God Customizes Our Curriculum

As we returned to school this past week, I reflected on how unique each student is at school.  As a mother, I realize that my own three children are very different from each other and have diverse needs emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially, and scholastically.  

The same goes in the classroom.  I am not a full-time teacher.  I substitute teach in classes ranging from preschool to high school, from gifted education courses to special education.  I have literally taught a thousand different children over the past few years.  Each child is important and unique with totally different needs.  It is challenging for an educator to meet all these different needs since teachers have limited time and resources, and big classes to take responsibility for.  I watch the full-time teachers patiently and lovingly struggle to attempt to accomplish this task.

On a different note, I also had been reflecting on how Heavenly Father is the master at everything.  He is the master doctor, the master scientist, the master engineer, the master poet, the master geologist, the master therapist.... well you get the idea.  When I have a question about something, about anything, I can ask Him for help because He knows the answers.  

Then a friend emailed me this perfect quote and it all clicked in my mind. 

“The realities are that God loves us and, loving us, has placed us here to cope with challenges which he will place before us. I'm not sure we can always understand the implications of his love, because his love will call us at times to do things we may wonder about, and we may be confronted with circumstances we would rather not face. I believe with all my heart that because God loves us there are some particularized challenges that he will deliver to each of us. He will customize the curriculum for each of us in order to teach us the things we most need to know. He will set before us in life what we need, not always what we like. And this will require us to accept with all our hearts--particularly your generation--the truth that there is divine design in each of our lives and that you have rendezvous to keep, individually and collectively.”  (From "But for a Small Moment,"  NEAL A. MAXWELL,  BYU,  1 September 1974.)

I realized that one of God's most important roles is that of MASTER TEACHER.  He sent us to earth to learn.  So earth life is like school.  We didn't obtain physical bodies and come to earth to just sit around and lazily breeze through life.  We came here to LEARN.

As a master teacher, it only makes sense that Heavenly Father would have prepared perfect individualized education plans for each of us.  He CUSTOMIZED THE CURRICULUM for each of his children because he loves us.  

We will struggle to learn lessons.  We will have challenging tests.  We will feel excited when we have "ah ha moments."  We will have aides (family, friends, prophets, and church leaders) to give us advice and guidance.  We will take required courses that we didn't want to register for.  We may have classmates that we need to learn to get along with.  We have been given instruction manuals and reference books (the scriptures) to help us navigate our educational process.  We have a tutor (the Holy Ghost) to help us remember things and feel peaceful through the process.

He is the most perfect and caring teacher that ever was and His lesson plans are the best because He sees the eternal picture.

Now when I have challenges, I will remember that these are part of my customized curriculum.  And as I look at all the sweet (and sometimes sassy) students that I teach, I will remember how much each Child of God is loved and that if I have questions about how to help one of them, I can ask the master teacher for help.

Primary - Theme and Purposes

Here's the theme and four purposes of Primary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I think it is important for all of us who work with the children to keep our focus on these important points.  Everything we do should be fulfilling one of these purposes.

They say if the Savior came to visit church, the first place He'd would be to see the children.  I feel blessed to be able to serve in Primary with the children who have such pure and kind hearts (even if they are wiggly and chatty too!).

Primary - Captain Righteousness

The second counselor in our bishopric is a great sport.  He dresses up as CAPTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS and pops in to surprise our Primary group during singing/sharing time about once a month.  Before he comes in, the lights are all suddenly turned off and a flashlight is turned on and focused on a small CTR sign on the chalkboard.  Then the kids get excited because they know a special visitor is coming.

He calls one class up to the front of the room and asks each child to tell something that they have done to Choose the Right recently.  Then he gives them a CTR ring to remind them to continue to choose the right.  The kids LOVE it and I must admit it makes me giggle too.

What a great tradition that kids (and teachers) will surely remember.

Time Out for Women - "Halt! Who Am I?"

I loved Mary Ellen Edmunds' talk about becoming and returning to who we are.  Here are my notes and thoughts about her talk.

She spoke about a packet of carrot seeds.  As tiny little carrot seeds, it is hard to imagine that they will someday turn into big carrots.  But sure enough, after those small seeds are planted, they grow into big carrots.  God plants you where you're supposed to be and surrounds us by people to help us.  We need to stand in awe as we become who we're supposed to be.  YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE MEANT TO BE!  Expect greatness.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are nothing compared to what lies within us.

Sharing Time - I Will Do Family History Work So My Ancestors Can Receive Temple Blessings

Sharing Time - I will do family history work so my Ancestors can receive temple blessings.

Set Up:
Set up a table like you’re having a birthday party. Cake, plates, napkins, streamers, balloons, table cloth, center piece etc. Even have a present wrapped. Ask the children to close there eyes and imagine they’re getting ready for a birthday party tomorrow and they have been planning for weeks. Talk about all the fun stuff you get to do to plan for it. The fun games you will play etc. Talk about some of the friends they would invite. Have them open their eyes, "I'm so sorry, but there's been a change of plans. We aren't going to have your birthday party tomorrow. We'll have it sometime, I'm just not sure when." How would that make you feel?

Share with the Children:
Imagine now being in the Spirit World. The missionaries have taught you the gospel and you accept it. In order to progress you need to be baptized....but wait, you can't. Why? What do you have to do? You have to wait until someone does it for you.

Share with the Children:
In order to help our family members who have passed on, we must first know who they are. Draw a pedigree chart on the board with spaces to fill in three generations (child, parents, and grandparents). Share with them your 3 generation chart. (Have it pre-done.)

Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188).

Share with the Children:
Talk about your three generations. Talk about some of the traits you have that are similar to yours. Show some pictures of your three generation chart. Talk about there three generations. Who might they look like? What talents that have been passed down. Whose personality they might have? You can add whatever you like.

Sing “I Am a Child of God” (pp. 2–3).

Share with the Children:
Share a story from one of you ancestors that has passed on. And why they’re so important to you and why? Tell the children that through temple ordinances our families can be together forever.

Testify:
The importance of temple work and how I’m helping them to return back to Heavenly Father etc.

(Thank you to Michelle Walton for contributing this sharing time to the blog)

Primary Talk - I am a Child of God and He has a plan for me

This is a Primary talk my son gave in Senior Primary.

In the Family Proclamation it says: “In the premortal realm spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their eternal father and accepted his plan by which his children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.”

This means that before we were born here on earth, we lived with our Heavenly Father who loves each of us. Because of his love for us, he provided a plan to help us grow and progress.

We learned about this wonderful plan at a meeting called the Grand Council in Heaven, before we were born.

We were so excited about it that we all shouted for joy. This is called the Plan of Salvation.

Jesus supported the plan and said he would volunteer to come to earth and be our Savior. He would help us by setting a perfect example and by teaching us. He would suffer for our sins and enable us to repent. He would die for us so that we could live again eternally. We were all very excited by this idea and voted for Heavenly Father’s plan.

Lucifer was there too. He tried to change the plan. He wanted to do things his way by forcing all of us to do what’s right. Satan didn’t want us to have our agency. But Heavenly Father’s plan was to let us choose for ourselves, and He hoped we would choose to follow Jesus.

Lucifer and his followers were removed from heaven and will never be allowed to have bodies. We were sad that they made the wrong choice, but we knew that Heavenly Father’s plan would make us happy and we could live with Him again someday.

I would like to bear my testimony….

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Talk - Heavenly Father Loves Us & We Love Him

Here's a talk that I gave in Sacrament Meeting while I was serving in the Young Women organization and several of us leaders were asked to speak that day. I usually write my talk out word for word but I don't read it when I am up there speaking. But this way I can keep a record of my thoughts.

TALK TOPIC - “We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”

Good Morning

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today. The Bishopric allowed us to choose our topics for our talks (which could have been dangerous).

We will be talking today about the YW Theme and how it relates to the three-fold Mission of the Church.

The 3 fold mission of the church is:
Proclaim the Gospel
Perfect the Saints
Redeem the Dead

Our YW theme begins with the statement:
“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”

It then goes on to say:
“We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things and in all places…”
which supports “Proclaiming the Gospel”

It continues:
“…as we strive to live the YW Values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice & Accountability, Good Works and Integrity.”
This portion supports “Perfecting the Saints”

In ends by stating:
“We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”
Which supports “Redeeming the Dead”

I believe that the principles in the YW Theme can be helpful to everyone (not just to the young women). We can all improve ourselves by learning and living this theme.

I will be concentrating today on the part of the theme that reminds us that we are children of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him.

I am so grateful to be the YW President and to be able to work with the young women in the ward. Each of the girls are wonderful and special in their own unique way. I really do love and care for each of what I call “my girls.”

As I started preparing my talk earlier this week, I was sitting in my sons’ room while my boys were playing. I looked up and on the wall we have a poster that says “My Gospel Standards” –
One of the statements on the poster said:
“I am a child of God. I know Heavenly Father loves me and I love Him. I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere. I am trying to follow Jesus.”

I am grateful for the weekly reminder I have in YW every time we say the YW Theme and for the visual reminder I have on Zach’s poster that reminds me that I am a child of God and that He cares about me and loves me and also that I love Him.

One of our church leaders stated “That man is a child of God is the most important knowledge available to mortals.”

Joseph Smith said “All men and women are… literally the sons and daughters of Deity… Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal (or physical) body.”

We were not all alike in the pre-existence just like we’re not all alike here. We were each given different talents and abilities and were called to do different things on earth. Each of us has a special purpose and our own lessons to be learned. But Heavenly Father will never force us to do anything. We must learn to obey him because we want to. For a long time I had a note up in my room that said “I choose to be obedient because of my love for Heavenly Father.” Brother Stapley said “Keeping the commandments of God is not a difficult burden when we do it out of love of him who has so graciously blessed us.”

Our heavenly parents provided us with a happy and celestial home in the pre-existence. However, our heavenly parents knew that we could not progress beyond a certain point unless we left their presence for a time. He presented us with a plan. In order to become more like Heavenly Father we needed to be tested and to gain experience. We needed to learn how to choose good over evil on our own. Our spirits needed to receive a physical body. After passing all of our tests, we could be able to receive the fullness of joy that our Heavenly parents have received. We learned that some of us might lose our way on earth. Some of us would have terrible trials, but these experiences would only be for our good if we would allow ourselves to be purified instead of defeated.

We also learned that because of our weaknesses we would all sin. We learned that a Savior would be provided for us so that we could overcome our sins and overcome death with resurrection. If we learn to obey his word and follow his example, we can be exalted and truly happy like our heavenly parents. My Patriarchal Blessing reminds me that as I make mistakes, I should get back on track quickly by repenting, constantly doing those things that will perfect my life and make it a worthy life in the eyes of the Lord.

The other day I was driving my son to preschool in Oakley. I always take the same route to school because I am not that familiar with the Oakley area. As I was driving my normal path, I came to a large DETOUR sign blocking the road. I was forced to turn right. After I turned, I noticed there were no signs telling me where to go next. I felt nervous because I was away from the road that I knew would get me to the school. I said a silent prayer and then started heading in the general direction toward the school, hoping for the best. I was determined to make it to the school and not get lost. I finally did make it to the school (and I wasn’t even very late). This experience reminded me of life. We have been taught what path will lead us to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we may take a detour in our life due to circumstances or choices. When we find ourselves lost and looking for the way back, we need to pray for guidance and pray that the Spirit will help us know what to do. The most important thing is to remember how much we are loved and how much happiness is there for us if we stay on the straight and narrow path.

Heavenly Father knew that we would make mistakes and that we all have weaknesses. That is why it is so wonderful that He loved us enough to provide a Savior for us. Jesus knows our struggles and understands them. Even though He was perfect, he suffered pains and afflictions of every kind so that he would know how we would feel. Our Savior chose to suffer for us because of His love for us and because of His obedience to His Father.

Our Heavenly Father does indeed love us more than we can imagine. I’m sure we would cry tears of joy if we could remember with clarity the love we shared before we left his presence to come to earth. Heavenly Father has given us everything we have and everything we are. We can show our love for Him by choosing the right and following the teachings of His Son.

Heavenly Father has given us the Gospel to teach us. We can confide and counsel with our Father thru prayer…. That we can learn by studying his word in the scriptures, by listening to the prophets and by listening after we pray. We can show our love for Heavenly Father by keeping His commandments and by serving others.

David B. Haight said “Love is a gift of God, and as we obey His laws and genuinely learn to serve others, we develop God’s love in our lives. Love of God is the means of unlocking divine powers which help us to live worthily and to overcome the world.”

Heavenly Father values each of His children very much. We are all brothers and sisters here on earth and we are to serve each other prepare to return to meet our Savior. We need to love and look out for one another.

I was reminded by the example of a child of this. My friend’s daughter Katie was a kindergartener and she saw a little lonely girl just standing there by herself on the playground. Katie’s heart ached for this little child and she went and asked the little girl to play with her. I was so proud of Katie for being so perceptive and for having the courage and desire to comfort the lonely child.

Each of us at some time has felt like the little child alone on the playground. And at some point each of us may feel more settled and secure. If we really strive to have an attitude like Katie, then there would be fewer incidents of loneliness and sad feelings. We would all feel more loved and valued.

We are all here together to learn and to be tested and prove ourselves worthy to re-enter the presence of our Heavenly Father.

I challenge each of you to say to yourselves again and again that you are a child of God and that He loves you and you love Him. By doing this I pray that we can live our lives more worthily and be happier because we truly know who we are.

YW Activity - Charlotte & Wilbur Days

I did this activity with the Young Women as a Combined YW Activity a while ago. It was a huge success and I have kept my "web" in my keepsake box. This activity could also be adapted to use for Family Home Evening, with Activity Day girls, or even at school.

Charlotte and Wilbur Days

(Most of this is taken from the book I Walk by Faith by Ardeth Greene Kapp)

One of my favorite stories is Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. How many of you have heard the story? If you have read that book or seen the movie, you will remember that Charlotte is the spider and Wilbur is the pig. Poor Wilbur has some very hard times and often feels alone and discouraged. On one dreary rainy day, we read, he felt so “friendless, dejected and hungry, he threw himself down in the manure and sobbed.”

(Show video segment with Wilbur crying)

Have you ever had a Wilbur day? A day when you felt that alone and discouraged? Let me remind you of how Wilbur was rescued from his sad plight. Wilbur was visited by his dear friend Charlotte, the spider whom he didn’t like at all when he first met her. But over time he discovered a true friend in Charlotte, one who was willing to save his life by tirelessly spinning a beautiful web with a message that would let people know this was no ordinary pig. Even Wilbur began to believe he was something special because his friend told him he was.

At the end of the season, Charlotte knew that a spider’s life is short and that she would not be around in the spring to comfort her friend Wilbur. She wanted to help prepare him for the future so he would learn to look for the good things and not be discouraged and lonesome. Charlotte spoke softly to her friend Wilbur: “Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond. The song sparrow will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the warm wind will blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoys, Wilbur, the lovely world, these precious days…”

Charlotte stopped, and a tear came to Wilbur’s eye. “Oh, Charlotte,” he said. “To think that when I first met you I thought you were cruel and bloodthirsty!” When he recovered from his emotion, he spoke again. “Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.”

“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to life up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”

“Well,” said Wilbur. “I’m no good at making speeches. I haven’t got your gift for words. But you have saved me, Charlotte, and I would gladly give my life for you – I really would.”

(Show video of bonding moment at end of story)

Would you be willing to save a friend? Can you tell when a friend feels “friendless, and dejected”, bad enough to through herself down in a manure pile and sob? Some people do that, you know – not in the manure pile in the barnyard, like Wilbur the pig, but in the waste and filth of the world because they feel worthless, good for nothing and unnecessary. At times like this, we all need a friend, one who will tell us how special we are, one who will remind us of what President George Q. Cannon tells us: “Now, this is the truth. We humble people, we who feel ourselves sometimes so worthless, so good-for-nothing, we are not so worthless as we think. There is not one of us but what God’s love has not been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God and that He has actually given His angels – invisible beings of power and might – charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.”

Each of us has had many “Wilbur days” and hopefully some Charlotte times as well. I can’t help but think about Wilbur and Charlotte and all the other animals in the farm. Each animal was different, yet they all were living in the same barnyard. They sing a song in the video that says “We’ve got lots in common where it really counts, what we look like doesn’t count an ounce, we’ve got lots in common where it really counts.” This reminded me of us here in this room. We are each different and some of us don’t have a lot in common socially or have a lot of common hobbies or interests. However what we do share is what really counts… We share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are sisters and we are here to help each other feel better about ourselves and about life in general.

Tonight we are going to make special spider webs. Each of us will have our own web to take home and treasure and look at on those “Wilbur days.”

Here are the guidelines for this activity:
1) Write your name in the middle of your web.
2) Pass it to the person to your right.
3) Write down something in one of the small sections of the spider web about the person whose name is on the paper. You can write something you admire about the person, something positive you have noticed about the person, a talent, a good deed that person has done or something along those lines.
4) Don’t write a lot, just fill in one of the small sections on each paper.
5) When your own paper gets back to you, we will be done and have dessert.

(Moral of the story - “Give a dog a name and he’ll answer to it.”)

Here is a spider web if you'd like to use it (click here to download the PDF).