Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “Preparation in the Priesthood: ‘I Need Your Help’,” by President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov. 2011, 56.
Thought:
So part of the . . . preparation we will have in this life will be opportunities to serve and teach others. It may include being teachers in the Church, wise and loving fathers, members of a quorum, and missionaries for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord will offer the opportunities, but whether we are prepared will depend on us.
(President Henry B. Eyring, “Preparation in the Priesthood: ‘I Need Your Help’,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 56.)
Song:
“A Young Man Prepared,” Children’s Songbook, p. 166.
Scripture:
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12)
Lesson:
Ask each family member to think about the following question: “If you knew that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would be in two days, what is one important thing you could do to prepare?” Have them share their ideas.
Ask your family to compare their ideas to the counsel given by the Lord in D&C 65:1, 3–5.
Read those verses together and mark the word “prepare” each time you find it. Also, look for and discuss what preparations are called for there.
Do the following activities for each of the instructions given in this section:
“Make his paths straight.” (Verse 1.)
Look in the Topical Guide under the word “path.” Select and read several passages, looking for insights about the straight path. Ask, “What do you think it means to ‘make his paths straight?’ Why would it be important to be on the straight path?”
“Prepare ye the supper of the Lamb.” (Verse 3.)
Read and discuss the following statement (you could also read about the supper of the Lamb from Revelation 19:9–16):
“This prophecy of the marriage of the Lamb is a figure of speech, having reference to the second coming of our Savior and the feast, or supper, that the righteous shall receive at his coming. When teaching the Jews, and more especially his disciples, the Savior spoke of the Bridegroom when referring to himself.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:61.) Ask:
• Why would you like to attend that supper?
• What should you do to prepare to feast with the Lord?
“Pray unto the Lord . . . make known his wonderful works among the people.” (Verse 4.)
Ask:
• Why is prayer such a valuable tool of preparation?
• How can we improve our prayers?
• Why do you think it is important to share our knowledge with others?
• What is a missionary activity we could participate in this upcoming week?
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 136.)
Story:
Elder N. Eldon Tanner
At a home evening when we had all the families together, each person had to participate in one way or another. When we came to one of the boys who was seventeen years of age he said, “Grandpa, do you think it would be all right for me to give the first missionary discussion tonight?”
I said, “I think that would be fine.”
He said, “Well, I have the material here. I would like this family to be the investigators and I would like to give the first discussion.”
Seventeen years of age, and he did it beautifully. Why? Because his family had set out to teach him that he should be prepared to go on a mission. Now there is a great difference in being prepared to go on a mission and being given the idea you should go on a mission. There is some social pressure there when you try to make everyone feel that he should fill a mission because everybody is going on a mission. It is most important that our boys prepare to go and fill honorable missions, realizing that they are going out as ambassadors of the Lord, and not just to be like other boys.
(Leon R. Hartshorn, Outstanding Stories by General Authorities, vol. 1, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1970].)
Activity:
Play “Know Your Standard Works.”
The leader calls out the name of a book from the standard works and the family name the particular works from which it comes. Example: Peter. Answer: New Testament.
(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 26.)

Refreshment
Mystery Dessert
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 can fruit cocktail or other “mystery” fruit
1 teaspoon vanilla
1⁄2 cup brown sugar (to sprinkle on top)
Combine all ingredients, except brown sugar, in a baking dish. Level and top with brown sugar. Bake at 325° F. for 45 minutes. Tastes great topped with ice cream.
(Janene W. Baadsgaard, The LDS Mother’s Almanac, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 330.)
To get the PDF version of this lesson, click here.