President Eyring's Hometeaching article in the Ensign this month discusses the importance of teaching our children true doctrine. I figured I ought to start now in preparing for those teaching opportunities when they come.
President Eyring taught,
A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.
The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, “With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?” The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone.
Why not get a jump on things and collect a bunch of scriptural-based life lessons on the blog? The first lesson that I think I will prepare is understanding how to deal with bullies in elementary school.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 98, verses 36-48, the Lord gives a revelation through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, August 6, 1833 in response to the Prophet's prayers on how to handle the persecution suffered by the saints in Missouri. The saints naturally wanted revenge by retaliating against those who drove them from their land; the physical suffering of the Saints was truly BAD. Therefore, the Lord offered this revelation regarding the law of retaliation.
The Scriptural Precedent
36 Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people.
37 And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation.
38 Behold, this is an ensample unto all people, saith the Lord your God, for justification before me.
39 And again, verily I say unto you, if after thine enemy has come upon thee the first time, he repent and come unto thee praying thy forgiveness, thou shalt forgive him, and shalt hold it no more as a testimony against thine enemy—
40 And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven.
41 And if he trespass against thee and repent not the first time, nevertheless thou shalt forgive him.
42 And if he trespass against thee the second time, and repent not, nevertheless thou shalt forgive him.
43 And if he trespass against thee the third time, and repent not, thou shalt also forgive him.
44 But if he trespass against thee the fourth time thou shalt not forgive him, but shalt bring these testimonies before the Lord; and they shall not be blotted out until he repent and reward thee four-fold in all things wherewith he has trespassed against thee.
45 And if he do this, thou shalt forgive him with all thine heart; and if he do not this, I, the Lord, will avenge thee of thine enemy an hundred-fold;
46 And upon his children, and upon his children’s children of all them that hate me, unto the third and fourth generation.
47 But if the children shall repent, or the children’s children, and turn to the Lord their God, with all their hearts and with all their might, mind, and strength, and restore four-fold for all their trespasses wherewith they have trespassed, or wherewith their fathers have trespassed, or their fathers’ fathers, then thine indignation shall be turned away;
48 And vengeance shall no more come upon them, saith the Lord thy God, and their trespasses shall never be brought any more as a testimony before the Lord against them. Amen.
The School Bully Application
Let me preface my explanation by saying that I don't think I'll mind if my son or daughter gets a black eye at school (as long as they are practicing out these principles.) What real damage can 10-year-old kids do? Maybe, a broken leg is the worst case scenario. No one gets shanked in the 4th-grade. But if that starts happening in the next dozen years or so, I may have to adjust my teaching plan.
When you are faced with a bully who is confused and can not control his emotions, he may try to steal your stuff or play a mean trick on you. When this happens, you must control yourself and not fight back. Instead, forgive the bully once, twice, and even three times if he tries it again.
Then comes the really exciting part. God finally allows you to get back at the bully if he tries it a fourth time without saying 'sorry'. You can demand four times the amount of whatever was taken from you. If the bully doesn't do it, God says that He will he will make them pay; BIG TIME!
If you get in a fight, however, the time table is accelerated. Let's say the bully pushes you:
1. Once - Tell him to quit it
2. Twice - Walk away
3. Three Times - Try to escape, but if you can't prepare to end the confrontation
4. Four Times - Sucker punch/Kick to the groin
I do not condone fighting "because it is in the Bible not to wrestle your neighbor." However, if you follow the Lord's Law of Retaliation, I will never be upset with you for getting into a fight.
My momma said that IF I get into a fight (and that included truly trying to resolve problems first), I'd better win! Otherwise, she'd be really upset.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, I've never lost a fight...
...not that I'm looking for one.