Reinforces this week’s Primary Sharing Time Theme:
Answers to prayers come from Heavenly Father in many ways.
FHE
with
What Will Ye That I Should Do?
Scripture:
Esther 2:22-23
22. And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?
23. And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.
22. And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?
23. And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.
Song:
Choose the Right Way Children’s Songbook page 160
Lesson:
Heavenly Father gave us our agency to help us learn to make good decisions. We should learn to use our agency to make wise decisions. Heavenly Father will help us when we ask Him.
The brother of Jared needed to cross the ocean to get to the promised land. Heavenly Father commanded him to build barges, but the brother of Jared didn’t know how they would have light inside them. He asked Heavenly Father for help. Heavenly Father asked him, “What will ye that I should do?” Heavenly Father was willing to help, but he wanted the brother of Jared to make his own decision.
There are many decisions in our lives, like lighting the barges, that we will need to make that are not between good and bad, but rather choosing the best thing to do at the time. These decisions should be made after carefully studying our options and then doing what we feel is best to do at the time. For many of the decisions we have to make there is not just one right answer.
The brother of Jared needed to cross the ocean to get to the promised land. Heavenly Father commanded him to build barges, but the brother of Jared didn’t know how they would have light inside them. He asked Heavenly Father for help. Heavenly Father asked him, “What will ye that I should do?” Heavenly Father was willing to help, but he wanted the brother of Jared to make his own decision.
There are many decisions in our lives, like lighting the barges, that we will need to make that are not between good and bad, but rather choosing the best thing to do at the time. These decisions should be made after carefully studying our options and then doing what we feel is best to do at the time. For many of the decisions we have to make there is not just one right answer.
Quote:
“In the Book of Mormon, the brother of Jared sets a good example of how the Lord lets us solve our own problems with his guidance. … We are thinking, reasoning human beings. We have the ability to identify our needs, to plan, to set goals, and to solve our problems. … May each of us use our creative reasoning to do all in our power to solve our problems and then look to the Lord for the reassuring, peaceful confirmation that we have made the right decision.”
Robert D. Hales
Robert D. Hales
Q&A:
Why didn’t the Lord tell the Brother of Jared how to light the barges?
(Discuss ideas. Emphasize that the Lord was teaching the Brother of Jared how to make good decisions.)
Was the Brother of Jared’s solution to lighting the barges the only thing that would have worked?
(Discuss ideas.)
What are some of the decisions you had to make today?
(Discuss ideas. Examples: What to wear, what to eat, who to play with, to tell the truth or to tell a lie, etc.)
Pick a few of the decisions your family had to make and discuss:
Why they made the decision? Who helped them make the decision?
Did circumstances or opportunities affect the decision made?
Was there another decision (good or bad) they could have made?
Do you feel good about the decision you made? If not, what did you learn?
Will this decision affect your future happiness?
(Discuss ideas. Emphasize that the Lord was teaching the Brother of Jared how to make good decisions.)
Was the Brother of Jared’s solution to lighting the barges the only thing that would have worked?
(Discuss ideas.)
What are some of the decisions you had to make today?
(Discuss ideas. Examples: What to wear, what to eat, who to play with, to tell the truth or to tell a lie, etc.)
Pick a few of the decisions your family had to make and discuss:
Why they made the decision? Who helped them make the decision?
Did circumstances or opportunities affect the decision made?
Was there another decision (good or bad) they could have made?
Do you feel good about the decision you made? If not, what did you learn?
Will this decision affect your future happiness?
Story:
Ben’s Choice
Four-year-old Ben opened his dresser drawer and studied the neatly folded clothes.
“Should I wear my Utah Jazz shirt or my red sweatshirt with the fire engine on it?” he thought.
Ben decided on the sweatshirt and pulled it on over his head. He then put on his denim shorts, his cowboy boots and the toy fireman’s hat Uncle Ted gave him.
Mother held back a chuckle when she saw the choices Ben had made. “It’s too hot to wear your sweatshirt today, Benny,” she said. “You’d be much more comfortable in your basketball jersey.”
“You said I could choose want to wear all by myself today,” Ben said defiantly. “I can’t be a fireman if I’m wearing my basketball jersey!”
“Couldn’t you be basketball player today?” Mother asked.
“I can’t play basketball when I’m helping in the garden, but I can be a fireman,” Ben said. “I’m going to pretend the garden is a forest on fire and I’m going to put it out with the fire hose,” Ben explained.
Mother then suggested that he wear his red and white T-shirt, but Ben was determined to choose for himself. Mother, Ben and Jenny, Ben’s twin, all headed outside to work in the garden. It was a hot August morning and the sun was already beating down on the garden. Ben pushed the sleeves of his sweatshirt up and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
“It sure is hot today,” Mother said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go change out of that sweatshirt?”
“Firemen have to get used to being hot,” Ben said. “Uncle Ted says that sometimes it gets so hot that the bottom of his boots melt.”
Mother gently touched the warm soil with her finger and pulled it back quickly. “Ouch. This ground is sizzling. I hope these rubber garden shoes don’t melt.”
Jenny giggled. “I think Ben’s going to melt!” she said.
Ben stuck his tongue out at Jenny before picking up another weed and putting it in the garden wagon. When they reached the row of tomato plants, Ben pointed at the tomatoes.
“Be careful, Mommy. There are fireballs on those trees, but don’t you worry. Fireman Ben will put them out.”
“But not until we’re done weeding,” Mother added.
Ben tugged at the neck of his sweatshirt. “But I’m hot,” He whined. “Can’t I water now?”
Mother wiped her forehead with her handkerchief. “I know you’re hot, Ben,” Mother said. “But we can’t water before the weeds are pulled or the ground will get too muddy.”
Mother looked sympathetically at her children. She then had an idea. The weeding could wait until later. “It’s not time to water the plants, but we can water us,” she said before turning on the sprinkler and slipping off her shoes. Jenny and Ben laughed as they joined their Mother running through the sprinkler in her clothes. After they were cooled off Ben and Mother sat down on the cool grass, while Jenny played in the sandbox.
“Benny,” Mother said. “Do you know why I let you wear you sweatshirt, even though I knew it was too hot?”
Ben shook his head. “I wish you hadn’t,” he said.
“Do you think you would have learned that it was a bad choice if I had?”
Ben shook his head. “No. I would of just been mad.”
“That’s right. Now if you had made the decision to jump off the roof, I wouldn’t have let you, because you’re still too young to make all your own decisions.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Even I know that you can’t jump off the roof!” He exclaimed.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Mother laughed before continuing. “Ben, Daddy and I love you very much and it is God’s plan for us to teach you how to make good decisions so that we can be a family forever,” Mother explained. “Heavenly Father loves His children so much that His plan provides us with everything we need to make good decisions so we can live with Him again.”
“Jesus wants us to live with Him again, too!” Ben interjected proudly.
“That’s right. It was part of Heavenly Father’s plan for Jesus to come to earth to teach us what is right. We also have prophets, the scriptures, teachers and the Holy Ghost to help us make right choices. Heavenly Father also knew that it would be best for us to learn how to make right choices for ourselves. His plan gave us our agency to choose for ourselves. Today you used your agency when you chose to wear your sweatshirt.”
“If it’s hot tomorrow I will choose my basketball shirt!” Ben exclaimed.
Mother ruffled Ben’s hair. “You’re learning, Ben. Just like Heavenly Father planned!”
by Margie Nauta Lee © 2008 Living Scriptures, Inc.
Four-year-old Ben opened his dresser drawer and studied the neatly folded clothes.
“Should I wear my Utah Jazz shirt or my red sweatshirt with the fire engine on it?” he thought.
Ben decided on the sweatshirt and pulled it on over his head. He then put on his denim shorts, his cowboy boots and the toy fireman’s hat Uncle Ted gave him.
Mother held back a chuckle when she saw the choices Ben had made. “It’s too hot to wear your sweatshirt today, Benny,” she said. “You’d be much more comfortable in your basketball jersey.”
“You said I could choose want to wear all by myself today,” Ben said defiantly. “I can’t be a fireman if I’m wearing my basketball jersey!”
“Couldn’t you be basketball player today?” Mother asked.
“I can’t play basketball when I’m helping in the garden, but I can be a fireman,” Ben said. “I’m going to pretend the garden is a forest on fire and I’m going to put it out with the fire hose,” Ben explained.
Mother then suggested that he wear his red and white T-shirt, but Ben was determined to choose for himself. Mother, Ben and Jenny, Ben’s twin, all headed outside to work in the garden. It was a hot August morning and the sun was already beating down on the garden. Ben pushed the sleeves of his sweatshirt up and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
“It sure is hot today,” Mother said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go change out of that sweatshirt?”
“Firemen have to get used to being hot,” Ben said. “Uncle Ted says that sometimes it gets so hot that the bottom of his boots melt.”
Mother gently touched the warm soil with her finger and pulled it back quickly. “Ouch. This ground is sizzling. I hope these rubber garden shoes don’t melt.”
Jenny giggled. “I think Ben’s going to melt!” she said.
Ben stuck his tongue out at Jenny before picking up another weed and putting it in the garden wagon. When they reached the row of tomato plants, Ben pointed at the tomatoes.
“Be careful, Mommy. There are fireballs on those trees, but don’t you worry. Fireman Ben will put them out.”
“But not until we’re done weeding,” Mother added.
Ben tugged at the neck of his sweatshirt. “But I’m hot,” He whined. “Can’t I water now?”
Mother wiped her forehead with her handkerchief. “I know you’re hot, Ben,” Mother said. “But we can’t water before the weeds are pulled or the ground will get too muddy.”
Mother looked sympathetically at her children. She then had an idea. The weeding could wait until later. “It’s not time to water the plants, but we can water us,” she said before turning on the sprinkler and slipping off her shoes. Jenny and Ben laughed as they joined their Mother running through the sprinkler in her clothes. After they were cooled off Ben and Mother sat down on the cool grass, while Jenny played in the sandbox.
“Benny,” Mother said. “Do you know why I let you wear you sweatshirt, even though I knew it was too hot?”
Ben shook his head. “I wish you hadn’t,” he said.
“Do you think you would have learned that it was a bad choice if I had?”
Ben shook his head. “No. I would of just been mad.”
“That’s right. Now if you had made the decision to jump off the roof, I wouldn’t have let you, because you’re still too young to make all your own decisions.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Even I know that you can’t jump off the roof!” He exclaimed.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Mother laughed before continuing. “Ben, Daddy and I love you very much and it is God’s plan for us to teach you how to make good decisions so that we can be a family forever,” Mother explained. “Heavenly Father loves His children so much that His plan provides us with everything we need to make good decisions so we can live with Him again.”
“Jesus wants us to live with Him again, too!” Ben interjected proudly.
“That’s right. It was part of Heavenly Father’s plan for Jesus to come to earth to teach us what is right. We also have prophets, the scriptures, teachers and the Holy Ghost to help us make right choices. Heavenly Father also knew that it would be best for us to learn how to make right choices for ourselves. His plan gave us our agency to choose for ourselves. Today you used your agency when you chose to wear your sweatshirt.”
“If it’s hot tomorrow I will choose my basketball shirt!” Ben exclaimed.
Mother ruffled Ben’s hair. “You’re learning, Ben. Just like Heavenly Father planned!”
by Margie Nauta Lee © 2008 Living Scriptures, Inc.
Activity idea:
What Should I Wear?
During this activity your children will not only have fun deciding what these cute paper dolls should wear, but they will find that learning to dress appropriately will help them to learn about using their agency and making good decisions throughout their lives.
Treat idea:
"Choose the Right" Stuff-ed Crepes
Using this easy crepe recipe is a great way to help guide your children while allowing them to use their agency to make the right choices. As long as they “choose the right” stuff, they’ll love these sweet fruit filled and savory chicken stuffed crepes.