Fun LDS Family Activities For All Ages
Families are central to the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and there are countless ways to bond with one another while strengthening spiritual ties. Whether you are organizing family home evenings or simply looking for Sabbath day activities for your younger children, incorporating LDS family activities into your routine can bring many blessings.
This article provides various activities for young people, children of different ages, and adults that encourage family unity, spiritual growth, and wholesome recreation.
The Importance of Family Time in LDS Teachings
President Spencer W. Kimball emphasized the importance of family home evenings and making the family a top priority. Family scripture study, family history work, and family home evening ideas are some of the best ways to spend quality time together. Families are encouraged to set aside time for wholesome leisure and spiritual day activities, allowing them to grow closer to each other and Heavenly Father.
The Sabbath day is an ideal time for families to engage in spiritual activities such as scripture reading, reflecting on family stories, and listening to primary songs. Additionally, family history consultants and the family history executive council have developed resources such as the family history guide, my famous relatives and a face matching game making it easier for families to discover interesting facts about their ancestors.
Minute To Win It: Fun Family Games For Small Childrenย
Shepherdโs Flock
- Objective:ย Gather the “sheep” (cotton balls) into the pen.
- Supplies:ย Cotton balls, plastic spoons, small baskets or bowls.
- Instructions:ย Using only the spoon held in their mouth, players must scoop up as many cotton balls (“sheep”) as possible and transfer them to the basket (“pen”) in one minute. The player who gathers the most wins.
- Lesson:ย Discuss the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7) and how Jesus cares for each of us.
Tower of Babel
- Objective:ย Build the tallest tower before time runs out.
- Supplies:ย Plastic cups or building blocks. You can also use the game jenga if you have it at home.
- Instructions:ย Players must stack cups or blocks as high as possible in one minute. The highest tower at the end wins.
- Lesson:ย Connect the game to the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), teaching that we should rely on Godโs plans rather than our own.
Restoration Relay
Objective: Piece together elements of the Restoration as quickly as possible, symbolizing how Joseph Smith restored truths piece by piece.
Supplies:
- Index cards or slips of paper with key events in Joseph Smithโs life and the Restoration (e.g., First Vision, translation of the Book of Mormon, Priesthood restoration, organizing the Church, etc.)
- A table or flat surface to lay the cards on
- A timer
Instructions:
- Shuffle the cards and place them face down.
- When the timer starts, players must flip the cards over and place the events of Joseph Smithโs life in the correct order.
- The player who gets the events in the correct order first, or who orders the most events correctly within one minute, wins.
Lesson:After the game, discuss how Joseph Smith restored important gospel truths step by step, through revelation and guidance from God. This helps participants reflect on the process of restoration and how it applies to their lives.
Davidโs Sling
- Objective:ย Knock down Goliath (cups) with a “sling” (marshmallow).
- Supplies:ย Paper cups, marshmallows, plastic spoons.
- Instructions:ย Set up paper cups like bowling pins. Players use the spoon to fling marshmallows at the cups to knock them down. The one who knocks down the most in a minute wins.
- Lesson:ย Teach about Davidโs faith when facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
Bible Verse Scramble
Objective: Put the words of a Bible verse in order.
- Supplies:ย Cards with individual words from a Bible verse.
- Instructions:ย Mix up the cards and give them to the player. They must arrange the words in the correct order of the verse within one minute. You can start with simple verses like John 3:16 or Psalm 23:1.
- Lesson:ย This reinforces scripture memorization.
Fishing for Disciples
- Objective:ย “Catch” as many fish with disciplesโ names as possible.
- Supplies:ย Paper fish cutouts, string, magnet, paperclips, and a fishing pole (a stick with a string and magnet).
- Instructions:ย Attach paper clips to the paper fish with the names of Jesusโ disciples written on them. Players use the fishing pole to “catch” the disciples. The player who catches the most in one-minute wins.
- Lesson:ย Teach about the calling of the disciples and how Jesus called them to be โfishers of menโ (Matthew 4:19).
Bible Character Match
- Objective:ย Match Bible characters with their descriptions.
- Supplies:ย Cards with names of Bible characters and separate cards with descriptions of their stories.
- Instructions:ย Mix up the cards and challenge players to match as many Bible characters to their descriptions as they can in one minute.
- Lesson:ย Reinforces Bible knowledge and encourages learning more about key figures in scripture.
Armor of God Relay
Objective: Dress in the “armor of God” as quickly as possible.
- Supplies:ย Paper plates (shields), cardboard helmets, belts (rope), etc., representing the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
- Instructions:ย Players must put on as many pieces of the “armor” as they can in one minute. The player who wears the most armor pieces wins.
- Lesson:ย Teach the importance of wearing the armor of God to stand strong in faith.
Manna Toss
Objective: Toss cotton balls (representing manna) into a basket from a distance.
- Supplies:ย Cotton balls, small baskets or bowls.
- Instructions:ย Players must toss the cotton balls (“manna”) into the basket from a set distance. The player who gets the most in one minute wins.
- Lesson:ย Teach about God providing manna to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16).
Noahโs Ark Animal Match
Objective: Match pairs of animals as fast as possible.
- Supplies:ย Animal cards or small toy animals (two of each).
- Instructions:ย Scatter the animal cards/toys. Players have one minute to find and match as many pairs as possible.
- Lesson:ย Tie it to the story of Noahโs Ark (Genesis 6-9), where Noah gathered pairs of animals before the flood.
Bible Character Who Am I?
- Objective:ย Guess the Bible character based on a brief description.
- Supplies:ย Cards with descriptions of various Bible characters (without names).
- Instructions:ย In one minute, one person reads clues describing a Bible character while the others try to guess the character. Whoever guesses correctly wins, or the person with the most correct guesses within the time limit is the winner.
- Lesson:ย Strengthens knowledge of Bible characters and their stories.
Build Nephiโs Ship
- Objective:ย Build a small “ship” in one minute using basic materials, symbolizing Nephiโs obedience and diligence in building the ship.
- Supplies:ย Craft sticks, paper, tape, and string (or similar simple materials) timer.
- Instructions:ย Players have one minute to build a small “ship” out of the provided materials. The goal is to create a structure that resembles a ship. After the time is up, compare the ships to see which one looks the most like a boat.
- Lesson:ย Relate this to 1 Nephi 17-18, where Nephi builds a ship through obedience to God. Discuss how following Godโs guidance, even in difficult tasks, leads to success.
Plates of Gold Stack
- Objective:ย Stack gold-colored plates (or paper) as high as possible, representing the golden plates that were used to write the Book of Mormon.
- Supplies:ย Gold-colored paper plates or cardstock cut into squares, timer.
- Instructions:ย Players are given a stack of gold plates (paper plates or cardstock) and have one minute to stack them as high as possible without the tower falling. The player with the highest stack at the end of the minute wins.
- Lesson:ย Discuss how the golden plates were carefully preserved for thousands of years and how important they were to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
liahona maze
- Objective: Guide a small object through a “maze” representing how the Liahona guided Lehiโs family through the wilderness.
- Supplies: A printed or drawn maze on paper, a pencil, and a timer.
- Instructions: Give each player a copy of a simple maze. They have one minute to guide a pencil through the maze, just like the Liahona guided Nephiโs family. The first to finish, or whoever gets the farthest in one minute, wins.
- Lesson: After the game, talk about the **Liahona** (1 Nephi 16) and how it provided guidance only when Lehiโs family had faith and obeyed God. Relate this to how the Holy Ghost guides us today when we are faithful.
Wholesome Recreation Games That Spark Scriptural Conversations
- Gospel or book of mormon puzzles.
- Card games Memory.
- Bible Trivia.
- Conducting a play/show from a scene in the Bible.
- Pictionary Bible Edition. Act out a verse from the scriptures.
- Verse Catch. A game where players repeat a Bible verse phrase while tossing a ball back and forth.
- Putting Bible event names or pictures in order.
Planning For Family Home Evening
Family home evening is a cornerstone of LDS family activities. With some planning, families can create a regular, structured night to enjoy one anotherโs company, learn more about the gospel, and strengthen family bonds.
When planning a family home evening, the following is a basic format you can use:
- Opening prayer
- Song
- Scripture
- Discussion / Scripture Stories
- Activity
- Song
- Closing Prayer
With younger children, you may want to incorporate arts and crafts into your lesson plan.
A Complete Family Home Evening Plan
- Theme:ย Building on a Strong Foundation (Faith in Jesus Christ)
- Opening Song:ย “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Childrenโs Songbook, 281)
- Opening Prayer:ย Ask a family member to offer a prayer.
- Lesson:ย The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
- Scripture:ย Read Matthew 7:24-27 together, where Jesus teaches about the wise man who built his house on a rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand.
The Story of The Two Builders For Younger Children
Once, in a small village by the sea, there were two friends named Ben and Sam. Both of them decided to build houses for their families. They were excited to get started, and they each wanted their house to be the strongest and safest in the village.
Ben looked around and found a wide, sandy spot near the beach. “This is perfect!” he thought. “Itโs close to the water, and the sand is soft and easy to dig.” Without thinking much about it, Ben started building his house on the sand.
Sam, on the other hand, climbed up a nearby hill and found a spot with solid rock. “Itโs a little harder to build here,” he said to himself, “but I know the rock is strong, and my house will stand no matter what.” Sam worked hard, carefully building his house on the rock.
After both houses were finished, the friends admired their work. Benโs house looked beautiful on the sandy shore, and Samโs house stood tall and strong on the hill.
One day, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a big storm rolled in. The wind howled, the rain poured, and the waves from the sea crashed onto the shore. Ben watched from his window as the storm grew worse and worse. Suddenly, the sand under his house began to wash away, and before long, the house began to shake. With a great crash, Benโs house fell down, washed away by the storm.
Up on the hill, Samโs house was safe and steady. The wind blew, and the rain came down, but his house stood firm on the rock. When the storm was over, Sam went to check on Ben. Ben was sad as he looked at his broken house.
Sam said, “My friend, itโs okay. I learned that building on strong rock is the safest way. Letโs work together and rebuild your house on the rock this time.”
So, Ben and Sam worked together to build a new house for Ben, this time on the solid rock. And from then on, both houses stood strong, no matter how many storms came their way.
The Lesson
This story teaches us one of Jesusโ important lessons. Jesus once told a story about two buildersโone who built his house on sand and another who built on rock. The house on the sand fell when the storm came, but the house on the rock stood strong. Jesus said that when we listen to His teachings and follow them, itโs like building our lives on a strong foundation, like the rock. Even when hard times come, we will stand firm because we trust in Him.
This short story explains the principle of building our lives on Jesusโ teachings, based on the parable of the wise and foolish builders. It emphasizes that following Jesus provides a strong foundation, helping children understand how important it is to listen and trust in Him.
Discussion
Ask: What happened to the houses when the storm came? (The house on the sand fell, but the house on the rock stood firm.)
Explain: Jesus taught this parable to show that when we build our lives on His teachingsโjust like the wise man who built his house on the rockโwe will be strong and safe, no matter what challenges we face.
Application
Ask: How can we build our lives on the “rock” of Jesus Christ? (By praying, reading the scriptures, being kind, following the commandments, etc.)
Share: Examples from family members of when they followed Jesusโ teachings and how it helped them through tough times.
Activity: Build the Strongest House
Supplies Needed:
- Small building materials (like blocks, LEGO, or even pillows for a soft structure-building activity)
- A fan or hairdryer (for wind)
- A spray bottle with water (for rain)
Instructions:
1. Divide into two teams. Each team gets a set of building materials.
2. One team builds a house on a flat, “unstable” surface (like a pillow or a soft surface), and the other team builds a house on a solid table or floor (a “rock”).
3. Once the houses are built, create a “storm” by turning on the fan for wind and spraying water for rain.
4. Observe how the houses stand or fall. Discuss how this relates to the lesson on having a strong foundation in Jesus Christ.
Treat: Edible House Craft
Supplies:
- Graham crackersย
- Frosting
- Candies
Instructions: Let everyone build their own mini “houses” with graham crackers, using frosting as the “cement” and candies as decorations. Afterward, discuss how we can make choices that “build” our lives on Jesus Christ, and enjoy eating the treat!
Closing Song: “I Will Follow Godโs Plan” (Childrenโs Songbook, 164)
Closing Prayer: Ask another family member to offer the closing prayer.
Additional Thought/Challenge for the Week:
Encourage each family member to choose one way they will strengthen their foundation in Jesus this week. It could be reading the scriptures for 10 minutes a day, saying prayers morning and night, or being extra kind to someone at school or work.
This Family Home Evening plan is centered on building faith in Jesus Christ as the foundation of our lives, in a fun and memorable way for the whole family. Would you like help tailoring it further for a specific age group or family size?
Fun LDS Family Activity: Scripture Stories
Read and discuss stories from the Book of Mormon or other scriptures, and then let each family member share what theyโve learned. Depending on your child’s age, different books may vary as to what is appropriate. There are bible books for beginners and in between until you reach the age of reading from the bible.
My children are six months, five, and seven years old. I love the book “Little Visits from Jesus. Little Visits with Jesus is a series of books by Dr. Mary Manz Simon that encourages children and adults to build daily devotional time. The books include Bible verses, prayers, and devotions that help children learn about Jesus and His love. I am pretty sure they are out of print right now, but it is very easy to get a used copy.
The Story of The Lost Lamb For Children 5 Years of Age
Once upon a time, there was a little lamb named Lily who lived in a beautiful green meadow with her shepherd, David. Every day, David would lead Lily and all the other sheep to fresh grass and cool water. Lily loved running around with her friends, but sometimes, she felt curious about what was beyond the meadow.
One sunny afternoon, while David and the other sheep were resting, Lily spotted a bright, colorful butterfly fluttering just outside the meadow. Without thinking, she trotted off to follow it. She chased the butterfly farther and farther until, suddenly, she found herself in the middle of a dark forest.
Lily looked around and realized she was lost. She felt scared and all alone. The trees were tall, and the path back home was nowhere to be seen. She tried calling out, “Baaa! Baaa!” but no one came. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought, “David will never find me here.”
But what Lily didnโt know was that David had already noticed she was missing. When he saw that one of his sheep had wandered away, he didnโt hesitate. He left the meadow, leaving the rest of the flock behind, and went searching for Lily.
David called out, “Lily! Where are you?” His voice echoed through the trees. After some time, Lily heard his voice. Her heart leaped with joy as she cried out, “Here I am, David!”
Soon, David appeared through the bushes, smiling and full of relief. He picked Lily up, gently placing her on his shoulders. “Iโve been looking everywhere for you,” he said. “You are precious to me, and I couldnโt leave you behind.”
David carried Lily all the way back to the meadow, and when they arrived, he called his friends to celebrate. “Rejoice with me!” he said. “I have found my lost lamb!”
From that day on, Lily stayed close to David, knowing how much he loved her. She learned that even when she made mistakes or wandered away, David would always come to find her and bring her safely home.
The Lesson
Lilyโs story teaches us a lesson Jesus shared in the Bible. Just like David the shepherd loved and cared for his sheep, Jesus loves and cares for each one of us. No matter how far we may wander, He will always come to find us and bring us back to Him. Jesus told this story because He wants us to know that we are all important to Him, and He will never leave us alone.
This short story teaches the principle of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, based on His parable of the lost sheep. It emphasizes love, care, and the idea that Jesus never abandons us, no matter how far we stray.
Incorporating Family History Work into Family Activities
One of the most rewarding aspects of LDS family activities is engaging in family history work. The church provides various tools online to help families record family stories and track photographs of their family members. Church groups and local family history consultants can help guide your efforts.
Indexing
One family history project I like to do with my children is indexing. I will find a small project to index and sit down with my children. I help them enter the letters and numbers on the computer so they are learning reading, writing, and computer skills.
Family Collages & Stories
A family project can involve gathering pictures of their relatives, discovering interesting facts about their ancestors, and building a family tree. These activities encourage active participation from young children to adults and can be a powerful way to help family members understand their roots. Sharing family stories strengthens ties and illustrates the importance of family heritage. Use photographs of your family members and have children create a collage of old family photos, which can be a great way to bond and learn about ancestors.
Temple Work & Baptisms
For older children and teens, participating in limited-use temple work such as baptisms for the dead and confirmations is a great way to experience the blessings of the temple, strengthen family bonds, and draw nearer to God.
Family Search Games & Activities
Family Search has fun new online activities to get your kids involved in. For instance, there is where in the world did I come from? Famous relatives and compare a face, to name a few. There is also a fun option to create a time capsule that you can make with your family and upload to Family Search to see how things have changed over the years.
Family Time Capsule Questions
- My favorite thing to do for fun is…
- My favorite thing to learn about is…
- My favorite food is…
- When I grow up, I want to be…
- My favorite song is…
- My favorite movie is…
- My best friends are…
- Something Iโm really good at is…
- One unique talent I have is…The one thing I am most proud of this year is….
- The people that mean the most to me are…
- I live in…
Sabbath Day Activities
The Sabbath day is a perfect time to focus on LDS family activities centered on spiritual growth and reflection.
Family scripture study Dedicate time for family scripture study to draw closer to Heavenly Father. Discuss how scriptures apply to your family and your challenges. A good resource I use for younger children is LDS Kids.
They have a YouTube channel that has short cartoons that teach scriptural lessons. They also have worksheets that you can download to use to enhance your Sunday lesson.
Fun LDS Family Activity Traditions
Family activities don’t always need to be complex, long, or require lots of planning. Developing family traditions rooted in LDS family activities can create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds. Here are some great ideas for wholesome family traditions:
Dinner Table Discussions
Every Sunday, have a spiritual discussion at the dinner table about church leaders, recent general conference talks, or scriptures.
Saturday Afternoon Family Fun:
Use Saturday afternoon for family fun activities like visiting a historical site, enjoying a family hike, or making pancakes together.
Encouraging Family Participation
Family activities are most successful when everyone participates. A list of ideas for encouraging involvement includes:
Let children choose some activities
Give them a list of things to pick from, such as primary songs, puzzles, or quiet books.
Rotate Responsibilities
Assign each member of the family different tasks, such as leading the spiritual thought, organizing games, choosing a song, or preparing treats.
Set Goals
Work together to accomplish family spiritual goals, like preparing names to take to the temple.
Positive Reinforcement
Celebrate achievements and effort. For example, you could create and use a family mailbox to leave kind notes for one another during the week. Then on Sundays you can open the mailbox and read out all the letters. This activity can bring blessings of stronger family relationships and bring a greater sense of harmony in the home.
Conclusion
Engaging in LDS family activities can strengthen your familyโs bond, increase spiritual growth, and create lasting memories. From family home evening to family history work to wholesome fun like puzzles and outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone and every family.
What fun activities do you do with your family? Share them in the comments below!
