In the P of GP we continue to read about what will occur in the last days, and about how God's elect will be gathered together and there will be wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and pestilences. The love of many will wax cold. But we don't need to fear because those who are not overcome will be saved. Joseph Smith Matthew 1:27-30 "And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Behold I speak for mine elect's sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved."
In the New Testament we read about the difference between godly sorrow that leads to repentance and the sorrow of the world which leads to death. If we're feeling utterly hopeless, like we've sinned so much that it's too late to change, we can know that these feelings of discouragement come from Satan, not God. Godly sorrow causes us to want to turn our lives around and do better. It gives us hope and turns us toward the Lord, not away from Him. We need to remember that if we're willing to repent and change our lives, our Heavenly Father will welcome us back with open arms. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us not to feel put down because of our youth, but to be examples of believers in all we say and do, having charity, faith, and purity. Teaching primary for over 30 years taught me that there is much we can learn from the young. I was humbled so many times when the children taught me, instead of the other way around. We should never underestimate a person just because of their age. I remember one time in a primary sharing time the lady who was conducting asked the children if they knew what the word atonement meant. Only a little 3 year old in the front of the room raised his hand. So at first she ignored him and pointed to some of the older kids in the back, asking them if they knew. They did not. The little 3 year old was still patiently raising his hand so finally she called on him. Instead of answering in his eat, it got up and stood in the front o the room and then with tears streaming down his little face he taught the children about how Jesus Christ had hung on he cross and suffered and died for their sins because He loved every one of them. He this little boy with tears of emotion exclaimed, "And I love Jesus SO much!" I've never heard a better lesson taught on the atonement of Jesus Christ. And it was taught by a 3 year old! I was so excited when this little boy was old enough to come into my class. He did not disappoint me. At the age of 7, he would raise his hand during my lessons and say, "I was just reading a scripture that goes right along with this. Could I share it with the class?" Then he'd open his scriptures and read something that added to the lesson. If my lesson called for the reading or telling of a story from the scriptures, I soon learned that this boy could do a better job of telling it than I could. So I'd let him. It didn't matter what the story was. If it was in the scriptures, all I had to do was mention it and then he'd retell it--Noah and the Ark, Daniel in the Lions Den, Samuel the Lamanite, the Ten Lepers, the Stripling Soldiers. He could tell the stories on the spot and do a beautiful job. After he was old enough to move into the older class, I really missed him. I had to return to teaching the classes on my own without his help and realized how much I'd relied on him. I asked his dad once, "Who teaches your son so much about the scriptures, you or your wife?" He answered. "Neither one of us. He just studies the scriptures on his own." He's 19 years old now and serving a mission in Singapore. And I can just imagine what a wonderful missionary he must be! 1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
In the New Testament we read about the difference between godly sorrow that leads to repentance and the sorrow of the world which leads to death. If we're feeling utterly hopeless, like we've sinned so much that it's too late to change, we can know that these feelings of discouragement come from Satan, not God. Godly sorrow causes us to want to turn our lives around and do better. It gives us hope and turns us toward the Lord, not away from Him. We need to remember that if we're willing to repent and change our lives, our Heavenly Father will welcome us back with open arms. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us not to feel put down because of our youth, but to be examples of believers in all we say and do, having charity, faith, and purity. Teaching primary for over 30 years taught me that there is much we can learn from the young. I was humbled so many times when the children taught me, instead of the other way around. We should never underestimate a person just because of their age. I remember one time in a primary sharing time the lady who was conducting asked the children if they knew what the word atonement meant. Only a little 3 year old in the front of the room raised his hand. So at first she ignored him and pointed to some of the older kids in the back, asking them if they knew. They did not. The little 3 year old was still patiently raising his hand so finally she called on him. Instead of answering in his eat, it got up and stood in the front o the room and then with tears streaming down his little face he taught the children about how Jesus Christ had hung on he cross and suffered and died for their sins because He loved every one of them. He this little boy with tears of emotion exclaimed, "And I love Jesus SO much!" I've never heard a better lesson taught on the atonement of Jesus Christ. And it was taught by a 3 year old! I was so excited when this little boy was old enough to come into my class. He did not disappoint me. At the age of 7, he would raise his hand during my lessons and say, "I was just reading a scripture that goes right along with this. Could I share it with the class?" Then he'd open his scriptures and read something that added to the lesson. If my lesson called for the reading or telling of a story from the scriptures, I soon learned that this boy could do a better job of telling it than I could. So I'd let him. It didn't matter what the story was. If it was in the scriptures, all I had to do was mention it and then he'd retell it--Noah and the Ark, Daniel in the Lions Den, Samuel the Lamanite, the Ten Lepers, the Stripling Soldiers. He could tell the stories on the spot and do a beautiful job. After he was old enough to move into the older class, I really missed him. I had to return to teaching the classes on my own without his help and realized how much I'd relied on him. I asked his dad once, "Who teaches your son so much about the scriptures, you or your wife?" He answered. "Neither one of us. He just studies the scriptures on his own." He's 19 years old now and serving a mission in Singapore. And I can just imagine what a wonderful missionary he must be! 1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
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