I got a new calling...

Sunday, March 11, 2012

I just got home from church. I got a calling today to teach the 14-15 year olds in Sunday School. It’s like the perfect calling because I get to teach, but then I get to go to Relief Society still and meet the rest of the women in my ward. It was hard and great. It had its weak moments and its great moments, when I talked to them about being sons and daughters of God and if they remembered that, that they could get through anything and in that strength they would make it home to Heavenly Father! It was a sweet moment!

I have been coming up with all sorts of wonderful ways to teach them this concept and to allow them the freedom to choose what they want. Life is after all, all about choices! I want them to bring their scriptures because they want to, not because they get a treat. I did however give everyone a piece of gum who brought their scriptures today. I gave a whole piece to people who had all of their scriptures, whether on their phone or in book form. One of the girls was upset because she said that she had them on her phone, but they weren’t working. I said, “Then I can’t give you a piece of gum.” I gave the kid sitting next to her a piece of gum.  He had them on his phone. And she said she would share with him. I said, “That is fine, maybe he’ll share his whole piece of gum with you.  There is going to come a time when you have to know what you know and lean on what you know and you can’t borrow anyone else’s testimony.  You will have to be on your own and stand alone.  You have to know what you know.”  Another kid only had his Bible. He said it was because the library didn’t have any more Books of Mormon (note the correct grammar…thank you “The Best Two Years” the movie). I told him that if he had half of his sword, I would give him half of a piece of gum.

I invited them all to come next week prepared to learn.  To bring their scriptures, a writing utensil, and the following colors to mark their scriptures.

Color code your scriptures and learn to love them!

Red-Words of God/Jesus Christ/Prophets

Pink-joy/love/charity

Dark Blue-Faith, obedience

Purple-Repentance/Atonement

Green-Prayer

Yellow-Holy Ghost/Melchezidek Priesthood/Temple

Light blue-Baptism/Aaronic Priesthood

Orange-Wickedness

Brown-Historical things/dates/genealogy/geography

I told them that we are going to delve into the scriptures and learn to love them.  I’m so excited! I had a girl tell her friend she was texting, that we were learning that Heavenly Father is our Father and that this will be the last week she texts in class because what we are learning is so important.  She even got her seat moved!  I told her to move because she was being really disruptive.  She was like, "Why do I have to move?"  I said, "Just because it would be better if you did."  She picked up her chair still stuck to her rear end and moved it on top of the other chair on the other side of the classroom and said, "Now there's two."  She was being really obnoxious, but by the end of class she had kind of joined the class. It was fun, but hard, because it’s not like in school when they have to listen or there's a consequence …there are no “rules” here at church. I just want them to do things because they want to and to know that they really will find joy when they give their heart and will to Heavenly Father!

There was this sweet 13 year old girl (I subbed for 2 classes together, because their teacher didn’t show up…I secretly hope he doesn’t ever show up, because it was nice to have the sweet 13 year olds take the edge off the hard/stubborn 14/15 year olds (I know, I know I teach jr. high and I should be able to handle this!))  She was so kind. She answered seriously, took out her scriptures, even took notes and shared paper with another girl and offered to clean off the board and return the chalk to the library.  It was a good day, but I have my work cut out for me.

I’m devising a plan for next week. It has to do with green candy (St. Patrick’s Day) 3 types, 3 degrees and if they brought the 3 things they were supposed to!!! We’ll see how it goes and hope they get how it applies.