September Sunbeams

I prepared 4 lessons during September for my primary class on: temples, forgiveness/peace, Zion's Camp, and priesthood power.  As a church, we're studying The Doctrine & Covenants this year, so there's a lot of focus on church history of the early Saints.  

The first lesson was on temples.  In 1833, the church members were commanded to build a temple in Kirtland, Ohio.  We talked about how the Lord commanded other prophets to construct temples (Moses and Solomon), an ark (Noah), a ship (Nephi), or barges (Brother of Jared).  They didn't know how to build them, but received instruction and a pattern from the Lord to accomplish their task.  Joseph Smith received revelation to build a temple in Kirtland and had to follow a pattern outlined by the Lord.  It took them 3 years to build the temple, with many people helping out in different ways - getting stone from a quarry, cutting the stone, getting lumber and doing the woodwork, sewing clothing for the workers, preparing food, donating time, money, or other resources to the building of the temple.  

As we talked about these things, we put together a paper model of the Kirtland Temple, starting with the foundation and then adding other layers of the temple.        

My next lesson was on forgiveness and finding peace.  In 1833, the church members who lived in Jackson County, Missouri were persecuted, tarred & feathered, business or property destroyed, and forced out of their homes.  When they asked the prophet Joseph Smith, who was in Kirtland, what they should do, he responded that they should seek for peace, to be patient, and to forgive those who had done wrong to them. 

I shared an experience when I had to forgive, although a much different experience from the early Saints.  The boys were playing around in the living room and ended up knocking down my little family figures and breaking off the heads.  I was pretty mad about it, but was able to forgive them for their mistake.  (And I was able to glue all the heads back on).  

We also talked about how to feel peace and stillness.  The counsel that the early Saints received from the Lord was to "Be still and know that I am God."  We talked about ways to be still and how to be reverent.  We sang the primary song "Reverently, Quietly".  

Our next lesson was on Zion's Camp.  Joseph Smith received revelation that it was time to take the lands back in Jackson County, by force if necessary.  A little over 200 people were gathered together, in what was called Zion's Camp, to march about 880 miles from Kirtland to Jackson County to get the Saints' land back.  They faced a lot of trials along the way, along with some contention as well as some great faith.  When they were nearly there, they got word that a mob was coming to attack them.  This was when the Lord stepped in to protect Zion's Camp, bringing a powerful rain storm that caused the river to rise rapidly (not allowing the mob to cross the river), as well as hail and wind.  Zion's Camp had to take shelter in a nearby Baptist Church during the storm, singing hymns.  After the storm was over, Joseph Smith received instruction to return home, not continuing at the time to get their lands.  Many thought that Zion's Camp was a failure, but it was successful in preparing future leaders of the church.  The things they learned from that experience produced the faith and strength they needed for later leadership.  

With my sunbeams, we talked about the physical things we would need for a backpacking trip (first aid kit, hiking guide, map, food & water, flashlight, protective hat and sunscreen, compass, hiking boots, and sleeping bag).  Each of those items was compared with something that would help us on our spiritual journey (love and help others, prophet, scriptures, commandments, your own light and example, prayer, choosing the right, "go and do" faith/action, and the Spirit as a comforter).  They got to color and put their items in a mini paper backpack.  

     

My most recent lesson was on priesthood power and blessings.  We had recently done another lesson on the priesthood, so I tried to think of a different way to teach the lesson.  I made a matching game of different ways the priesthood blesses us.  Each time they made a match, we talked briefly about that blessing.  (I think I'll keep this one in my bag, in case I ever need a last minute thing to do or some pictures.)