Great Day at Church

Today was a great day at church. I got a call an hour before church that one of my teachers would not be there (she got sick), and it didn't bother me. (I am the Primary President.) I didn't have enough time to prepare a lesson, but I knew her class was small and they could just go in another class. Then at church, 2 more teachers didn't show up. Usually I get frustrated when that happens, but today it didn't bother me. I just took all three classes into a classroom (10 kids, about half our primary), grabbed last years lesson book (all the ones for this year are being used), happened to open the book to the lesson on choosing the right. It was the perfect lesson for the day before the first day of school. I think it was the lesson Heavenly Father wanted these children to have. We talked about a story by one of the 70 who was dared when he was 7 by a friend to run in front of an oncoming car. He did it, was it, hurt, and learned how bad it is to give in to a dare. The only dares we should give in to are "Dare to do good, dare to do right". I think we can do some harmless fun ones as well, but that is just me. Anyway, I recently saw the movie Valkarie, and it reminded me of a quote I had heard by a Nazi soldier who was in on the attempt to assassinate Hitler and start a new government that would stop the killing of the Jews and the innocent Russians and immediately give up to the Allies. (Kill Hitler to stop the killing of the innocent). The attempt failed, and most of these men (many of whom were active, devoted God fearing Catholics) were killed for treason. A few of them were not found out. One of them was commanding troops somewhere far from Berlin. His job was to take his troops to Berlin, and help keep the new government in control from Nazis. When he heard the attempt failed, he was on his way over, but stopped his troops and got them back into place before he was found out by Hitler. His family had a motto engraved over the entrance of his home, it said, "Even if all, not I." I told my class this story, and we discussed the meaning of this quote. Even if all (my friends are cheating, etc, ) not I. Even if all (the kids at primary are being irreverent), not I. Fill in the blanks. We talked about many other things. The kids who sometimes have a hard time focusing really liked it, and were active participaters. We talked about peer pressure, and how doing the right thing all the time takes more strength and courage than giving into a dare to do something bad. And how sometimes it is so hard to do the right thing because a bad thing might happen to you like the Valkarie men. But even then they will be setting a good example for others. Those men in the movie Valkarie tried and failed to overthrow Hitler to save millions of future victims, and to save their country. Unfortunately they failed and died because of it. However, these mens families, their posterity, and Germany can be proud of such men and many others who would have done the same if the had the opportunity. They are a great example of doing what is right, even if....

We also talked about how Christ was tempted by Satan and never gave in. How they can also just walk away when they are tempted as well. I also shared some experiences about how doing what is right can help others to choose the right. Then we played a game where they had to answer questions based on the lesson. It was a lot of fun, and I could feel the spirit.