Here is another teaching idea for the March Visiting Teaching Message, using this quote from President Spencer W. Kimball: “Home is a haven against the storms and struggles of life. Spirituality is born and nurtured by daily prayer, scripture study, home gospel discussions and related activities, home evenings, family councils, working and playing together, serving each other, and sharing the gospel with those around us. Spirituality is also nurtured in our actions of patience, kindness, and forgiveness toward each other and in our applying gospel principles in the family circle”
…and the scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 88:119: “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.”
I love a good visual aid. It keeps me on track as we delve a little deeper into the quote or scripture, and helps when we need to return after a tangent back to the topic at hand. I wanted to build (or establish) a house, talking about all the different points mentioned by President Kimball, so found a 15-stick package of Doublemint gum (I only used 13 pieces), and covered each foil-wrapped piece with my own wrapper. On the front of each piece is a point from the quote, and on the back is the scripture found in D&C. You can discuss each point as you take a piece of gum out of the package and begin to build your house. You can always mention at the end that increasing the spirituality of your home helps your family to “stick” together!
After printing out your gum wrappers (PDF file here) on a sheet of light green or white paper, trim out each piece and position over your stick of gum so the “Home is a Haven” is just under the top of the gum.
Fold over the top of the gum first. Make a nice crease.
Then apply a glue stick to the bottom part of the wrapper and fold up, creasing and adhering well.
You can see the scripture on the back of the wrapper. I then put all the sticks of gum back in the package, and made a pretty label with the quote by President Kimball adhered to the front.
Wrap with a bow, and you’re ready to go visiting teaching!