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Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “Sacred Keys of the Aaronic Priesthood,” by Elder Larry M. Gibson, Ensign, May 2011, 55.
Thought:
The priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of others.
(“Our Sacred Priesthood Trust,” Ensign, May 2006, 57).
Song:
“Teach Me to Walk in the Light,” Children’s Songbook, p. 177.
Scripture:
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
(Matthew 25:21)
Object Lesson:
Materials Needed: A recording of a beautifully orchestrated piece of music.
Procedure: Play the music for several minutes. Ask: How many people were necessary to create that piece of music? Include the orchestra members, composer, conductor, sound engineers, etc. Ask: What would happen if there were no composer or sound engineer or orchestra? What would it be like if the conductor tried to do everything? What would happen if orchestra members didn’t bother to practice or the sound engineer arrived an hour late? Indicate that each individual plays an important part in the sound of the finished product—even the ones who work behind the scenes.
Liken the music to a ward or branch. There are many people who tirelessly do home teaching and visiting teaching. Others teach in different organizations or organize activities. Still others help through compassionate service or humanitarian efforts. Like the orchestra director, the bishop cannot do all the things that need to be done in the ward, so he delegates many tasks. Briefly discuss the importance of each person helping in the ward.
(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Object Lessons Made Easy, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010], p. 54.)
Story:
A Lesson from a Lamb
The bearers of the priesthood have a great responsibility, whether they be fathers, grandfathers, home teachers, elders quorum presidents, bishops, stake presidents, or hold other Church callings.
When I was a very small boy, my father found a lamb all alone out in the desert. The herd of sheep to which its mother belonged had moved on, and somehow the lamb got separated from its mother, and the shepherd must not have known that it was lost. Because it could not survive alone in the desert, my father picked it up and brought it home. To have left the lamb there would have meant certain death, either by falling prey to the coyotes or by starvation because it was so young that it still needed milk. Some sheepmen call these lambs “bummers.” My father gave the lamb to me, and I became its shepherd.
For several weeks I warmed cow’s milk in a baby’s bottle and fed the lamb. We became fast friends. I called him Nigh—why, I don’t remember. It began to grow. My lamb and I would play on the lawn. Sometimes we would lie together on the grass and I would lay my head on its soft, woolly side and look up at the blue sky and the white billowing clouds. I did not lock my lamb up during the day. It would not run away. It soon learned to eat grass. I could call my lamb from anywhere in the yard by just imitating as best I could the bleating sound of a sheep: Baa. Baa.
One night there came a terrible storm. I forgot to put my lamb in the barn that night as I should have done. I went to bed. My little friend was frightened in the storm, and I could hear it bleating. I knew that I should help my pet, but I wanted to stay safe, warm, and dry in my bed. I didn’t get up as I should have done. The next morning I went out to find my lamb dead. A dog had also heard its bleating cry and killed it. My heart was broken. I had not been a good shepherd or steward of that which my father had entrusted to me. My father said, “Son, couldn’t I trust you to take care of just one lamb?” My father’s remark hurt me more than losing my woolly friend. I resolved that day, as a little boy, that I would try never again to neglect my stewardship as a shepherd if I were ever placed in that position again.
Not too many years thereafter I was called as a junior companion to a home teacher. There were times when it was so cold or stormy and I wanted to stay home and be comfortable, but in my mind’s ear I could hear my little lamb bleating, and I knew I needed to be a good shepherd and go with my senior companion. In all those many years, whenever I have had a desire to shirk my duties, there would come to me a remembrance of how sorry I was that night so many years ago when I had not been a good shepherd. I have not always done everything I should have, but I have tried.
Even today, after more than sixty years, I can still hear in my mind the bleating, frightened cry of the lamb of my boyhood that I did not shepherd as I should have. I can also remember the loving rebuke of my father: “Son, couldn’t I trust you to take care of just one lamb?” If we are not good shepherds, I wonder how we will feel in the eternities.
(James E. Faust, Stories From My Life, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2001], p. 130.)
Activity:
Divide the family into pairs, with older and younger members paired together. Give each pair a pencil and three pieces of paper.
Explain that you will read a word and they should write down the name of a person they think of when they hear the word.
Read the first word from this list:
Tall
Fun
Handsome
Strong
Righteous
Kind
Famous
Smart
Hero
Allow time for each pair to write down a name. Then ask a member of each team to read their answer aloud. A team receives five point if no other team has the same answer. If another team has the same answer they receive one point.
Continue play until all the words have been used.
Explain that it is important for all of us to have heroes. Heroes are people we look up to and who help us make our lives better by their good example. Many great Church leaders can be considered heroes.
(Allan K. Burgess and Max H. Molgard, Fun for Family Night: Church History Edition, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992], p. 3.)
Refreshment
Puffy Apple Pancake
When this fun pancake is baked, it puffs into a shell shape.
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup thinly sliced, peeled apples (1 to 2 apples)
- 2 large eggs
- 1⁄2 cup flour
- 1⁄2 cup milk
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
Heat oven to 400o F.
Melt butter in a 9-inch pie pan. Brush butter around sides of pie pan. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over butter or margarine. Arrange apple slices over sugar.
Beat eggs slightly in a medium bowl with a whisk. Stir in flour, milk, and salt until just mixed (do not overbeat). Pour over apples. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately loosen edges of pancake and turn upside down onto a serving plate.
Serves 2 to 4.
(Janet Peterson, Remedies for the “I Don’t Cook” Syndrome, [Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2001], p. 256.)
To access the PDF version of this lesson, click here.