Serving the Lord
by Shauna Gibby

A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters most to God and therefore to us.

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Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “This Day” by Elder Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, May 2007, 89.

Thought:

A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters most to God and therefore to us.

(Henry B. Eyring, “This Day,” Ensign, May 2007, 89–91)

Song:

“I Feel My Savior’s Love,” Children’s Songbook, p. 74

Scripture:

For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13)

Object Lesson:

Materials needed: A picture of our solar system.

Display the picture of the solar system and explain that the sun is the center of our solar system with all the planets revolving around it. Discuss how rotation and revolution ensures our planet’s constant light and heat.

Explain that the Savior offers us the spiritual light (truth) and warmth (love) that we need to guide us. Point out that to enjoy the full benefit of this we must keep him as the center of our lives. We can demonstrate his importance by revolving our lives around him.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, More Power Tools for Teaching, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], p. 21.)

Story:

There is a great message for all of us in the way some Arabs trained their horses. Their horses were the pride of their family, and they guided their development with great love and attention.

When a horse was only a few months old they would ring a bell and push the horse toward his master’s tent. They would repeat this over and over again until, in a few weeks, the horse would automatically run to to this master’s tent every time he heard the bell.

Around the time a horse turned three years old he faced a test to determine whether he would be obedient under all conditions. An obedient horse was worth a great deal, while a horse that was not dependable was not worth much at all. Finally the great test comes. Every day for years they have rung the bell and the horse has responded, but so far no great sacrifice has been asked of the horse. On exam day this changes. They keep the horse away from water for three days, so getting a drink of water is about all the horse is thinking of. They then let down the bars to the corral and the horse takes off for the watering hole.

When he is halfway to the water, they ring the bell. If he doesn’t respond but continues on toward the water, he is a cull and will not be of much worth to the family. If he heads for his master’s tent as soon as he hears the bell, he is a thoroughbred and becomes very valuable. For those who love the Lord and desire to serve him, their obedience becomes as natural to them as the thoroughbred horse responding to the bell.

(Allan K. Burgess and Max H. Molgard, Fun for Family Night, Book Three: New Testament Edition, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1995], p.45.)

Activity:

Explain that sometimes we get so busy in our lives that we don’t stop, look, and listen to the things around us that are most important. Divide the family into two teams and give each team a pencil and paper. Have each team write S, T, O, nd P. at the top of their paper. Each team has one minute to write down all the words they can think of that start with S, T, O, and P. The words must have something to do with things that are important to the family or blessing the family has received.

When the time is up, each team shares the words they have listed, and team members explain why each word is important to the family.

(Allan K. Burgess and Max H. Molgard, Fun for Family Night: Book of Mormon Edition, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1990], p. 97.)

Refreshment

Turtle Cheesecake

• 1 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafer cookies (about 40 cookies)
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup hot fudge topping
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix cookie crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press firmly against bottom and side of pie plate, 9×1 1/4 inches.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.

Pour half of the mixture into the pie plate. Add hot fudge topping to remaining cream cheese mixture in bowl; beat on low speed until smooth. Spoon over vanilla mixture in pie plate. Swirl mixtures slightly with tip of knife.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until center is set. (Do not insert knife into chocolate because the hole may cause the cheesecake to crack as it cools.) Cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Refrigerated at least 2 hours until chilled. Serve with caramel topping and pecans. Store covered in refrigerator.

(Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook, [Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing and Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007] p. 167.)

Deseret Book

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