This week's FHE lesson topic comes from the Come, Follow Me study of Revelation 12-22. Check out this week's Come, Follow Me study ideas on LDS Living for additional resources and suggestions.
Thought
“One kind of deception seeks to mislead us about whom we should follow. In speaking of the last days, the Savior taught: ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many’ (Matt. 24:4–5). In other words, many will seek to deceive us by saying that they or their teachings will save us, so there is no need for a Savior or His gospel. The Book of Mormon describes this as ‘the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people … to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing (3 Ne. 2:2)’.”
(Dallin H. Oaks "Be Not Decevied" Ensign or Liahona November 2004)
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Scripture
“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live” (Revelation 13:14).
Lesson
Before family home evening begins, draw an arrow on a piece of paper. You will also need a mirror.
Suggest that if we were lost, the most important thing we would need would be directions to point the way home. Hold up the arrow so that it points to either the right or the left. Explain that Heavenly Father gives us directions, which we can trust to lead us back home. Satan desires to stop us from returning home. He will do anything he can to deceive us and point us in the wrong direction.
Hold the mirror next to the arrow, angling them slightly so that the arrow is reflected in the mirror. The reflected image will point the opposite way that the arrow points. Explain that although Satan’s deceptions may appear real, they actually direct us away from our heavenly home. Instead, the Holy Ghost is a source of truth, which will lead us on the correct path to eternal life.
(Adapted from: Jennifer Jackson and Beth Lefgren, Objects Lessons Made Easy: Memorable Ideas for Gospel Teaching, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006])
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Story
As you read this story from President Thomas S. Monson think about how your family can be prepared to recognize and avoid Satan’s lies.
Many years ago, on an assignment to the beautiful islands of Tonga, I was privileged to visit our Church school, the Liahona High School. Entering one classroom, I noticed the rapt attention the children gave their instructor. In his hand he held a strange-appearing fishing lure made with a round stone and large seashells. I learned the Tongan word for this lure is maka-feke. It means “octopus lure.” The teacher explained that Tongan fishermen glide over a reef, paddling their outrigger canoes with one hand and dangling the maka-feke over the side with the other. An octopus dashes out from its rocky lair and seizes the lure, mistaking it for a much-desired meal. So determined is the grasp of the octopus and so firm is its instinct not to give up the precious prize that the fisherman can flip it right into the canoe. It was easy for the teacher to point out to the wide-eyed youth that the evil one—even Satan—has fashioned maka-fekes with which to ensnare unsuspecting persons. Today we are surrounded by the maka-fekes with which Satan attempts to entice us and then ensnare us. Once grasped, such maka-fekes are ever so difficult— And sometimes nearly impossible—to relinquish. Constantly before us are the maka-fekes of immorality and pornography. I mention next the maka-feke of drugs, including alcohol. There are countless other maka-fekes which he dangles before us to lead us from the path of righteousness. Cunningly positioned are those cleverly disguised maka-fekes beckoning us to grasp them and to lose that which we most desire. Do not be deceived. Our Heavenly Father has given us the capacity to think and to love. We have the power to resist temptation. Pause to pray. Listen to that still, small voice which speaks to the depths of our souls. By doing so, we turn from destruction, from death, and find happiness and life everlasting.
(President Thomas S. Monson "Deadly Maka-Fekes" Friend June 2007)
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Lead image from Getty Images
