The youngest Sunday School classes (broken down by age... 3-11) are collectively known as 'Primary'. In these classes, children learn gospel basics like 'Jesus loves me' (age 3) to Jesus' life and teachings, baptism, and repentance. Once a year, the Primary puts on a program during Sacrament meeting to highlight some of what they have learned. Children read scriptures or give short (and I do mean short!) talks and sing LOTS of songs. There are so many children participating that they fill up not only the choir seats behind the pulpit, but the front pews of the chapel, as well.
The Primary program is always such a hoot! There's the boy on the back row waving enthusiastically to his family sitting in the pews. There is the bitty girl on the front row crying for her mommy until her teacher takes her down and reunites her with mom. There is the squirmy boy who can't stand still during the songs and instead sways his whole body back and forth in order to get his tie to swing like a pendulum. And the kid who is turned completely around in his seat, not paying attention or participating in any way other than physically being up there.
When my family was younger, I was on high alert during the primary program. Guaranteed, every year a child o' mine was one of the children described in the above paragraph. So I couldn't enjoy the show because I was so focused on what my kids were doing. And there were the years when I was a Primary teacher myself, so I was focused on a whole row of squirming bodies instead of just my biological offspring. Now I don't have any Primary aged kids, nor am I a Primary teacher, so I can sit back and be entertained by the show. Children's voices singing about Jesus are so very sweet!
*****
In other church classes, we discussed who Israel was and the gathering of 'Israel' prior to the second coming of Christ.
Israel was Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. If you drew a genealogical chart, it would look something like this...
Noah
|
Shem-->Eber-->Terah
|
--------------|----
| | |
Abram Nahor Haran
| |
|----------| Lot
Isaac Ishmael |-------------------
| | | |
|------| |--->Arabs<-----Moab Ammon
Jacob Esau |
| |------->Arabs<----------------
12 sons
|
Israelites & Jews
This chart came from HERE, a fascinating, if dry and academic look at migrations of the peoples of the world and how they can all be traced back to the three sons of Noah. This is not a Mormon website, and is not official doctrine, but is an interesting read, nonetheless. Shem was the oldest son of Noah and the only one shown on this particular genealogical chart. According to the web article about the Table of Nations, my ancestry is linked to Noah through Japheth, his youngest son, not seen on this chart. Yet that doesn't preclude me from being linked through the 12 tribes of Israel, also. But for that, we need to back up.
The 12 tribes of Israel refer to the 12 sons of Jacob (who received the name Israel from God), the son of Abraham (Abram). Jacob's sons split into two factions, making a Northern Kingdom and a Southern Kingdom. The northern kingdom was destroyed by attacking enemies and the 10 tribes who settled there were taken captive and all record of them disappeared. They became known as the "lost tribes of Israel". The two tribes left in the southern kingdom were also attacked and taken into captivity around 586 BC (100 years after the northern kingdom was destroyed). Both of these events caused the descendants of Israel to be scattered all through the world. Every generation born causes more and more people to be included in the house of Israel without their even knowing it because the children of Israel married into the cultures and regions where they found themselves.
At any rate, I am rambling on and probably putting you to sleep. I found the genealogical aspect of the lesson fascinating, as you can tell.
*****
This afternoon, after church, our Home Teachers stopped by. This is another church program where two men from the congregation are assigned to stop by our house once a month, bringing a spiritual message and making sure that everything is going well for our family. If the family was struggling (unemployment, illness, needing help with something), the home teachers are supposed to be on hand to find out about the need and get in touch with the right people to help solve the problem. It is a networking and fellowshipping program. For instance, we found out from them that one of our neighbor's injured his hand while trying to finish re-shingling his roof. He's going to need help finishing the job, so we'll probably head over there tomorrow afternoon and lend a hand. We visit and chat and joke around with the home teachers. They are good guys.
One of the home teachers shared a story told by President Monson. He (Pres. Monson) was at the bedside of a dying man who asked "what happens to me after I die?" President Monson was able to read a passage of scripture to the dying man from Alma, chapter 40, verses 11-12, in the Book of Mormon. It says; "...the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." The dying man was reassured and was able to meet death with a calm heart.
I have only once thought I was about to die. Many years ago, I had been driving recklessly and lost control of an SUV on a large sheet of black ice going freeway speeds. Fortunately, I was able to keep the car facing forward and eventually got it back under control. But there was a moment when I thought I had killed us all with my poor judgement. There was no time in that instance to contemplate my mortality and what lay beyond death. All I could think about was trying to get control of the car and not flipping over!
But I can't imagine facing death with the terror of not knowing what is to become of me! To see death as the end of all things? To suddenly stop existing?!? To no longer be me? No. Death is not the end. I am certain of it. More certain than I can testify to here. I know I will continue to be me after I die, and that my Grandparents and little brother are waiting on the other side to welcome me home after I have lived out this life. It is good to know.
2 comments:
You know, I used to not be afraid of death. Even when my dad died. But then when my mom died - it completely changed it for me. He died gracefully, she... not so much. It was a horrendous 6-month process. I KNOW death is not the end of me... but now I'm frightened of the process. Man, I hope I'm in my 90's so I can reconcile myself with it. :|
I hear you, Sara. I am not afraid to die, but I am afraid to die slowly. I am sorry your mother struggled, that makes me very sad. I am sad about my brother's untimely death, too, but I take comfort in the fact that he died instantly. I hope to be as lucky when my times comes. :(
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