Our Stake (Arlington Texas) is studying one scripture a month this year. To help families to integrate the scripture into their homes in meaningful ways, for each scripture we will share the following:
- the accompanying challenge
- free printables of the scripture or related challenge for display in the home
- family home evening lessons for all types of families
- ideas for memorizing the scripture
The scripture for October is Matthew 25:40.
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Challenge
The accompanying challenge is to participate in “Fall into Service.”
In our stake, each ward has its own Fall into Service activity. If you are not in our stake, or if you cannot participate with your ward, consider some of these ideas to live the scripture:
- The Church shares this list of possible service ideas for youth, many of which are appropriate for all ages.
- The Just Serve website connects you with opportunities, both short and long term, in your area.
- Find wonderful service resources and ideas at Good-Citizen.org.
- Participate in a 30 Days of Service Challenge. We’ve created one specifically for LDS families. You can print it out here.
Printables
We couldn’t find any printables of this scripture that were free, so we made one!
You can click on the picture above or click here to download the printable.
Family Home Evening Ideas
This service scavenger hunt would be a great FHE for bigger families, or YSA wards, or even as a youth activity.
With Children
- Read the story “Prayers, Notes, and Natural Disasters” from The Friend and then visit to see how your family can serve together.
- This fun service FHE from LDS.org includes a quick and easy science-based object lesson. Find free printables to go with it shared by LittleLDSIdeas.
- A simple lesson called “We are His Hands” is an easy one to do. It says it’s for ages 5 – 10.
- Choose one or two of the ideas from the 30 Days of Service Challenge.
With Teens
- This Secret Service Family Home Evening requires some prep, but seems super fun.
- LDS Living shares this FHE on service that is pretty quick and requires very little prep.
- This lesson is really easy to do, again with little prep. I’m putting it here with teens, but it could easily be done with younger children, too.
- Choose an idea for an activity from the 30 Days of Service Challenge.
With Adults
This 1989 talk entitled The Service that Counts from a much younger President Monson is one of his wonderful service talks with a widow story! It’s really quite inspirational, and it makes a great FHE.
Watch it below or read it, and then use the discussion questions below.
Discussion Questions:
- When have you felt like the widow in the Thanksgiving story? When have you been truly touched by service?
- What were the components you feel made that Thanksgiving dinner activity so special for those attending?
- Brother Millett was grateful for the experience to share his own meager flour with Brother Hall because it led him to know that the Lord knew who he was (and knew he would give Brother Hall flour). What strikes you about this story? What had to happen for the inspiration Brother Hall received to play out?
- The story of the brothers is miraculous. Why do you think the Lord makes small, private miracles like this one, as opposed to just big, feed-the-five-thousand miracles?
- The story of President Monson’s remembering of Brother Rooker is remarkable on many levels. What struck you the most about the story? Why do you think that Brother Rooker called it the happiest day of his life?
- What do you feel inspired to do after reading or watching this talk?
Memorizing
This short verse lends itself quite well to memorization, even for young children.
Context aids understanding, so take the time to read the verses surrounding this one, which is part of the parable of the sheep and the goats that begins at verse 31 of Matthew 25.
Once you understand that this is a verse with eternal significance, it is easier to remember it.
The verse is divided into four distinct parts:
- The backstory: And the King shall answer and say unto them,
- The emphasis: Verily I say unto you,
- The condition: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
- The promise: ye have done it unto me.
To memorize the verse in six days in less than six minutes per day, follow the steps below:
- Day 1: Print out the printable above and read through the verse five times.
- Day 2: Say the backstory section aloud three times, three times during the day (for a total of nine times).
- Day 3: Say the backstory and emphasis aloud three times, three times during the day (for a total of nine times).
- Day 4: Say the backstory, emphasis, and condition aloud three times, three times during the day.
- Day 5: Say the entire verse aloud nine times during the day.
- Day 6: Write the verse from memory three times.
Main Page
If you would like to see the resources for all of the scriptures for the year, visit this page.
Be sure to visit our Scripture Memorizing Ideas page for ideas and general help on memorizing.