying your morning and evening prayers regularly. After three weeks of following this pattern, discuss with a parent or leader what you have learned about faith and how daily personal prayer has strengthened your faith. In your journal express your feelings about faith and prayer.”

Duty to God Deacon – Quorum Activities #1: “Read the Prophet Joseph Smith’s testimony in Joseph Smith—History 1:1–20, and discuss it with a priesthood leader.”

Part of the requirements for all LDS Youth programs is to strive to have regular personal prayer.

Related Requirements:

These first two are more in-depth and probably merit a FHE all their own:

If you have a Teacher-aged son, he can teach a FHE based on the chapter titled Prayer (found in the True to the Faith book). Fulfills half of Duty to God Teacher – Family Activities #3.

If you have a Priest-aged son, he can read the chapter titled Restoration of the Gospel (also found in the True to the Faith book) and teach it to the family. Fulfills half of Duty to God Priest – Family Activity #5.

Boy Scouts may want to work on the Personal Management merit badge and include morning and evening prayers as part of their larger to-do list (see requirement #8).

Good health and nutrition is a topic covered across the board in the LDS Youth and Scouting programs. Here’s another FHE to help your kids learn a gospel principle and fulfill some requirements at the same time.

Super Charged FHE: Word of Wisdom

Preparation:

Print out a food pyramid guide like this one found at MyPyramid.gov.

Make a batch of cupcakes ahead of time. For a few of them (enough for each person in your family to have one), pour half the batter into the muffin tin, place a little pile of dirt in the center, then cover with the rest of the batter. Bake as usual, but be sure not to mix them up with your regular cupcakes. Make only enough so each person in your family could have one.

Frost all the cupcakes, putting sprinkles only on the cupcakes filled with dirt.

Make sure no one knows about the dirt!

Opening song:

The Word of Wisdom, Children’s Hymn #154
Or, you know, a song you actually know.

Object lesson:

Bring out two plates of cupcakes, one with the frosted, good cupcakes and the other with the sprinkle-covered, dirt-filled cupcakes. Explain that each person may choose one cupcake, any one they like, but that you advise against the one with sprinkles. When they ask why, don’t explain it. Just say they’re free to choose for themselves.

Once everyone has made their choice and eaten (or tried to eat, as the case may be) their cupcake, relate this to the Word of Wisdom. Some people will try to make things like alcohol and drugs seem appealing but really it’s bad for you.

(This same object lesson works great for the topic of obedience. Just like your family members didn’t know why you said not to eat the sprinkle-covered cupcakes, we don’t always know why we’re told to do certain things, but we trust Heavenly Father, Jesus, our leaders, our parents, etc and obey anyway.)

Lesson:

Just as I acted as a guide to help you know which cupcakes to eat, we have a guide that helps us know how to take care of our bodies. What is it?

Read Doctrine & Covenants 89:1-4. Why were we given this commandment?

Explain that the next verses warn us about the dirt-filled cupcakes. Ask family members to watch for them as someone reads verses 5-9. Ask what we’re warned to stay away from? Elaborate on the why’s if desired.

Explain that we’re also told how to take care of our bodies so they can be healthy and strong. God created our bodies and knows all about them and how to take care of them. Read verses 10-17 and discuss key points.

What blessings come to us if we follow the counsel outlined in these scriptures? Read verses 18-21 and discuss.

Activity:

Review and discuss the food pyramid. Depending on what requirements you’re trying to fulfill, you may also want to fill in meal planners like this one.

Treat:

More cupcakes! (That’s healthy, right?)

This lesson at least partially fulfills the following requirements:

Reinforces My Gospel Standards (from Faith in God): “I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure, and I will not partake of things that are harmful to me.”

Faith in God – Learning and Living the Gospel #7: “Read Doctrine & Covenants 89. Discuss how Heavenly Father blesses us when we faithfully live the Word of Wisdom. Help plan and conduct an activity to teach the Word of Wisdom to others.”

Faith in God – Serving Others #4: “Plan, prepare, and serve a nutritious meal.”

Faith in God – Developing Talents #9: “Learn about and practice good nutrition, good health, and good grooming, including modest dress. ”

Personal Progress Knowledge Value Project idea 3: “Read Doctrine and Covenants 89. Consider what you can do to be more physically fit. Improve your health by developing and implementing a regular fitness program and learning to cook and eat food that is part of a healthful diet.”

Duty to God – Deacon Educational, Career requirement 12: “Read the Word of Wisdom in Doctrine & Covenants 89 and explain to a parent or priesthood leader what is meant by “and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.”

Wolf Cub Scout requirement 8a: “Study the Food Guide Pyramid.  Name some foods from each of the food groups shown in the pyramid.”

Wolf Cub Scout requirement 8b: “Plan the meals you and your family should have for one day. List things your family should have from the food groups shown in the Food Group Pyramid.  At each meal, you should have foods from at least three food groups.”

Wolf Cub Scout requirement 12b: “[Discuss the following scenario] There is an older boy who hangs around Jason’s school. He tries to give drugs to the children. What would you do if you were Jason?”

Bear Cub Scout requirement 9d: “Make a list of the ‘junk foods’ you eat. Discuss ‘junk food’ with a parent or teacher.”

Webelos Scout Athlete activity badge requirement 2: “Explain what it means to be physically and mentally healthy.”

Webelos Scout Athlete activity badge requirement 3: “Explain what you as a Webelos Scout can do to stay physically and mentally healthy.”

Several requirements in the Webelos Scout Fitness activity badge.

Physical Fitness cub scout pin requirement 1: “Make a diagram of the Food Guide Pyramid. List foods you ate in a week and show where they fit in the pyramid. ”

Athletics Merit Badge requirement 2c: “[Explain] the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.”

Several requirements from the Cooking Merit Badge, especially requirements 2, 3 and 7.

Several requirements from the Personal Fitness Merit Badge, including requirement 3c: “Do you understand the meaning of a nutritious diet and know why it is important for you? Does your diet include foods from all the food groups?”

Public Health Merit Badge requirement 6b: “Describe health dangers from tobacco use and alcohol and drug abuse.” [Discussion should include dangers within the context of society at large. I haven't read this merit badge booklet, but I'm sure there's good information in it regarding this topic.]

These requirements coordinate nicely if you have children in these programs:

Physical Fitness cub scout belt loop requirement 1: “Give a short report to your den or family on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.”

Personal Progress Good Works requirement 2: “Service is an essential principle of family living. Help plan your family’s menus, obtain the food, and prepare part of the meals for two weeks. During that time help your family gather to share mealtimes. Report to your class what you have learned.”

Personal Progress Good Works Value Project idea 2: “Prepare to be a homemaker by collecting recipes, shopping for food, and preparing meals for your family.”

Boy Scout First Class rank requirement 4a: “Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner and that requires cooking at least two meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the food pyramid and meets nutritional needs.”

After fulfilling Family Life Merit Badge requirement 6a (“Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family meeting.”), your son can build on this FHE by fulfilling requirement 6b: “Plan and carry out a family meeting to include the subject of avoiding substance abuse.”

Be aware that Tiger Cub Scouts have a Den activity on this theme, requirement 3D: “Make a food guide pyramid. Complete the Character Connection for Health and Fitness.”

Here’s another easy Family Home Evening inspired by requirements from each program (Faith in God, Duty to God, Personal Progress and Scouting).  Take out what you don’t need or toss in an add-on for a FHE that’s just right for your family.

Also, I share the recipe for the easiest, most delicious cookies you’ll ever eat. I get asked for this recipe all the time. It’s my go-to recipe when I need something fast or when I’m making cookies to give away.

Super-Charged FHE: The Sacrament

Opening song:

God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son, Hymn #187 (link includes audio)

Object lesson:

Prepare an object made of clear glass (such as a drinking glass, bowl or mirror) by sprinkling it with water and then dirt. Allow to dry. Show the glass and ask if it’s clean or dirty. Should we throw the glass away because it’s dirty? What should we do? Clean the glass with glass cleaner or by rinsing with water.

Compare the glass to our spiritual selves. Explain that just as a glass can be made clean, so can we. What are some ways we can be cleansed? (Baptism, taking the sacrament, repentance.)

Lesson:

Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:9.  If we want to be “unspotted”, how do we do that? How does prayer help keep us clean? How does taking the sacrament help keep us clean?

Sing, listen to or read the words to Children’s Hymn #72, The Sacrament.

The second verse says we can remember the Savior by serving Him. What are some ways we can serve Him? What are some other things we can do to show we remember Him?

Activity:

Challenge each family member to set a goal to make taking the sacrament more meaningful. Brainstorm ways to achieve this (see requirements below for ideas, but see what your family comes up with on their own first). Pass out slips of paper and have each person write down their personal goal. Follow up with this in a future FHE.

Treat:

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

1 package chocolate cake mix (any kind)
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Complicated, I know.

Mix all ingredients. At first it will seem like there isn’t enough liquid, especially if you use medium-sized eggs (which I do). Keep mixing until it all comes together in a moist dough. Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Place on a cookie sheet and flatten slightly with your fingers. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Go ahead and have one. You know you want to.

This lesson fulfills part or all of the following requirements:

Faith in God – Learning and Living the Gospel #1: “Explain how taking the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant. In a family home evening, teach others about things we can do to remain faithful.”

Wolf Cub Scout requirement 11c: “Give two ideas on how you can practice or demonstrate your religious beliefs. Choose one and do it. ”

Bear Cub Scout requirement 1b: “Make a list of things you can do this week to practice your religion as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious community. Check them off your list as you complete them.”

Webelos Cub Scout requirement 8e (which lists several options, including): “With your religious leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things for a month. ”

Personal Progress Faith requirement 4: “Learn more about the sacrament. Read about the Last Supper in Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22–24, and Luke 22:17–20. Establish a pattern of pondering during the sacrament by listening carefully to the sacrament hymn and prayers. Think about why we partake of the bread and water. After three weeks of following this pattern, write in your journal some of the promises you make as you partake of the sacrament and remember your baptismal covenants and what you do to keep those promises. Record in your journal how your understanding of these promises has strengthened your faith in the Savior.”

Personal Progress Divine Nature requirement 4: “Memorize the sacrament prayers in Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79. During the sacrament, listen carefully to the prayers and think about what it means to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ and how doing this should affect your actions and decisions. Practice keeping your baptismal covenants. Begin by doing something each day to recognize and further develop your divine qualities and to help you always remember the Lord Jesus Christ. After two weeks record your experience in your journal.”

(Note: these two PP requirements are related, but separate. Your young woman could pick one to focus on as a result of your FHE.)

Easy Add-Ons:

Duty to God Deacon – Quorum Activities requirement 7: “Write a half-page explanation of the purpose of the sacrament. You can refer to Matthew 26:26, D&C 20:75–79, or the Topical Guide.”

Duty to God Priest – Quorum Activities requirement 1: “Memorize the sacrament prayers. Talk to a priesthood leader about the baptismal covenant and what it involves.”

I’m all about simple Family Home Evenings. I skip the fluff (mainly due to lack of time) and just focus on trying to have a FHE which inspires me and my family to do a little better, try a little harder or feel closer to the Lord.

Or at least allows me to say we did FHE instead of forgetting. Sometimes checking it off the list is the best I can do.

With that said, even though I tend to throw these things together at the last minute I’m a big fan of what I’m calling the Super-Charged FHE.

Or maybe it should be Super-Duper-Charged FHE.

Or how about Super-Duper-Charged-I’m-the-Best-Mom-on-the-Face-of-the-Planet FHE? (Believe me, with all the piles of dirty laundry lying around, I need all the mommy boosters I can get.)

Anyway, I think these FHE’s are pretty cool. I build them from requirements in my sons’ Faith in God and Scout books. That means I get points for doing Family Home Evening and for helping my sons with their scouting.

Plus we get chocolate.

Everyone wins.

So here is the first Super-Charged FHE for your benefit. Tonight’s theme: Easy Family History. With an emphasis on easy. Don’t let the subject matter scare you off.

Below is a basic FHE outline. This fulfills at least one requirement in each program for boys and girls ages 8 to 18.

Following the basic outline is stuff you can easily add on to create the Super-Charged FHE which fits your family. Include only what works for you and stop adding when you feel maxed out. You can always save any leftovers for a future FHE.

Whether you do a little or a lot, whatever you do, don’t forget the chocolate.

Super Charged FHE: Easy Family History

Opening song:

Families Can Be Together Forever, Hymn #300 (link includes audio)

Object lesson:

Cut construction paper into wide strips. Have each family member write their name on a strip. Staple the strips together to make a paper chain. Discuss how we’re all connected as a family.

If you want, you can add on strips for grandparents and great-grandparents as you progress through the evening. If you really want to get fancy, you can use a different color for each generation.

Lesson:

Explain that families were created so we can have joy and happiness as we grow and learn together. Ask family members how they would feel if someone were missing from your chain.

Read Doctrine & Covenants 128:15. Ask what this scripture is talking about. (Family history and temple work.) Ask who benefits from this work? (We all do.)

Read Doctrine & Covenants 128:24. Ask why it’s important to keep good records.

Activity:

Have each person fill out their own pedigree chart. Include parents and grandparents. Here’s a good sample of free printable pedigree charts, including one designed just for kids. (If you have a Deacon or Teacher-aged son, check the requirements below for an adjustment to this activity.)

Have each person prepare a family group record of your family. (Click for a basic family group sheet.) (If you have a Deacon-aged son, check the requirements below for an adjustment to this activity.)

Treat:

While eating your treats, have each family member share a family story.

If you need an idea for treats, try Oreo Cookie Balls.

I discovered these while on a trip to Texas and I think the recipe has been duplicated on the internet about a billion times.

That’s because it’s really good.

Not to mention easy, and easy is the name of the game here. Here’s what you do. Crush a package of Oreos and combine with a package of cream cheese (use a mixer). Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Most recipes call for melting chocolate chips and rolling the balls in the chocolate. This is optional, especially when you’re in a hurry. Refrigerating the balls for 2 hours before eating is also optional. I should know.

Usually, I can’t wait that long.

This lesson meets the following requirements:

Faith in God – Learning and Living the Gospel #8: “Prepare a pedigree chart with your name and your parents’ and grandparents’ names. Prepare a family group record for your family and share a family story. Discuss how performing temple work blesses families.”

Note: This FIG requirement also counts toward the Cub Scouting Religious Square Knot Patch.

Bear Cub Scout requirement 8d: “Trace your family back through your grandparents or great-grandparents; or, talk to a grandparent about what it was like when he or she was younger.”

Cub Scout Heritages Belt Loop requirement 3: “Draw a family tree showing members of your family for three generations.”

Personal Progress Individual Worth requirement 5 (partial): “When you participate in family history, you come to understand your identity and individual worth. Visit with your living relatives to learn as much information about your family history as possible. Then complete a pedigree chart of your family and list the temple ordinances that have been completed for each person.”

Duty to God Deacon – Family Activity requirement 4: “Keep a written record of your family history. Ask a parent or the ward family history consultant to help you prepare a 4-generation pedigree chart.”

Duty to God Deacon – Spiritual Development requirement 7: “Complete additional family history work, such as a family group record showing your parents as children with the other members of their families. Share this information with a parent or a priesthood leader.”

Duty to God Teacher – Spiritual Development requirement 6: “Complete a family group record for each of your grandparents where they are listed as children.”

Genealogy Merit Badge requirement 6: “Begin your family tree by listing yourself and include at least two additional generations. You may complete this requirement by using the chart provided in the Genealogy merit badge pamphlet or the genealogy software program of your choice.”

Genealogy Merit Badge requirement 7: “Complete a family group record form, listing yourself and your brothers and sisters as the children. On another family group record form, show one of your parents and his or her brothers and sisters as the children. This requirement may be completed using the chart provided or the genealogy software program of your choice.”

Easy Add-Ons:

Cub Scout Heritages Belt Loop requirement 1: “Talk with members of your family about your family heritage: its history, traditions, and culture.”

Which also fulfills American Cultures Merit Badge requirement 1c, “Talk with a person from one of the groups about the heritage and traditions of the group. Report on what you learn.” (For this MB, scouts choose three groups that have different racial, cultural, national, or ethnic backgrounds, one of which comes from his own background.)

Cub Scout Heritages Belt Loop requirement 2: “Make a poster that shows the origins of your ancestors. Share it with your den or other group.”

Cub Scout Heritages Pin requirement 10: “Learn about the origin of your first, middle, or last name.”

Personal Progress Good Works Value Project Idea 3: “Work with a family member to gather the names of some deceased relatives who were not members of the Church. Identify their birth and death dates and prepare their names to be taken to the temple. Help plan a temple trip and do baptisms for those relatives.”

If you have family names that need to be taken to the temple, those can be used for Duty to God Deacon – Quorum Activity requirement 6: “Participate in baptisms for the dead, if possible. If not, talk with a priesthood leader about the temple and what it means to Latter-day Saints.”

Likewise for Duty to God Teacher – Quorum Activity requirement 6: “Participate in baptisms for the dead, if possible. If not, talk with a priesthood leader about the temple and what it means to Latter-day Saints.”

Likewise for Duty to God Priest – Family Activity requirement 9: “Submit the name of one of your ancestors for temple work, or write a 500-word personal history.”

Duty to God Deacon – Spiritual Development requirement 6: “Read an account of one of your ancestors, or learn about an ancestor from one of your relatives. Report what you learned in family home evening or in a quorum meeting.”

Duty to God Deacon – Educational, Personal and Career Development requirement 11: “Learn computer and keyboarding skills. Demonstrate these skills by typing family history information in Personal Ancestral File or another similar program.”

See also the complete list of requirements for the Genealogy Merit Badge and Cub Scout Heritages Pin.