Comments on: Gospel Principles Lesson #3

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:44:41 +0000

Thanks, Keith for posting the link to President Packer’s 3-Act play metaphor.

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:34:38 +0000

I really liked the first story. As a parent I always felt the pressure to teach my children and then have them follow these teachings. I have always found it hard to let them make their own choices when I knew what the consequences would be. Also, I was afraid of being seen as a ‘failure’ as a parent.
Where is the line between letting them do anything they want, and insisting that they follow family rules and expectations? They are all grown now and raising their own children.
A friend recently commented in church that if she knew how her children would have turned out, then maybe she wouldn’t have been so hard on them when they were growing up. I think we have all heard similar statements over the years. I spoke to her afterwards and said that maybe the reason they turned out they way thay did was exactly becuase of the way she was so hard on them.
Thanks for posting these lesson helps.

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:53:54 +0000

Oops. Here’s the right link to church news http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/26614/Pres-Packer-tells-of-drama-of-all-ages.html

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:34:15 +0000

I think the three act play was first mentioned in one of Elder Packer’s conference talks in the 80s. Regardless of that, here’s a report of a more recent version http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58775/New-missions-10-announced-in-seven-areas.html
and a link to the talk itself http://emp.byui.edu/huffr/The%20Play%20and%20the%20Plan%20–%20Boyd%20K.%20Packer.htm

By: Julie M. Smith

Julie M. Smith — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:23:52 +0000

“Do you have the reference for President Packer’s comparison to a 3-Act play?”

Er, too lazy to find it . . . but I believe CES actually made a video out of it . . . I can remember a teen boy on stage and a girl hissing at him because he doesn’t know his lines . . .

By: Beth

Beth — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:03:17 +0000

Thanks for the insightful questions; your wording on the evil spirits was much appreciated (I was trying to get there!) Do you have the reference for President Packer’s comparison to a 3-Act play?

I’m teaching this lesson in RS tomorrow and will be talking a little bit about how in the Sacrament Prayer it is said that we should “always remember Him.” To remember something, you have to know it in the first place. I like how this has the dual meaning of knowing the Saviour in the pre-existence, and then renewing our knowledge and understanding of Him continually in this life.

I also plan to focus on the verb “seeth” in the scripture from John 6:40 (in the manaul), “that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.” So, I’m going to talk about the active processes of remembering and seeing the Saviour in these latter-days, in our everyday lives.

By: Darrell

Darrell — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:42:52 +0000

I’ve been researching for the lesson on Sunday as well.

Relative to those who followed Satan, I wonder if he enticed them with promises (that he couldn’t or had no intention of delivering (see Alma 30:60)) of power or if they followed him because of his Charisma – why did so many people follow Hitler – either because of potential rewards of power over others or because they were enthralled with his speaking ability. I believe Satan was that persuasive that many were blinded by his true motive. He deceived Eve who obviously was one of the most gifted and righteous of Father’s children. How hard would it be to deceive others? It is also clear to me that Cain barely gained his Second Estate because no matter how much the Lord tried, he “loved Satan more than God”. It is something that he found a kindred spirit and in that aspect is how I believe others were deceived and followed Satan.

I’m also struck by how much of Satan’s plan was not so much to really help us get back to Father’s presence as it was a grab at getting Father’s power for himself. I’m now convinced he didn’t care, he just wanted our agency so that he could make himself God. (see D&C 29:36 – give me thine honor which is thy power” – think about that part).

Even those these lessons are supposed to be about basic doctrine, there is much to be learned for those who want to dig deeper.

By: Florence

Florence — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:40:03 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful lesson, this helps me a lot!

By: Chelsea McKell

Chelsea McKell — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:06:17 +0000

Thank you for posting this! I’m teaching RS this Sunday so I just did an online search in hopes that someone had posted something that would help. I’ll use several parts of this. Thankyou!

By: Alison Moore Smith

Alison Moore Smith — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:16:52 +0000

Julie, I always love your lesson plans. Thank you for sharing these insights. Again.