Helaman 16

We finished up Helaman this morning.  I struggled all day yesterday with this lesson.  Nothing I read or studied seemed to be the right thing.  Even the lesson is the manual didn't seem right.  I read the chapter and re-read it and still nothing.  I pondered it all day, came across an idea in the student manual and pondered upon it.  I looked at it before going to bed and then got up early this morning to see if something would come together.  I felt good about the idea from last night.  I know from experience when I struggle with a lesson like this it is because someone in the class needs something specific and I just have to be in the right mind set to hear the promptings from Heavenly Father and be His mouthpiece.  So I prayed for inspiration ~ prayed to know what to say and when to say it.  And like always, I had to prepare myself and let the Lord do the rest.

It was a good lesson.  Good discussion and the outcome of the whole day was positive.  Hopefully whomever it was that needed this lesson was in tune with the spirit. 

We talked about how the tide is turning amongst the Lamanites and the Nephites.  The Lamanites have become the righteous ones while the Nephites are falling hard and fast.  They have hard hearts, made harder by the fact that they have had the truth for generations and are failing to REMEMBER.  We talked about what the people are doing to the prophets, what they are doing to Samuel the Lamanite.  How he is being treated, what they are doing about the preaching he is doing amongst them.  They cast him out, refuse to believe.  Those who are converted leave the city in search of Nephi and are baptized.  We talked about what it would be like to have lived in the days of Samuel the Lamanite.  Then I gave them a piece of paper with this written on the top:

Ponder about what it must have been like to be a true follower of Jesus Christ at the time of Helaman 16.  Write what you can do today in your personal preparation for His Second Coming and why it is important.

Then I gave them a few minutes to write.  I bore testimony, told them I loved them and sent them off to school, I hoped armed with the Spirit!

This is some of what they wrote...

• I think it would be very hard...much like in the early days of the church...being persecuted for what you believe.
• Like the true believers of the Nephite time, I can choose to stand "firm in the faith" even when those around me don't support the idea.  The prophet was on the earth then and we have one today as well.  If we follow then we can be saved as those of old.  Not physically but spiritually we can be saved from Satan's grasp.
• I think it would have been harder because the followers of the devil would have no qualms about beating you near to death. Now there's laws against it.  I will follow in his (Jesus Christ's) ways so that I can one day stand spotless before God.
• It would have been hard to be a true follower of Jesus Christ at the time of Helaman 16.  We wouldn't have all of the resources that we have now to be a true disciple.  I have goals on this earth that will help me prepare for the second coming.
• It would have been absolutely amazing to be a true follower of Christ.  The spirit would be so strong.
• I think it would have been pretty scary at times...I could have died.
• I think it would have been sweet to be there...I think it would have been hard too because there would have been much persecution.
• Fulfilling...dangerous...eye opening
• I think it would have been crazyily awesome to be a follower back then, as it would have it's pro' and con's compared to now.  There was more signs back then and everything so that would be easier but you might be persecuted more.
• It would have been bad because they didn't care who they killed.
• To prepare for the second coming I can do many things...understand the scriptures better, be a better example, love those around me.
• It would have been more rewarding if all those around you were falling into disbelief and I stayed firm in the knowledge of Christ.  I need to be the best Mormon I can be.
• I think it would have been earsier to be more obedient in the older times because there wouldn't be as many temptations as there are today like computers, music, tv, and school...I will try harder to be obedient with the commandment.
• To prepare for the second coming I woul have faith first of all. Also know that the scriptures are true.  I would repent.

These kids are the greatest.  They are strong and they have courage!