Fan the Flame

This is our Sunday box. A while back I was praying ( and I continue to do so) about how to teach our kids the importance and the sacredness of the Sabbath day. I found in my mom's old files a handout that had activities for Sunday on it that you could cut out and put into a box. So my little B and J and I made our own Sunday box that we put these different activities in. I found little pictures of Jesus and the temple from old Friend magazines and pasted them on the box, along with pictures of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

A few Sundays ago when I got out the box, little B looked at the back and asked about the pictures of the Apostles. Then he asked me to tell him a story about one of them. Then he wanted another one, and another one...he kept asking until I had told him a story about each member of the First Presidency and each Apostle. I told him a story about their own life, or a story that I could remember from one of their talks. Well little B and J absolutely love these stories. They will bring me the box and ask me to tell them an Apostle story.

Tonight they built a 'bed fort' in the living room with all of the blankets and pillows from the whole house :) and brought me the box and asked to hear some Apostle stories. My heart is filled with gratitude for the way Heavenly Father answers all of our prayers, because He most definately does, and I am also filled with gratitude for these precious spirits who are being sent to the earth in these last days. Notice in my story that little B took the initiative and asked to hear the stories, and then he loved them and wanted more! His little spirit recognizes truth and loves it. I am so grateful to be a mother and have the opportunity to teach these little ones, and to be taught by them.

I came across the awesome talk tonight by Elder Neil L. Andersen titled "Tell Me The Stories of Jesus". Here is just a snippet of it's goodness:

"President Thomas S. Monson has described the rising generation as "the best ever" and has said to our youth: "You have come to this earth at a glorious time. The opportunities before you are nearly limitless." But he also warned, "We have been placed on earth in troubled times." "It is a time of permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the laws of God." We are surrounded by so much that is designed to divert our attention. "The adversary is using every means possible to ensnare us in his web of deceit."

"We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of the premortal faith."

You can go here to read the full text. http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/tell-me-the-stories-of-jesus?lang=eng I love it!

Truly I can see the bright flame of faith that each of my children have brought with them to this earth. I will fan the flame as best I can, and I know that with the help of a wise and loving Father in Heaven that He will show me how to do it. There is so much hope and goodness in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for it! What a blessing it is to be a woman and a mother!