FHE & Gingerbread

The Monday following our arrival in UT we had an awesome FHE with the Logan Hickens, Mendon Hickens (aka Mendonites) and the Dodds.

We made Gingerbread Houses, and since it was Family Home Evening we had to relate our gingerbread creations to the Gospel one way or another. It was awesome.

My mom and dad's gingerbread house had solar panels and firewood stocked up in the back so they talked about preparedness and how "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30).

Nicole and Talon went as deep as to relate the super glue that was holding their house together was like the love of Jesus Christ and how it holds us together (Moroni 7).

I made a replica of the Iditarod, which is a famous dog sled race. I talked about the origin of the race and how the people were trying to get medicine into the city via dog sled (since it was the only way) and how that was service and when ye are in the service of your fellow men, "ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17).

The Dodd's house was a masterpiece. They put a lot of care and detail into their house. They talked about how "sweet" it was because of all the candy they used.  I don't remember exactly how they tied it in. It was either from Alma 36 when he says, "there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" while talking about repentance or when Lehi partook of the fruit of the tree and said, "it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted" (1 Nephi 8:11). Come to think of it, it was probably the later, because Austin made an amazing pretzel tree and I remember him pointing it out.

Hillary & Maddi (Not pictured: Mom & Dad Dodd and Austin)

Brandon (the youngest Dodd child) worked with Brigham on a gingerbread train. It was awesome! They even had a train conductor and a fire inside the engine. They tied their creation to the gospel by referencing the prophecy of Isaiah found in Isaiah 5:26-29. Legrand Richards shared a modern-day application that this passage of scripture is talking about planes and trains.

Brigham & Brandon

Melanie and Dustin paired up with Chris (Mel's current boyfriend). They created a replica of the ruinous house of James and Lily Potter in Godric's Hollow. They tied it into the gospel by talking about friends. After reading from the "For The Strength of Youth" pamphlet Melanie explained that if you have bad friends they will betray to Lord Voldemort and you will die, so you should have good friends.

Dustin, Melanie & Chris

And last, but certainly not the least in amazingness, was the Mendonites. They got together and created a gingerbread replica of The Alamo. It was so neat. Complete with a sombrero on the dude in front. They read Genesis 1:31 and then continued with Genesis chapter 1 verse 31.5 which reads "And then God created Texas." [Side note: They're originally from Texas so they have a bit of a pride issue ;) ]

Alex, Aunt Dana, Megan, Nick & Lexi

It was so much fun to just get together and be creative. It's a tradition that I hope to continue throughout the years!