Last night, I had the oportunity to teach our lesson for Family Home Evening. Our lesson was on Forgiving, I think it is hardest for me to forgive myself. I thought I would share the lesson.I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.—Doctrine and Covenants D&C 64:10
GOSPEL TRUTH
Forgiveness is using the power within us to overcome anger, feelings of revenge, and unhappy and bad feelings. Our Heavenly Father commanded us to forgive everyone, and he will help us as we try to keep this commandment.
Lesson 1: Understanding What It Means to Forgive
The following experience as told by the late Chief Blue of the Catawba Indian nation:
One day my eleven-year-old son went squirrel hunting with six other Indians. He saw a squirrel run up a tree and climbed up to scare it out on a limb. After he had done this he called to the others to hold their fire until he could get down. One of the Indians in the hunting party had always been jealous of me and my position as chief. He and his son both shot deliberately at my boy. He was filled with buckshot from his knees to his head. The Indians carried my boy towards home and found a spot where they lay him while they ran for the doctor.
A friend came and found me and said, "Sam, run home at once; your boy has been shot." I ran all the way home and found my boy near death. The doctor was there and said my boy would not live. He was right; the boy died in a few minutes.
The man and son who had done the shooting were in my front yard visiting with members of the crowd that had gathered. They did not appear to be upset at their deed. My heart filled with revenge and hatred. Something seemed to whisper to me, "If you don't take down your gun and kill that man who murdered your son, Sam Blue, you are a coward."
Now I have been a Mormon ever since I have been a young lad and I knew it would not be right to take revenge. I decided to pray to the Lord about it. I walked to my secret place out in the timber where I always have gone to pray alone when I have a special problem, and there I prayed to the Lord to take revenge out of my heart. I soon felt better and started back to the house. But again I heard something inside whisper, again I turned back and prayed until I felt better. On my way back to the house I again heard the voice say, "Sam Blue, you are a coward." I turned again and went back to pray and this time I told the Lord he must help me or I would be a killer. I asked him to take revenge out of my heart and keep it out. I felt good when I got up from praying. I went back to the house a third time and when I reached the house I went out and shook hands with the Indian who had killed my boy. There was no hatred or desire for revenge in my heart. (See Marion G. Romney, The Power of God unto Salvation, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Provo, 3 Feb. 1960], pp. 67.)
Discuss the story by asking questions such as the following: Was it too much to expect Chief Blue to forgive his son's killers—especially when they did not repent? How did Chief Blue's strong desire to overcome feelings of hatred and revenge make it possible for him to forgive? Where did he get the strength to forgive? What happened to Chief Blue that showed he had forgiven those who killed his son?
You may want to contrast this experience with the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:2335).
Read Luke 23:3334. Remind your family that the Savior set a perfect example of forgiveness.
Ask family members to write on a piece of paper the name of someone they need to forgive. As you encourage them to be forgiving, remind them of Chief Blue. Emphasize the importance of wanting to forgive, believing we have the power to forgive, praying for help, and receiving the blessing of having hatred and revenge taken from our hearts. Have each family member keep his piece of paper to remind him of this commitment.
Forgiveness is using the power within us to overcome anger, feelings of revenge, and unhappy and bad feelings. Our Heavenly Father commanded us to forgive everyone, and he will help us as we try to keep this commandment.
Lesson 1: Understanding What It Means to Forgive
The following experience as told by the late Chief Blue of the Catawba Indian nation:
One day my eleven-year-old son went squirrel hunting with six other Indians. He saw a squirrel run up a tree and climbed up to scare it out on a limb. After he had done this he called to the others to hold their fire until he could get down. One of the Indians in the hunting party had always been jealous of me and my position as chief. He and his son both shot deliberately at my boy. He was filled with buckshot from his knees to his head. The Indians carried my boy towards home and found a spot where they lay him while they ran for the doctor.
A friend came and found me and said, "Sam, run home at once; your boy has been shot." I ran all the way home and found my boy near death. The doctor was there and said my boy would not live. He was right; the boy died in a few minutes.
The man and son who had done the shooting were in my front yard visiting with members of the crowd that had gathered. They did not appear to be upset at their deed. My heart filled with revenge and hatred. Something seemed to whisper to me, "If you don't take down your gun and kill that man who murdered your son, Sam Blue, you are a coward."
Now I have been a Mormon ever since I have been a young lad and I knew it would not be right to take revenge. I decided to pray to the Lord about it. I walked to my secret place out in the timber where I always have gone to pray alone when I have a special problem, and there I prayed to the Lord to take revenge out of my heart. I soon felt better and started back to the house. But again I heard something inside whisper, again I turned back and prayed until I felt better. On my way back to the house I again heard the voice say, "Sam Blue, you are a coward." I turned again and went back to pray and this time I told the Lord he must help me or I would be a killer. I asked him to take revenge out of my heart and keep it out. I felt good when I got up from praying. I went back to the house a third time and when I reached the house I went out and shook hands with the Indian who had killed my boy. There was no hatred or desire for revenge in my heart. (See Marion G. Romney, The Power of God unto Salvation, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Provo, 3 Feb. 1960], pp. 67.)
Discuss the story by asking questions such as the following: Was it too much to expect Chief Blue to forgive his son's killers—especially when they did not repent? How did Chief Blue's strong desire to overcome feelings of hatred and revenge make it possible for him to forgive? Where did he get the strength to forgive? What happened to Chief Blue that showed he had forgiven those who killed his son?
You may want to contrast this experience with the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:2335).
Read Luke 23:3334. Remind your family that the Savior set a perfect example of forgiveness.
Ask family members to write on a piece of paper the name of someone they need to forgive. As you encourage them to be forgiving, remind them of Chief Blue. Emphasize the importance of wanting to forgive, believing we have the power to forgive, praying for help, and receiving the blessing of having hatred and revenge taken from our hearts. Have each family member keep his piece of paper to remind him of this commitment.
Michael fell and was having a hard time walking on his boo-boo so he got a little ride in the stroller, that is until he saw the play ground about 20 feet ahead, LOL. 
Grace got a one, two, three, jump ride instead of a ride in the stroller, she loved it. Thanks Aunt Racheny (Rachel and Matheny, hence Racheny) and Grandma Matheny
Grandma and Grace having some tender moments while feeding the ducks.
Grace got hungry and tired of sharing with the duck so, she decided to start eating the bread. Good thing for the ducks (when we walked to the playground after feeding the ducks they had a sign that read: bread's main ingrediant yeast gives the ducks a belly ache and therefore we shouldn't have fed the ducks bread.) Whoops....
Michael feeding the ducks.
2 comments:
That's a funny pic of Grace eating the "ducks food" and even funnier about the sign...that would be my luck. I like the lesson, the forgiveness story about the son: WOW! I pray i'd be that strong!! You guys are having way too much fun ;)!!
haha Go check out my friend: Erwin family...her daughter was talking about tattoos...it's hilarious! haha
Post a Comment