People laugh at me when I tell them the truth about my kids: My kids are amazing and never cease to amaze me, but it's not because of anything I've done - they came pre-programmed that way & I'm just doing my best to not screw them up. It's the truth and I was reminded of that once again tonight.
Both of my boys are special. They each have such a deep sense of purpose, focus & direction that it's unreal at times. They are the very reason I stay as focused as I do. I have been given some insight into what awaits them in this life and I have absolute knowledge that my purpose, as their mother, is to prepare them to be the men their Heavenly Father needs them to be. It's a humbling thing. It's a little scary too, but I trust Him and I know that this is what must needs be.
For the past week or so Taylor has been literally begging to be in charge of Family Home Evening so we let him do it all tonight. To say I was stunned, would be a gross understatement of the facts. For those of you who are unsure of what "FHE" is, basically one evening a week (normally Mondays) we set aside time to gather as a family and do something to help reinforce our strength as a family or a gospel principle we're working on together. We learn, we experience, we grow together. It could be something as simple as a movie or game, or something more complex like an actual lesson. There is no set curriculum or lesson plan to follow - we pray about it & follow the promptings we're given.
This is a recap of the lesson my little boy planned & executed all on his own tonight. My 8 1/2 year old boy.
First, he made each of us "packets" with the materials we would need for the lesson. We started by singing all 3 verses of "The Star-Spangled Banner". (Mercifully, he let me find the music to stream on youtube so it wouldn't have to be acapella!) He offered an opening prayer and then we played "hangman" to guess what our topic was tonight. His topic? Religious Freedom. We were each given verses to look up (from the Book of Mormon) and share. These are the ones he chose:
1 Nephi 13:17-19 "And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations."
Alma 46:12-13 "And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it -- In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children -- and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land..."
2 Nephi 1:7 "Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever."
Ether 2:12 "Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written."
He then shared this talk from last April's conference
Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom
He followed it up with discussion questions. We sang all 4 verses of "My Country Tis of Thee". Nate offered a closing prayer and we had treats (angel food cake with strawberries & whipped cream).
The spirit that young man brought into our home was unreal tonight. He led FHE with a spirit and strength that was beyond anything I could have imagined from him at this age. He is absolutely passionate about his beliefs and has no fear when he stands up for them. Does the media disagree? He doesn't care. Does the Supreme Court tell him he has to believe something he doesn't believe? Not happening. Do the words "bigot" "unenlightened" "hateful" "prejudiced" have an effect on him? Not in the least. He has such a clear understanding of everyone having the right to make their own choices, but they aren't free from the consequences of those choices. He also knows, with everything in him, that we will continue to stand up for what is right even if it's unpopular. Why? Because we don't get to pick & choose which of Heavenly Father's commandments we follow. He allows us our agency and our right to choose, but He has made the rulebook pretty easy to understand and follow. He is a God of order and rules and He will not be mocked.
As I watched my son tonight, I saw so many things in him. I see such conviction and power in his words. I see a crusader, a modern day Samuel the Lamanite. I see a young man who, along with his brother, is going to take on the world no matter how wicked and corrupt it becomes. They don't fear it - there is something in them that knew this is what they were sent for. I marvel at the goodness in him. I'm not sure how I ended up with kids like I did, but I know I am blessed beyond measure because of their strength.
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