May 31st 2022

Primary Lesson

Where do the days go? We got to be in the temple everyday but Sunday last week. It was wonderful and made us tired. I find it so amazing that I may not be feeling great, I have a bit of an ongoing earache but the minute I get into the temple I am infused with energy and well being. It is quite a wonderful phenomenon! The temple is getting busier and we are all gearing up for a very busy summer. There are a handful of district workers that know what that will be like but all the rest of us have no idea what is coming. It will all work out because it always does. Hopefully, people will be patient and humble with all the growing pains of a destination temple during the summer. 

We have been given an assignment to teach the youngest age class in primary in our branch, six 3 to 5 year old's. The branch is so small that the Primary President leads the music, plays the piano, and teaches occasionally and now is 3 months pregnant so we are happy to help. Dave was able to play the piano for her so she could lead. I love Primary and it is my first choice of places to be but it is a new experience for Dave and he is doing well.

Our lesson was on Joshua and the battle of Jericho. We told them the story and then had them make little paper trumpets with rolled up paper. We told them all the steps the Lord required of the people so they could win the war. Some of the steps seemed silly or unreasonable but it was so important for the people to be exactly obedient. We told the kids we were going to go outside and act out the battle and that if they did exactly as we told them they would get a reward (fruit snack) We told them that we really wanted to give them the reward and we would be sad if they didn't follow the rules exactly, because then we couldn't give it to them. 

We went outside and I clearly showed them where to walk, they had to be very quiet and then after 7 times we would blow our horns and shout. I told them again, we really want to give you a reward so please follow the instructions. 

Then we started marching around the piece of parking lot I had designated. They marched around. They were quiet. One little guy got distracted by a dandelion and I quickly said "oh, hurry and get back because I want to give you the reward" He did. We finished our rounds, blew our horns and shouted! We were so proud of them! Back in class we told them how well they obeyed the instructions and gave them their reward. 

This little experience has caused me to ponder a bit on the Plan of Salvation of our Heavenly Father. He has given us instructions on how we need to live our lives in order to gain the reward He so lovingly wants to give us. The instructions may seem silly or unreasonable but He does require our exact obedience. If we do get distracted or willfully go off the path, we can get back on and resume the course and still get the reward because of what our Savior has done for us. Heavenly Father wants us to choose Him, trust Him and love Him. And I believe with all of my heart, it is and will be worth whatever we are required to do. Exact obedience. What does that look like for you?   

This picture was taken in March but I didn't have any pictures for this week. These are all the wonderful, amazing people we started our mission with. The Temple Presidency will be changing as well as a few couples completing their missions in a few months. We also have 30 new temple couples who are serving until September.