Sharing Time:
Scriptural Fathers
http://www.lds.org/friend/1986/06/sharing-time-scriptural-fathers?lang=eng
By Pat Graham and Nancy Miller
God established that fathers are to preside in the home. Fathers are to provide, love, teach, and direct.
(Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1984, page 6.)
Pat Graham and Nancy Miller, “Sharing Time: Scriptural Fathers,” Friend, June 1986, 16
Sometimes father means the first one to do something or the one who is responsible for others (for example, we say that George Washington is the father of his country and that the bishop is the father of the ward), but usually father means someone’s male parent. In this crossword puzzle about fathers, use the scripture references to help you find the fathers’ names. As you read the references to fill in the puzzle, try to discover more about each father and what each one—or his son—taught by his example. For instance, Father Abraham taught obedience by his willingness to sacrifice his only son.
Across
1. Father of Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni (Mosiah 27:34)
4. Father of Jemima, Kezia, and Keren-happuch (Job 42:13–14)
5. Father of Abraham (Gen. 11:31; Gen. 17:5)
6. Father of Noah (Moses 8:8–9)
7. Father of prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1:20, 23)
9. Father of son who was struck dumb (Mosiah 27:8, 19)
11. Father of Gershom (Ex. 2:21–22)
15. Father of Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 41: 50–52)
16. Father of city of Zion (Moses 7:69)
18. Father of Seth (Gen. 5:3)
19. Father of Esau (Gen. 25:21, 24–25)
20. Father of Laman and Lemuel (1 Ne. 2:1, 5)
Down
2. Father of Isaac (Gen. 21:2–3)
3. Father of Jaredite records (Ether preface; Ether 1:6)
4. Father-in-law of Moses (Ex. 3:1)
8. Father of Jonah (Jonah 1:1)
10. Father of Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27, footnote)
12. Father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:59–63 preface)
13. Father of family that went into the ark (Gen. 6:13, 18)
14. Father of Moroni (Moro. 7:1)
15. Father of David (Ruth 4:17)
17. Father of twelve sons (Gen. 35:22)
Sharing Time Ideas
1. Make copy of puzzle for each child, and work individually or as class. Check answers by reading scripture together and briefly discussing what that father or son taught. You could also make puzzle graph on chalkboard (eighteen squares across and seventeen down) and write answers on it.
2. Use scripture indexes to find scripture references for stories for each father or son. Assign each scripture story to child or group of children to read and to report on to others (older children could be assigned to help prereaders). Be sure to summarize for children lesson taught by each story.