Lesson 1

Lesson one
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

Before the lesson please read:

Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan by Elder David A. Bednar
Oneness in Marriage by President Spencer W. Kimball
Teaching the Doctrine of the Family by Julie B. Beck

Song
 “A Happy Family” (Children’s Songbook, p. 198).
Lyrics
1. I love mother*; she loves me.
We love daddy*, yes sirree;
He loves us, and so you see,
We are a happy family.
2. I love sister*; she loves me.
We love brother*, yes sirree;
He loves us, and so you see,
We are a happy family.

Scripture
D&C 49:16–17: “They twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation; and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made.”

Lesson
First go over the Family Proclamation to the World. Let each child hold it and look at it. Then explain to them what it is. Hold up another sign showing the First Presidency. Explain to them that Jesus spoke to the first Presidency and gave them this proclamation to share with the world.
Then ask them what they think a family is. Help them out if they need it.
Show a picture of your wedding day and then explain to them how and why you got married.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Two compelling doctrinal reasons help us to understand why eternal marriage is essential to the Father’s plan.
“Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation. …
“Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children. …
Ask them why they think marriage is so important
Once they answer share with them that the family is central to God's plan of Happiness and because he wants us to be happy we need to follow his plan and have a family of our own someday. 
Hold up a picture of a family reunion whether it is yours or another family while saying
President Kimball gave a talk on marriage and he said  “Honorable, happy, and successful marriage is surely the principal goal of every normal person. Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but also with eternal joys. It affects not only the two people involved, but also their families and particularly their children and their children’s children down through the many generations.
In selecting a companion for life and for eternity, certainly the most careful planning and thinking and praying and fasting should be done to be sure that of all the decisions, this one must not be wrong. In true marriage there must be a union of minds as well as of hearts. Emotions must not wholly determine decisions, but the mind and the heart, strengthened by fasting and prayer and serious consideration, will give one a maximum chance of marital happiness. It brings with it sacrifice, sharing, and a demand for great selflessness.
If they didn’t understand explain to them that families are very important and it is very important for us to make sure that we marry someone that will help us be the best that we can be. Use personal stories to help.
End with your testimony of families and how wonderful and important they are.

Game
Choose an activity that best fits your family
1.    Make a family poster filled with pictures of the family members dreams, joys fears, likes, dislikes, frustrations, and worries. Basically make a poster of all the inns and outs of the family. Ask questions on what each person is putting on and why they chose that picture. This is a great way to get to know each other better.
2.    Play the what would you do game. Create a list of “problems” that someone might have and put them all in a cup. Then have a family member draw out one and answer the question. Help if needed.   An example of a card may be : Someone comes home and says he/she has had a rotten day. What should you do?
3.    Have each member paint a family picture, or a picture of what their wedding day will look like.

Treat

Make sugar cookies in the shape of a boy and a girl. Then have the kids decorate them.

Follow up through the week

Elder Robert L. Simpson said “ Every couple, whether in the first or the twenty-first year of marriage, should discover the value of pillow talk time at the end of the day- the perfect time to take inventory, to talk about tomorrow. And best of all, it’s a time when love and appreciation for one another can be reconfirmed.”

Take time to talk with each member of the family one on one.