If you have a family member who is preparing to be baptized, it is a good idea to have a family home evening lesson based on Baptism. It is also a good idea to talk review the baptismal covenants with your children on a regular basis. As you prepare this lesson adapt it to the needs of your family, so that you make sure they understand the concepts being taught.
You can open the lesson by sharing the scriptural account of Jesus being baptized which can be found in Matthew 3:13-16. Then you can discuss that even though Jesus was perfect, he was still baptized because it was a commandment from Heavenly Father. It is important that you be baptized as well. You may want to discuss that being baptized cleanses us from sins. You may want to use the object lesson, which uses a bottle water, food coloring and bleach. You add a few drops of food coloring to the water and explain that the food coloring represents sins, as we are baptized (add the bleach) the sins are forgiven and we become pure once more. It is important to stress that even though we may make mistakes that we can still repent of the sins through the Atonement of Christ.
You may want to discuss the baptismal covenant with your children you can do this reading Mosiah 18:8-9 and Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. It is important to make sure that your children understand that they need to keep the commandments and stand as a witness of Christ. You may want to discuss ways to do that. You can also use this Sharing time activity “Baptism My First Covenant.” For a further look into the baptismal covenant you may want to use this Sharing Time: “I Can Repent and Be Baptized.” After you have done this you may want to share the story of when you were baptized and bear your testimony regarding the blessings of baptism.
If you need additional resources you can look in issues of “The Friend” published in 2000, since the theme for Sharing Time that year focused on baptism. If you have youth you may want to use this “Idea List: Always Remember Him,” and “Having Been Commissioned . . .” If you are teaching primarily adults you may want to use “Born Again” and “Keeping the Covenants We Make at Baptism.”
You can use “Baptism” p 100 and “When I Am Baptized” p 103 in the “Children’s Hymnbook.” You can also use “Come Follow Me” p 116 and “Father in Heaven I Do Believe” p 180 in “Hymns.” Don’t forget to have an activity and refreshments afterwards.
Related Articles:
Prophetic Promises of Family Home Evening
Family Home Evening: Repentance