Fortifying
Foundations of Faith
By C.S. Bezas
Trials
beset us when we least expect them. I remember waking up one
morning to find my child had passed away in his sleep. This
was not what I had planned for my life. I even remember thinking,
while dialing 911 for help, “This does not happen to me. Only
to other people.”
Foolish
me. Trials and heartache happen to all of God’s children. It
is an integral part of growth.
Imagine
the difference between a successful mountain climber’s physical
strength and that of a “couch potato,” — someone who sits in
front of a TV rarely moving. The first individual has been tormented
with craggy mountain peaks, sweat in his eyes, and perhaps even
tumbled down the mountainside. But he also has triumphed and
received glorious vistas of perspective once he reached the
top of those peaks. On the other hand, the “couch potato” will
never personally receive such breathtaking views, other than
vicariously through the television.
Personally,
I could do with fewer tumbles down the symbolic mountainsides
of my life, but I am learning that challenges do bring strength
— if I put my hand in the Lord’s and follow in His way, both
prior and during those trials.
President
Thomas S. Monson spoke to these kinds of challenges in the October
2006 General Conference. He taught that we will face trials.
He gave several suggestions on how to triumph in those challenges.
One of his points of strength is that of consistent scripture
study and knowledge.
He
said, “We can fortify our foundations of faith, our testimonies
of truth, so that we will not falter, we will not fail.” Later
he added, “Let us study the scriptures and ‘meditate therein
day and night,’ as counseled by the Lord in the book of Joshua
(Josh. 1:8)” (Thomas S. Monson, “How Firm a Foundation”, Ensign, Nov. 2006,
62).
As
we work with today’s youth, we must work to prepare them for
any possible vicissitudes of life that lie ahead of them. Our
lessons aren’t just for today. They are for four or eight or
twenty-eight years down the road. We might be surprised to know
just how potent our time with these kids can be.
So
a question: How do we get the youth into their scriptures?
Here is one fun way I’ve used with my seminary students in the
past. Try it. It just might be the ticket to reach out to the
few students who have balked at scripture study or Scripture
Mastery activities.
Meet
Mr. Potato Head. He's fast become some of my seminary students’
favorite Scripture Mastery activity. Here's how he has helped
when we've come to Fridays and are playing scripture mastery
games. He seems to have a way with even the most reluctant of
learners. He’s just one of the many fun ways to help kids enjoy
their Scripture Mastery moments.
