Nephi's Boat and the Lead A Hona

We gathered in the living room and let Dad lead out.  After all, it was Matt's night for the lesson for Family Home Evening.   He'd asked Jackson for some ideas, and after some "concurring," Jackson said, "I want to build a ship." 

Before we even got started, Jackson ran to his room and grabbed the jump rope we used for the iron rod a few weeks ago.   Matt was so great.  We did an iron rod lesson first by turning off the lights and following it to the "trees of life" on our computer screen.

When Matt did take over, he open the Book of Mormon and read a verse about Nephi being commanded to build a boat (what we've been reading).   Then he had Jackson find the Liahona, the big clear glitter ball we have.  Of course, Jackson couldn't believe the blanket was wood or the ball was the Liahona. . .but we tried.

Then we acted it out.  Matt pulled out our "pretend wood" (a blanket) and put it in between the couch and the coffee table, and we got in the boat.  Jackson sat in front and told us which way the Liahona directed us to go and we went that way (leaned into it).   We found the promised land and rejoiced.

In a sudden turn of events, Jackson jumped up with the ball and told us we had to find the "gold in the night."  He cradled the ball in his hands and led us into the dark kitchen.  Matt grabbed the flashlight to lead the way.  Jackson took us downstairs and walked through the room until he spotted the vacuum.  Immediately, he turned around and took us back upstairs.  "Run, we don't want the vacuum to clean us up!"

When we got upstairs, Jackson tossed the ball on the couch and said, "Lead da hona right here!" and then announced, "We didn't find the gold," and then he ran to his room and grabbed a gold medal that he'd gotten from some birthday party and went and threw it in the kitchen somewhere.  He turned back to us and said, "Now we have to find the gold." 

Again, he led us downstairs and to the vacuum, where we turned around and went straight back upstairs.  In the kitchen he reached on top of the microwave and shouted, "Aha! Here it is!"

We returned to the living room and closed the lesson.  We sang his favorite song, "I Love to See the Temple," and he wanted to help me play the piano.  We played together for the first verse, and then I went and sat down for the closing prayer.  He looked at us from the piano and said, "and now the second."  Matt and I sang the second verse while Jackson played.  It was quite the version, and since my voice really follows notes that are played, I sounded terrific, as you can imagine. 

These are the Family Home Evenings that I just love.  We had a blast.  Now if only I could remember to turn on the video camera. . .