Reinforces this week’s Primary Sharing Time Theme:
Jesus Christ taught us how to serve others
FHE
with
Go the Second Mile
Scripture:
Matthew 5:41
41. And whosoever shall compel thee to ago a mile, go with him twain.
Song:
Go the Second Mile Children’s Songbook page 167
Lesson:
In Jesus’ day Roman soldiers could force a Jewish male to carry their heavy backpacks for one mile. The path was hot and dusty and many of the Jews resented it, until Jesus taught them to “go with him twain.” The word twain means two. Jesus said to carry the soldiers pack for two miles.
In this scripture story, Jesus was teaching us one way that we can serve others. When we go the first mile we are doing what is expected of us. But when we go the second mile, we are freely giving service to others. For example, if you are asked to clear the table after dinner, then you clear the table after dinner. That’s like going the first mile. But if you also stay to help wash the dishes, that is going the extra mile. Helping others by doing more than is expected will make them happy, and it will make you happy too!
In this scripture story, Jesus was teaching us one way that we can serve others. When we go the first mile we are doing what is expected of us. But when we go the second mile, we are freely giving service to others. For example, if you are asked to clear the table after dinner, then you clear the table after dinner. That’s like going the first mile. But if you also stay to help wash the dishes, that is going the extra mile. Helping others by doing more than is expected will make them happy, and it will make you happy too!
Quote:
The Lord expects us to be Latter-day Saints. That isn’t just an appendage phrase on the end of the name of the Church. It signifies something of tremendous importance. … He expects us as those who have taken upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ to walk in His way, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, to go the second mile.” Gordon B. Hinckley
Q&A:
Why did Jesus teach his disciples to go the second mile? (Discuss ideas.)
What are some of the things that we can do to go the second mile?
(Discuss ideas. Example: Church duties, family duties, jobs, missionary work and fellow shipping, community service, helping family members, school work and homework, etc.)
Does the Lord bless us when we go the second mile? (Discuss ideas.)
What are some of the things that we can do to go the second mile?
(Discuss ideas. Example: Church duties, family duties, jobs, missionary work and fellow shipping, community service, helping family members, school work and homework, etc.)
Does the Lord bless us when we go the second mile? (Discuss ideas.)
Story:
Going the Second Mile
Mother made her famous Chicken Enchilada casserole to take to the new family who was moving into the house across the street, while Andrea rolled the peanut butter cookie dough into balls and placed them on the baking sheet.
“Their daughter looks like she’s just about my age,” Andrea said excitedly. “Do you think she likes peanut butter cookies?”
“If she’s anything like you, she will,” Mother teased while removing the cookies from the oven.
When the cookies had cooled Andrea placed a dozen of them on a paper plate while Mother put the casserole and a tossed salad in a box with some paper plates and plastic utensils. “Are you ready?” Mother asked Andrea.
Andrea smiled and picked up the plate of cookies. “I’m ready,” she answered. “Let’s go!”
“Someone’s at the door!,” Kati squealed with excitement as she ran to answer the door with Mother close behind.
“Welcome to the neighborhood,” Andrea said, handing the plate of cookies to Kati.
After all the introductions were made the mothers visited while the girls went upstairs to see Kati’s new bedroom. “My bedroom is lavender, too!” Andrea exclaimed. “It’s my favorite color.”
“Mine too!” Kati said. “What’s your favorite food?”
“Tacos,” Andrea answered.
“Me too!” Kati laughed, “And peanut butter cookies are my favorite cookie!”
“Mine too!” Andrea giggled. “I bet we both like all the same things.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Kati said. “Let’s have a tea party!”
Andrea frowned. “I don’t drink tea.”
Kati laughed. “Of course not, silly. We’re too young,” she said. “We’ll just pretend. We’ll really have milk with our cookies.”
“I don’t drink tea because I’m too young,” Andrea explained, “I don’t drink it because it’s against my religion. I wouldn’t feel right even pretending.”
“Well then we’ll just have a milk party instead!” Kati exclaimed.
Andrea breathed a sigh of relief. Together they ran downstairs to the kitchen. Kati filled the toy teapot with milk, while Andrea placed two of the peanut butter cookies on a toy plate. The girls giggled and talked as they had their milk party. Kati told Andrea all about her old home and Andrea told Kati more about the Word of Wisdom.
“My dad smokes,” Kati said solemnly, “I hate it. I’m afraid he’ll get lung cancer and die.”
“Wait here, Kati,” she said. “I’ve got the best idea.” Andrea had been taught in Primary that you should go the second mile and she was going to do it. Andrea ran home and opened the top drawer of her dresser and removed a blue book. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to give this to somebody,” she whispered. “Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me this opportunity,” she silently prayed.
Andrea handed Kati the book. “This is The Book of Mormon. I wrote my testimony here,” she said as she opened the cover. “A long time ago a fourteen-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ…”
Kati got goose bumps as Andrea told her the story of the First Vision. Could this Joseph Smith really be a prophet like Abraham and Moses. She then thought about the things Andrea had taught her about the Word of Wisdom.
“If your family joined the Church your dad would quit smoking,” Andrea said.
“So the Word of Wisdom was written a long, long time ago? Before most doctors knew that smoking and drinking were bad for you?” Kati asked.
“I never thought about it that way,” Andrea said, “But, yes. Long before.”
That night Kati started to read The Book of Mormon. She didn’t understand all she read, but she felt good inside. Then she thought about what Andrea had said about going the second mile. Reading The Book of Mormon by herself was going the first mile, but if she told her parents about the things Andrea had taught her and asked them if they could read The Book of Mormon together, she would be going the second mile too!
by Margie Nauta Lee
Mother made her famous Chicken Enchilada casserole to take to the new family who was moving into the house across the street, while Andrea rolled the peanut butter cookie dough into balls and placed them on the baking sheet.
“Their daughter looks like she’s just about my age,” Andrea said excitedly. “Do you think she likes peanut butter cookies?”
“If she’s anything like you, she will,” Mother teased while removing the cookies from the oven.
When the cookies had cooled Andrea placed a dozen of them on a paper plate while Mother put the casserole and a tossed salad in a box with some paper plates and plastic utensils. “Are you ready?” Mother asked Andrea.
Andrea smiled and picked up the plate of cookies. “I’m ready,” she answered. “Let’s go!”
“Someone’s at the door!,” Kati squealed with excitement as she ran to answer the door with Mother close behind.
“Welcome to the neighborhood,” Andrea said, handing the plate of cookies to Kati.
After all the introductions were made the mothers visited while the girls went upstairs to see Kati’s new bedroom. “My bedroom is lavender, too!” Andrea exclaimed. “It’s my favorite color.”
“Mine too!” Kati said. “What’s your favorite food?”
“Tacos,” Andrea answered.
“Me too!” Kati laughed, “And peanut butter cookies are my favorite cookie!”
“Mine too!” Andrea giggled. “I bet we both like all the same things.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Kati said. “Let’s have a tea party!”
Andrea frowned. “I don’t drink tea.”
Kati laughed. “Of course not, silly. We’re too young,” she said. “We’ll just pretend. We’ll really have milk with our cookies.”
“I don’t drink tea because I’m too young,” Andrea explained, “I don’t drink it because it’s against my religion. I wouldn’t feel right even pretending.”
“Well then we’ll just have a milk party instead!” Kati exclaimed.
Andrea breathed a sigh of relief. Together they ran downstairs to the kitchen. Kati filled the toy teapot with milk, while Andrea placed two of the peanut butter cookies on a toy plate. The girls giggled and talked as they had their milk party. Kati told Andrea all about her old home and Andrea told Kati more about the Word of Wisdom.
“My dad smokes,” Kati said solemnly, “I hate it. I’m afraid he’ll get lung cancer and die.”
“Wait here, Kati,” she said. “I’ve got the best idea.” Andrea had been taught in Primary that you should go the second mile and she was going to do it. Andrea ran home and opened the top drawer of her dresser and removed a blue book. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to give this to somebody,” she whispered. “Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me this opportunity,” she silently prayed.
Andrea handed Kati the book. “This is The Book of Mormon. I wrote my testimony here,” she said as she opened the cover. “A long time ago a fourteen-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ…”
Kati got goose bumps as Andrea told her the story of the First Vision. Could this Joseph Smith really be a prophet like Abraham and Moses. She then thought about the things Andrea had taught her about the Word of Wisdom.
“If your family joined the Church your dad would quit smoking,” Andrea said.
“So the Word of Wisdom was written a long, long time ago? Before most doctors knew that smoking and drinking were bad for you?” Kati asked.
“I never thought about it that way,” Andrea said, “But, yes. Long before.”
That night Kati started to read The Book of Mormon. She didn’t understand all she read, but she felt good inside. Then she thought about what Andrea had said about going the second mile. Reading The Book of Mormon by herself was going the first mile, but if she told her parents about the things Andrea had taught her and asked them if they could read The Book of Mormon together, she would be going the second mile too!
by Margie Nauta Lee
Activity idea:
Go the Second Mile Game
Learn to go the second mile with this fun car-themed board game!
Treat idea:
Second Mile Sundaes
Vanilla ice cream is good by itself, like doing what is expected of you is good. But toppings make the ice cream even better! When you go the second mile it makes it the task sweeter, like the toppings makes the ice cream sweeter.