Click here or on the picture above to download booklet.
Instructions: Color each page while reading and discussing each paragraph. Then cut them out and staple them together into a booklet.
Extension Ideas:
- Hide the pages in different areas of the room. Take turns looking for one. As each is found, read and discuss it. Staple them into a booklet once they have all been found and discussed.
- Cut the pictures off of the pages and put all of the pictures in a pile or separate area. Read through the pages one at time. As each is read, try to find the picture that matches it.
- Use the activity ideas on the following pages to spread the discussion of each paragraph throughout days, weeks, or months.
Artwork for booklet created by Crystal Wallace from http://www.theredcrystal.org
Text taken from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/resources/type/teaching-the-proclamation?lang=eng
The full, original Family Proclamation can be found here.
ACTIVITY IDEAS TO GO ALONG WITH FAMILY PROCLAMATION:
(from the Church’s website)
INTRODUCING THE TITLE:
How to Explain This to Children: A “proclamation” is a very important announcement. Sometimes kings and queens make proclamations to the people in their land. This proclamation wasn’t written by a king or a queen—it was written by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles! It teaches us important things that Heavenly Father wants us to know about families. It warns us about actions that will hurt our families or our com[1]munities. It also teaches us how we can stay safe and happy in this life. These teachings are so important that we want everyone in the entire world to hear this message. President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), who was the prophet before President Monson, first read this proclamation at a general Relief Society meeting in September 1995.
Activity Idea: Imagine your family had the chance to share a message when the entire world was watching. What would you say? Create your own proclamation by writing or drawing your testimonies onto a large paper or poster board. Take turns standing on a chair and reading the statements of testimony out loud in a bold way, as if you were making an announcement. How does sharing your testimony make you feel? Why would it be important to listen to the proclamations and testimonies of the First Presidency and the Apostles?
BOOKLET PAGE #1: (Paragraph 1 in the regular version of the Family Proclamation) Show your children pictures of your wedding or the wedding of grandparents or other couples in your family history. Tell your children the story of how you and your spouse met, or share other stories from family and friends. Invite your children to draw pictures of what they imagine their wedding and family will be like someday. Testify of the blessings that have come into your life because of marriage.
BOOKLET PAGE #2: (Paragraph 2 in Family Proclamation) Give each child a piece of paper and invite them to fill it with a collage of pictures and words showing what makes them unique. They could cut pictures out of magazines, draw their own, or print pictures from online. Talk about how wonderful it is that people have different talents and interests. Point to two different tools that were used to create your collages—a pair of scissors and a bottle of glue, for example. Although these tools look different and do different things, they worked together to create something beautiful. Explain that boys and girls are created to be different, but neither one is better than the other. Men and women work together to create beautiful families.
BOOKLET PAGE #3: (Paragraph 3 in Family Proclamation) Review the plan of salvation by labeling different places in your house as different parts of the plan (for example, pre[1]earth life, life on earth, spirit world, eternal life). As you move from place to place, talk about why that part of the plan is important. If possible, find a picture of Jesus Christ to take with you. At each stop, talk about why Jesus is important to that part of the plan and how He can help us get to the next place successfully. Talk about why Heavenly Father’s plan is sometimes called the “plan of happiness.”
PAGE #4: (Paragraph 3 continued in Family Proclamation) Hang a picture of a temple somewhere in your home—cut a picture out of the Church magazines or draw a temple if you wish. Look at the picture as a family and talk about what you can do to live together with Heavenly Father someday. If you haven’t already been sealed as a family, make a plan to get to the temple. If your family has been sealed, share your testimony of what happened on that special day, and set goals to continue making faithful choices. Visit FamilySearch.org and learn more about family members who have died. Talk about meeting them again someday. Are there any family members who need temple ordinances done?
PAGE #5: (Paragraph 4 in Family Proclamation) Make a family paper-doll chain. Take a piece of paper and cut it in half lengthwise. Fold one of the half pieces accordion style into four sections. Draw a figure of a person on the top layer (you can use the template below if you’d like). Cut the figure out, being careful not to cut the ends of the arms, which will connect the figures together. After you unfold the chain, write something you love about your family on each of the figures (you may need to tape together several paper chains!). You could also write words that describe the kind of family you hope to have one day.
PAGE #6: (Paragraph 5 in Family Proclamation) If possible, tell your children about the day they were born, and look at baby pictures if you have them. Tell your children how much you love them and that their Heavenly Parents love them too. If the time is right, be prepared to teach them, in an age-appropriate way, about sexual intimacy. Answer questions they have in an open, loving way. Play a game together that involves some sort of physical activity, and talk about the different, wonderful things our bodies can do. For example, you could play freeze tag. In order to be “unfrozen,” a player has to say something they like about what their body can do.
PAGE #7: (Paragraph 6 in Family Proclamation)
- Paper Chain with Ways to Strengthen Family: https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/children/resources/topics/family/Strengthening-My-Family-2004-06-friend.pdf
- Draw these three large shapes on pieces of paper or a whiteboard: (1) an outline of a heart, (2) an outline of the commandment tablets, and (3) an outline of a stop sign. Talk about the different ways your family shows love, keeps the commandments, and obeys the law. Write or draw your answers in the matching shape. With a different color pen, write or draw goals your family could work toward in each area
PAGE #8: (Paragraph 7 in Family Proclamation) Explain what “wholesome recreational activities” are, and then go do something fun!
PAGE #9: (Paragraphs 8 and 9 in Family Proclamation) Learn about who your local government leaders are. Write them a letter asking for something that would help your family or thanking them for something that already does. For example, you could thank them for a park near your home, or ask them for more family-friendly community activities. What have you learned about the family proclamation this year?
Come Follow Me For Kids 