FHE: What's In a Name?

Two Mondays in a row, wooo hoo. While we are still focusing on preparing Pablo for baptism here is one of my favorite lessons for teaching the concept of taking upon us the name of Christ.

Materials needed: "Hello my name is" stickers, pens

As family members walk into the room have them take a sticker and write their first name on it. You can write it for those who are too young to do it themselves. (take extra stickers and pens in with you for further use)

Opening Song: When Jesus Christ Was Baptized (Click on link for music player)

Lesson: Welcome everyone to Family Home Evening (be dramatic about reading every one's names off their stickers. It will make the kids laugh if you pretend not to know their names, this allows them to point out their name on the sticker). Talk a little bit about the importance of their name, who they were named after, why we have names, and how we use our names. Explain how our actions are attached to our names. If you are always honest people begin to say, "That Pablo, there, he is an honest boy. You can be sure that if he says it, it's the truth," or, "Cookie is always a good example to her friends." Point out some bad examples too, like, "Have you ever met Sam? Well, if Sam is in the room you can be sure that trouble is soon to follow." Ask the kids what kind of things they want people to associate with their names.

Now, give the children another name sticker (a kid can never have enough stickers) and a pen while saying, "You also have another name. You have a last name. Can you write your last name and stick it to your shirt?" Point out that you all have the same last name (or not, if they are different). Ask them where this second name comes from (daddy, mommy, or their parents, and you could also talk about names changing when you get married or are adopted). Explain that, just like their first name, their actions will have an effect on what people think about that name, but this time it won't just effect their name, it will effect everyone who shares that name with them. So, if you make a bad choice it can reflect badly on the whole family (give some examples). What do you want people to think about the "Smiths?" (insert your own last name here)

Give children another name sticker. "When you get baptized you receive another name. This name is a very, very special name. Do you know what it is?"

Read: 2 Nephi 31:13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongues of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Or, Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Hold up a name sticker with the name Jesus Christ written on it. Have children write the same name on their third sticker, letting them look at your so they can see how to spell it. After they put this third sticker on discuss with them the importance of having this name. When we take upon us the name of Christ it means we are willing to be responsible for what people think of Him. This means that everything we say and everything we do should be what Christ would say or do. Do you think this would change the way we act? Do you think this will be easy to do? Sometimes it can be hard to remember, even for adults. Sometimes you might make a mistake, or a bad choice, and do something that Jesus wouldn't do. What do you think we should do then? Should we just give up and take his name off of us (act as if you are about to take the Christ sticker off your shirt)? We don't have to if we remember what we learned about last week. Does anyone remember what we learned about last week? (Repentance)

So, remember, you need to take care of the names you've been given.

Closing Song: I'm Trying to be Like Jesus