Each new year I like to pick a scriptural theme for our family. Having one verse to focus on gives me something to direct my personal and family study and Family Home Evening lessons. I have known since October what the theme for 2015 should be.
It started with General Conference, when I noticed that many of the talks were focused on Jesus Christ, and how we should know him and build our foundation on him. (This isn’t really a surprise, since we belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after all, but it was the overlaying theme that stood out to me).
As I have reviewed and studied the talks, I found three speakers who quoted the same verse of scripture. Heleman 5:12 has always been a favorite of mine, so I noticed when it was quoted.
“The gospel of our Lord and Savior provides a sure and solid foundation…Jesus is the great Exemplar. The only way to find lasting peace is to look to Him and live.” Elder L. Tom Perry, “Finding Lasting Peace and Building Eternal Families”. October 2014 General Conference.
“That sure foundation is Jesus Christ. He is “the Rock of Heaven.” When we build our house upon Him, the rains of the latter days may descend, the floods may come, and the winds may blow, but we will not fall. We will not fail, for our home and our family will be founded upon Christ.” Elder Robert D. Hales, “Eternal Life–to Know Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ”. October 2014 General Conference.
“When we heed the words of the prophets, we build our homes and our lives upon an eternally sure foundation.” Carol F. McConkie, “Live According to the Words of the Prophets”. October 2014 General Conference.
So Helaman 5:12 will be the focus for our family this year.
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
I found this pretty graphic at LDS Printables, which I will display in a prominent place in our home all year long. We will work on memorizing it as a family.
I am planning to introduce the theme tonight at Family Home Evening. When talking about building a foundation on Jesus Christ, a lesson with young children will naturally lead to the Parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man (Matt 7:24-27 ). A Year of FHE has a great lesson here, complete with printables and directions for an object lesson. A few other resources to consider: Scripture Figures: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man or this colored and enlarged version and Sharing Time: Build Upon My Rock.
