4 August 2018 - Saturday

4 August 2018 - Saturday

This morning I was awake and ready to get up at 3:30am feeling very rested.  With this being our preparation day, mom did not join me for the Trail Guide duties with this American Fork Stake so that she could avoid the dust and sweat of the trail.  It was not necessary that we both go out since we were only assigned to get them back to the Homestead, and ready to travel to Rock Creek.  I met mom at the Trek Center where we showed the "Remember" video before they emptied their carts and got on their buses.  

It was a great group, and, as a bonus, the Stake President was Elder Bruce Hafen's son.  Elder Hafen wrote a book that helped mom explain the Atonement to PopPop about the need to have the Savior Atone for our sins, and that it was not something we can do for ourselves.  

It was fun to get a little better acquainted with President Hafen.  He was actually out with his dad about four weeks ago walking Rocky Ridge, with his extended family, when we were putting up the port-a potties.  I got to talk with Elder Hafen, very briefly, there and mom was able to again repeat her appreciation for his dad giving her that information from his book.

This sun was a bright orange this morning from all the smoke haze!

Once we got to the Homestead and completed our assignment, mom and I drove to Casper.  We got our shopping done and joined the Hansen's at Olive Garden for lunch.  Then we came back to the trailer and I got to take a nap.  That drive back from Casper is always longer for me.  My eyes get so heavy and mom has to make sure I stay awake!  I should take her advise and let her drive back from our weekly excursion!

This evening, I was interested in seeing where the quote floating around the mission, from Henry B. Eyring came from that said; "Never, never underestimate the Spiritual power of temporal service".  I looked it up and found the talk given to Seminary and Institute teachers in a seminar, just for them, on August 17, 1990.  The quote was actually this;  Never, never underestimate the spiritual value of doing temporal things well for those whom you serve.  And the example came about from Ammon teaching King Lamoni.  

I love finding the exact meaning of quotes that we often change to fit a particular need, and try to understand the context for the message.  This entire talk was built around teaching about how the Book of Mormon can change lives.  It was in four parts as noted; read, prove, prepare, testify.  At that point in his life, then Elder Eyring, was teaching the way he liked to follow when he taught about better understanding the Scriptures.  See what you think!

Prepare

The next step a teacher takes is to prepare. You remember how the sons of Mosiah prepared. In fact, we use the scriptures that describe their preparation, especially how they fasted and prayed, as examples of preparation (see Alma 17:3, 9). But in my rereading of the Book of Mormon, two verses from the book of Alma stood out:

“Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption.

“Therefore they separated themselves one from another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to the word and power of God which was given unto him” (Alma 17:16–17; emphasis added).

The word alone makes me think of you going into your classroom. You go alone. They went alone, among a ferocious people, with the intent to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. (There will be days when your students may seem nearly as ferocious.) The sons of Mosiah went not simply to get a few converts. They were to help people change their lives by the power of the Atonement.

Ammon had prepared by fasting, praying, and studying the scriptures and gaining the spiritual endowment that we all need to teach. But I am struck by the way he taught. Remember, King Lamoni invited him to receive things, to have things done for him, but instead he chose to serve the people he intended to teach: “But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni” (Alma 17:25).

Underline that and remember it all your life if you want to know something about preparation. Ammon prepared himself, but he did more. He prepared his student to be taught the doctrines of salvation. How did he do it?

“And it came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites” (Alma 17:25).

Now, remember that he not only protected the servants and the animals at the waters of Sebus, but he drove off the enemy. When the other servants brought the evidence of what Ammon had done, King Lamoni said, “Where is he?” They said, “Oh, he is in the stables. He is doing every little thing to serve you” (see Alma 18:8–9).

Isn’t that odd? He was called to teach the doctrines of salvation, but he was in the stables. Don’t you think he should have been praying and fasting and polishing his teaching plan? No, he was in the stables.

King Lamoni had been brought up with a belief that there was a God but that whatever the king did was right. He had been specifically taught false doctrine that might have made him impervious to feelings of guilt. Do you remember that when he heard where Ammon was, a feeling of guilt, of fear that he had done wrong in the killing of the servants, came over him (see Alma 18:5)? Remember the effect in Alma chapter 18:

“And they answered the king, and said: Whether he be the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but this much we do know, that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king; neither can they scatter the king’s flocks when he is with us, because of his expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that he is a friend to the king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain.

“And now, when the king heard these words, he said unto them: Now I know that it is the Great Spirit; and he has come down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might not slay you as I did your brethren” (Alma 18:3–4).

I have always focused before on how mixed up Lamoni was in his doctrine, without seeing the miracle. The miracle was that a spiritual need was created in a man, that he might be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. His heart was broken. He felt guilt. And it came from the temporal things that Ammon had done.

I bear you my testimony that you can prepare the hearts of your students. Serve them; find little things to do for them. Pay the price of service, and God will honor it. I will make you that promise. Do not worry if your students are not lovable at times. Just do something for them, and they will seem a little more lovable to you. It will be a gift from God.

I bear my testimony that the Holy Ghost will prepare your students, as He prepared King Lamoni for Ammon. Never, never underestimate the spiritual value of doing temporal things well for those whom you serve.

I pray that all of you might prepare through fasting and prayer and testimony. I hope you will prepare the hearts of your students. Be their servants, and you will love them. And they will feel your love. And more important, they will feel God’s love. The Book of Mormon will help you in that.

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It has been a good day that began with a nice work-out, a pleasant drive to Casper, a sleepy drive back from Casper, a nice nap, and some fun reading in Church materials.  There is so much more to learn!  Thank you for joining us tonight!