Preparation
by Shauna Gibby

Decide now to do your best in school and at work. Then, when opportunities knock, you will be ready to open the door and take advantage of them.

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Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Preparing for the Decade of Decision” by Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, May 2007, 48.

Thought:

Decide now to do your best in school and at work. Then, when opportunities knock, you will be ready to open the door and take advantage of them.

(Robert D. Hales, “To the Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision,” Ensign, May 2007, 48–51)

Song:

“I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” Children’s Songbook, p. 78.

Scripture:

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32)

Lesson:

Ask each family member to think about the following question: “If you knew that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would be in two days, what is one important thing you could do to prepare?” Have them share their ideas.

Ask your family to compare their ideas to the counsel given by the Lord in D&C 65:1, 3–5. Read those verses together and mark the word “prepare” each time you find it. Also, look for and discuss what preparations are called for there.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p 136.)

Story:

We were as tough as they came. In just a couple of weeks, we would be graduating from the eighth grade and would soon be off to high school. One day during music time, the teacher thrilled the boys by announcing that the freshman football coach was coming to talk to all who wanted to try out for the team in the fall. Gladly, every boy in class joined the mass exit into the gym.

We sat noisily on the floor, poking and jabbing each other. Suddenly, a mountain of a man entered the gym. He had on a T-shirt with the high school logo imprinted on the back. He was wearing sweatpants, gym shoes, and a baseball hat, and a whistle hung from his neck. He paced in front of us until we were quiet, squarely faced us, and announced, “Men, if you want to play high school football, there are a few things I want you to do.” He then outlined some basic conditioning techniques, cautioning us against eating too much candy and drinking too much pop. He also told us to run every day and ride our bikes as often as possible. He even suggested lifting weights and getting jobs that required discipline, strength, and stamina. He talked of the fun and thrill of playing and winning but reminded us that our opponents wanted to win as well. The meeting didn’t last long, but were we pumped! I don’t think most of us heard much past the word men. As you might guess, the coach’s counsel went unheeded during the much-anticipated summer vacation. Before I knew it, the summer was over. Then I received a letter explaining when and where to pick up my football gear. . . .

We were ordered onto the field to warm up by knocking shoulder pads with each other. It felt sort of funny but good. We were then assigned positions according to size and to where we happened to be standing. We were taught a few plays that we practiced for about thirty minutes. The weather was hot, and we were all thirsty. The coach blew the whistle, and we all lined up on the goal line. We expected a short pep talk, then the welcome coolness of the showers. We were mistaken. He said, “When I blow the whistle, you run full speed down to the twenty-yard line and line up there.” We didn’t see much sense in that, but we all obeyed anyway. At the twenty-yard line, he blew the whistle again and had us run back to the goal line. Now things were getting ridiculous. Why would he want us to just run back and forth?

On the second sprint, several of my friends ran off to the side, ripped off their helmets, and started throwing up. I guess the combination of heat, physical exertion, and poor physical condition took its toll. I laughed to myself. On the way back from the twenty-yard line, several more dropped out. On the next trip to the twenty-yard line, I started feeling sick. More dropped out. On the way back to the goal line, I dropped out and joined my friends.

The coach called us all together and sternly chewed us out for not taking seriously his challenge to prepare. He informed us that we would meet at six the next morning for a three-hour workout and then run some more wind sprints. Several kids muttered unmentionable words under their breath and assured him they wouldn’t be there. They walked to the locker room and turned in their gear. No glory for them. True to his word, we started practice at six the next morning. Although it wasn’t as hot as the day before, most of us had lost our breakfast by the end of practice—including me, about halfway through the wind sprints. About six or seven boys walked off the field when the coach announced that we would meet again at 4:30 that afternoon for another practice session. Turning in their equipment, they told us how stupid we were to put up with such nonsense. They challenged us all to boycott the practice and show the coach a thing or two. We declined. The afternoon practice was terrible. Several times, I entertained thoughts of quitting. . . . More than half the team quit that afternoon.

The next morning, we were wondering if the coach was trying to kill us. We decided among ourselves that we were as tough as he was and would not give up, no matter what. No one dropped out after that. The soreness was gone after about a week, and practices started to be fun. Our anticipation of the first game greatly increased our excitement. By the end of the season, we determined that the coach was right—football was fun! We were the mighty freshman football team, and our motto became No Guts, No Glory.

The lessons I learned from this experience also apply to preparing for [other experiences including serving] a mission. Too many young men and women seem to think all they have to do is show up and they will be prepared to serve. . . . Start preparing today by doing what missionaries do. What a shame it is to be unprepared when it’s your time to play.

(Randy L. Bott, Prepare With Honor, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book 1995], p. 1–3)

Activity:

Play “Find Your Home Town.”

A map is placed on the wall and the participants are blindfolded and given pins. The one who can stick his pin closest to his own home town wins the game.

Liken the game to preparation. When we are unprepared it is as if we are blindfolded. If we are prepared, we will be better able to “see” and know what to expect of each situation.

(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 121.)

Refreshment

Caramel Krisps

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
• 6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies cereal

Melt the butter in large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove form heat. Add caramel topping, stirring until well mixed. Add the cereal and stir until it is well coated. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour in the cereal mixture and press it into pan with a buttered spatula. Cool, and then cut into 24 squares.

(Clark L. and Kathryn H. Kidd, 52 Weeks of Recipes for Students, Missionaries, and Nervous Cooks, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007], p. 73.)

Deseret Book

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