Alma 53-63
"Preserved by his marvelous power"
Materials: optical illusions (see below),
Opening Song: "To Bring the World His Truth" (Children's Songbook, 172)
Opening Prayer:
Attention Activity:
Show the optical illusion below. What animal did you see first? Did you see the other animal? Sometimes it's hard to change your perspective on a situation, but others often see things differently than we do.
Show the meme below.
Show the optical illusion below. What animal did you see first? Did you see the other animal? Sometimes it's hard to change your perspective on a situation, but others often see things differently than we do.
Show the meme below.
Just because you see a situation one way doesn't mean that everyone will. Sometimes a lack to see things from another's point of view can lead to disagreements. Sometimes we don't see the whole picture and we get offended when others don't see things our way. We have been counseled by the prophets to try to see multiple perspectives and not be easily offended.
Lesson:
In the last few chapters of Alma, we read about a disagreement that Captain Moroni had with the chief judge, Pahoran. Moroni writes a letter to Pahoran saying that Moroni is angry with him for not sending more food, supplies, and reinforcements to help in their battle against the Lamanites. This letter is not subtle. Moroni makes it clear that he is furious with Pahoran. He calls him "slothful" and asks him, "Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren." (Alma 60:7) He accuses Pahoran of transgressing the laws of God and demands more aide.
Read Alma 58:12. What impresses you about their reaction to the bad situation they're in?
Well, what Moroni doesn't know is that Pahoran has not been sitting idly by. He has just survived a plot against his life. King-men have tried to kill him and overthrow the Nephite government. Pahoran writes back explaining to Nephi that these wicked men have led many of his reinforcements astray and they have driven Pahoran and the good Nephites out of Zarahemla. Now that you know what Pahoran was going through, what do you think his reaction was when he got a letter from Moroni scolding him for not sending more help? Read Alma 61:9. Pahoran could have been very angry and offended by Moroni's letter. Was he? No. He chose to give Moroni the benefit of the doubt. He rejoiced in the news that Moroni and his armies were well and asked that they join up with him in the land of Gideon so they can work together to overcome the challenges around them.
How can we follow Pahoran and Moroni's example? Can we make the best of a bad situation and not loose heart? Can we choose not to be offended when someone hurts our feelings or wrongs us?
Watch the video "Choose Not to Be Offended" from Elder Bednar's talk "And Nothing Shall Offend Them" General Conference, Oct. 2006.
Elder David A. Bednar taught: “In some way and at some time, someone in this Church will do or say something that could be considered offensive. Such an event will surely happen to each and every one of us—and it certainly will occur more than once. … You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember that you and I are agents endowed with moral agency, and we can choose not to be offended” (“And Nothing Shall Offend Them,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 91).
Just like Elder Bednar said, there will come a time when someone in the church says or does something that is inconsiderate. We need to remember that the church and its members are made up of imperfect mortal people. We shouldn't let anything shake our testimony of the gospel.
In the last few chapters of Alma, we read about a disagreement that Captain Moroni had with the chief judge, Pahoran. Moroni writes a letter to Pahoran saying that Moroni is angry with him for not sending more food, supplies, and reinforcements to help in their battle against the Lamanites. This letter is not subtle. Moroni makes it clear that he is furious with Pahoran. He calls him "slothful" and asks him, "Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren." (Alma 60:7) He accuses Pahoran of transgressing the laws of God and demands more aide.
Read Alma 58:12. What impresses you about their reaction to the bad situation they're in?
Well, what Moroni doesn't know is that Pahoran has not been sitting idly by. He has just survived a plot against his life. King-men have tried to kill him and overthrow the Nephite government. Pahoran writes back explaining to Nephi that these wicked men have led many of his reinforcements astray and they have driven Pahoran and the good Nephites out of Zarahemla. Now that you know what Pahoran was going through, what do you think his reaction was when he got a letter from Moroni scolding him for not sending more help? Read Alma 61:9. Pahoran could have been very angry and offended by Moroni's letter. Was he? No. He chose to give Moroni the benefit of the doubt. He rejoiced in the news that Moroni and his armies were well and asked that they join up with him in the land of Gideon so they can work together to overcome the challenges around them.
How can we follow Pahoran and Moroni's example? Can we make the best of a bad situation and not loose heart? Can we choose not to be offended when someone hurts our feelings or wrongs us?
Watch the video "Choose Not to Be Offended" from Elder Bednar's talk "And Nothing Shall Offend Them" General Conference, Oct. 2006.
Elder David A. Bednar taught: “In some way and at some time, someone in this Church will do or say something that could be considered offensive. Such an event will surely happen to each and every one of us—and it certainly will occur more than once. … You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember that you and I are agents endowed with moral agency, and we can choose not to be offended” (“And Nothing Shall Offend Them,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 91).
Just like Elder Bednar said, there will come a time when someone in the church says or does something that is inconsiderate. We need to remember that the church and its members are made up of imperfect mortal people. We shouldn't let anything shake our testimony of the gospel.
Closing Song: "I'll Walk With You" (Children's Songbook, 140)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Aunt Julie's Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. Peanut Butter
1 egg
1 1/4 c. flour
3/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
Mix sugars, shortening, peanut butter, and egg. Sift dry ingredients then add to mixture. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Press with fork for criss cross pattern or a snickers for snicker cookies.
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