The Objective: To teach the children the value of trusting in the Lord.
What does it mean to TRUST IN THE LORD?
Quotes:
“Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, without question the greatest commitment, came when finally I had the confidence in God that I would loan or yield my agency to him — without compulsion or pressure, without any duress, as a single individual alone, by myself, no counterfeiting, nothing expected other than the privilege. In a sense, speaking figuratively, to take one’s agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, ‘I will do as you direct,’ is afterward to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more” (Obedience, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Dec. 7, 1971], 4).
“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him” (“Insights from My Life,” Ensign, Aug. 2000, 9)
Alma 5:13: “They humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God.”
You may not be able to change some things in your life, but you can change your willingness to trust in God and obey Him. As you learn to trust Him, you will see that His plan is for you to follow what Alma called the “great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). You will learn that even in affliction and difficulty “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28) and keep His commandments (see also D&C 90:24; 98:3; 100:15; 105:40).
Scripture References:
This lesson is based on the story about Gideon, who freed the Israelites from bondage from the Midianites.
1. The Children of Israel are Held Captive by the Midianites
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. (Judges 6:1)
The Israelites’ trials helped them turn to the Lord
- “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.” (Judges 6:6)
- Why did the children of Israel have trials?
That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; afear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not bobeyed my voice. (Judges 6:8-10)
- Why do we have trials?
My Personal Experience:
- A young boy had goals, but they weren’t necessarily in accordance with what Heavenly Father wanted him to do.
- The boy wasn’t making the best choices in his life (the children of Israel did evil in the sight of God – Judges 6:1)
- One day, the boy was driving his pickup on a back road in Idaho. He got in a serious car accident.
- The boy was life-flighted to a hospital in serious condition.
- He was kept in the hospital for an entire month (the children of Israel were kept in the bondage of the Midianites for SEVEN YEARS)
- While the boy was in the hospital, he realized that his priorities were out of whack and that he needed to repent (And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. (Judges 6:6) )
- The boy prayed more diligently.
- The boy read his scriptures more consistently.
- The boy learned to “put his trust in God” – to submit his will to God.
- How did this help me put my trust in God?
- Why was I give a trial?
Gideon is Called as a Prophet to Free the Children of Israel from the Midianites
- “And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his amiracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (Judges 6:13:)
- When Gideon was called to save Israel, how did he respond?
- And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the aleast in my father’s house.
Gideon Puts His Trust In God
- Judges 6:25-26 – Gideon destroys the altar of Baal and the grove next to it
- Judges 7:3, 5-7 – Gideon trusts God to only fight with 300 of the 32,000 men that had come to fight the Midianites
The Lord wanted the Israelites to trust in Him, not in their own strength.
How would you have felt if you were in a situation like Gideon where you have a small army to fight with?
How did this show that Gideon trusted in God?
- Gideon and his people followed the instructions of the Lord with exactness and were blessed and protected
Play Simon Says – give rewards when they do exactly what’s asked, don’t give rewards when they don’t.
Sometimes we’re asked to do things that may not seem important or may not make sense to us at the time.
If we’re given special directions by Church leaders or parents acting in righteousness, we need to be obedient and have faith that what we are asked to do is important and right.
Testify of the importance of doing the little things to show we are willing to submit our will to God and trust in Him.
- Reading our scriptures
- Saying our personal prayers
- Writing in our journals about our thoughts, feelings and experiences
- Coming to church
- Taking the sacrament
- Serving others
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