The day was hot, very hot. Riley walked home from the store slowly. He dangled the plastic-wrapped loaf of bread from his left hand to balance himself as he walked along the curb. Suddenly he felt tiny drops of water fall on his head. He threw his head back and looked up, then shut his eyes and grinned.
The rain felt cool and welcome. Quickly Riley sat down on the grass and took off his shoes and socks. He stuffed his socks into his shoes and carried them in his right hand. Then he walked in the puddles that were rapidly gathering on the sidewalk. He ran back and forth, splashing and laughing. He squished his toes in the soft tar separating the concrete gutter slabs and laughed again.
“You’re really going to get it from your grandmother, Riley Thompson!” Brenda shouted from her porch railing.
Riley looked up and waved his tennis shoes at her. “My grandma won’t care,” he replied.
“She won’t like your playing in the rain!” Brenda insisted.
Riley splashed through the puddles right up to Brenda’s front porch and asked, “Why won’t she like my playing in the rain? Rain doesn’t hurt you.” His hair hung in limp strands.
“It does so! You can catch a cold and get sick and die!” Brenda retorted as she held out a hand and caught some raindrops.
Riley stared at the trickling drainpipe at the side of Brenda’s house. “My grandma says viruses give you colds.”
“Viruses give you the flu,” Brenda informed him smugly. “Rain makes you sick.”
“You’re making me sick, Brenda Midler,” Riley said. “Plus you’re making me late from the store!” Riley stuck his toes under Brenda’s rainspout, then turned his back on her and headed toward home again. As he neared the edge of her yard, he heard her call.
“Don’t expect me to visit you in the hospital!”
Riley scowled and clumped along the sidewalk, watching the water splash around his feet. His hair hung limply in his face, and his shirt clung tightly to his back. What if Brenda is right? he thought. He stopped beneath a tree and looked at his wet clothes. “Oh, what does she know!” he grumbled. He shrugged and headed back into the rain. “My skin is waterproof.”
When he neared home, Riley began to worry. Did Grandma want this bread right away? He looked up at his bedroom window on the second floor. Will she make me stay in my room the rest of the day? He swallowed hard and followed the walk around to the back of the house. Then he hurried up onto the back porch.
“Grandma!” he called with his nose pressed against the screen door. “I’m home from the store, but I got caught in the rain.” He looked down at the porch and watched the puddles gather around his feet.
Grandma came to the door and looked down at him, smiling. In her hand she had a towel. “You certainly did,” she said with a chuckle. “I saw you playing in the puddles.” She opened the door and laid down an old rug for him to drip on. “Did you have a good time?” she asked as she took the bread and put it away.
“Will you be cross with me if I did?” Riley asked. “Or if I didn’t?”
Grandma threw back her head and laughed. “I wouldn’t be cross with you either way, honey,” she said. “Why would you think that?”
“Brenda Midler said you would. She said I’d catch a cold and get sick and die.”
Grandma chuckled again. “I’m not cross. And you’re not going to get a cold and get sick and die either. It’s a nice, warm day. Heavenly Father sends rain to make the plants and grass and trees grow. He sends it to fill the lakes and rivers and streams, so people have water to drink and use,” Grandma said.
“Animals too!” Riley added.
“Yes, animals, too,” Grandma agreed. “If Heavenly Father didn’t send rain, nothing would grow.”
“Then why do some people moan when it rains?” Riley asked.
Grandma looked out at the rain and thought for a few seconds. “Maybe they don’t want the rain because it upsets their plans. They forget that rain is part of Heavenly Father’s plan for all growing things. Even plants know that,” she said.
“How can you tell?” Riley asked.
“Look at the zinnias, Riley,” she said.
Riley looked to where she pointed, and he smiled. “They’re not drooping anymore!”
“That’s right,” Grandma said. “They’re lifting their heads and spreading their leaves.”
“They look happy, Grandma, like they’re glad it’s raining.”
“I think they are, dear. They were very hot and dry before.”
“I was, too,” Riley said with a grin. “Could I put my swimming trunks on and go out and play in the rain some more? The rain’s nice and cool, and I can put my sailboat in the puddles and build a dam by the drainpipe,” Riley said excitedly.
“Sounds like fun,” Grandma said. “In fact, if I weren’t baking, I’d be tempted to join you.”
“You would?” Riley asked in disbelief.
“I certainly would,” she insisted. “When I was a little girl, I used to like to play in the rain too.”
“Oh, boy!” Riley shouted. “Wait till I tell Brenda Midler!”
Talk Source:
What is your favorite scripture story? Is it Daniel in the lions’ den? Is it Nephi going back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates? Maybe you have lots of favorite stories. If you wanted to read one of those stories, could you find it in your scriptures?
When do you read your scriptures? Do you read them at night before you go to sleep? Do you read them in the morning with your family before school or play?
Do your parents tell you scripture stories? Maybe you read the scriptures in your Primary class. Do you ever carry your scriptures to church and home again without opening them? Carrying the scriptures can make our arms strong, but reading them every day will make our spirits and minds strong.
The more we read our scriptures, the more we will come to know and love the teachings and stories that are there. If we each have our own copy of the scriptures, we can carefully underline a scripture or part of a story to help us find it again. Sometimes when we are reading, we find a scripture that speaks peace to our hearts or gives us great courage. Those are good scriptures to underline. When you read in 1 Nephi 3:7 that Nephi said, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded,” doesn’t it make you feel that you can be strong, too?
The most important way to read the scriptures is with a prayer in our hearts that Heavenly Father will help us understand them. Moroni has promised us that we can know the scriptures are true through the power of the Holy Ghost (see Moro. 10:4–5).
(Sydney Reynolds, “Sharing Time: Getting into the Scriptures”, Friend, Feb. 1998, 36)
Talk Source:
Have you ever been lost? Did you want help to find your way? I think the prophet Nephi may have felt that way sometimes. He said:
—Read 2 Nephi 32:3—
Nephi taught us that the words of Christ can tell us all things we should do. When we are lost, we can turn to the words of Christ for direction.
When Lehi was lost, he used the Liahona — a kind of compass given to him from God — to find his way. The Liahona pointed which direction to go, and had instructions from the Lord written upon them.
This is a picture of the liahona may have looked like.
–Hold up The Liahona image from the Gospel Art Book —
W. Rolfe Kerr, a General Authority, has taught us that the scriptures can be a liahona to us. He said, “Let us in faith take the words of Christ into our minds and into our hearts as they are recorded in sacred scripture and as they are uttered by living prophets, seers, and revelators. Let us with faith and diligence feast upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will be our spiritual Liahona telling us all things what we should do.” (W. Rolfe Kerr, “The Words of Christ—Our Spiritual Liahona”, Ensign, May 2004, 36–37)
I want to find my way when I am lost, like Lehi did. I can read the words of Christ to find my way, too.
Talk Source:
Have you ever been really hungry? So have I! You might even be hungry right now! When we are hungry, we want to eat, or feast on foods that our parents provide for us.
Sometimes your hearts might be “hungry”. You might be feeling sad or lonely or hurt. You might have a question that you need answered. Our heavenly Father has given us something to feast on that can fill our hungry souls. That something is the scriptures.
–Read 2 Nephi 32:3–
Nephi taught us that we should “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do”. When we read the scriptures, we can find answers to our questions, problems, and worries. We can feel Heavenly Father’s love when we study the words of Jesus Christ. Our hearts won’t be hungry any more.
–bear testimony–
Talk Source:
Because Heavenly Father and Jesus love [me], they gave [me] the scriptures so that [I] can learn about the gospel and how to live it. The word scripture means a “holy writing.” When we read the scriptures, we learn what Heavenly Father expects of us, what He will do if we obey Him, and what will happen if we disobey Him.
The four books that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accept as scripture are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The inspired words of our living prophets are also accepted as scripture (see A of F 1:9).
The word Bible means “sacred book.” The Bible is divided into two sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament foretells the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and records the Lord’s dealings with men before His birth. The New Testament tells about the life of Jesus when He was on the earth and about the Apostles He chose to lead His early church.
The Book of Mormon is about some of the people who were led anciently to the Americas and about the Savior’s visit to them soon after He was resurrected. The purpose of this book is to convince all people that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.
The Doctrine and Covenants contains revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith and others for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. All of these scriptures teach us about principles and ordinances of the gospel such as baptism (D&C 20:72–74), the sacrament (D&C 20:75–79), and the law of tithing (D&C 119:3–4).
The Pearl of Great Price tells about our premortal life, the Creation, the purpose of life, and the last days. Joseph Smith’s story and the Articles of Faith are also found in the Pearl of Great Price.
(Karen Lofgreen, “Sharing Time: The Scriptures,” Friend, Aug 1995, 36)
Our scriptures contain some of the most exciting stories ever written, and the best part of all is that these stories are true! Once you really get into reading the scriptures, you will want to study them every day.
Talk Source:
My family and I can come to Jesus by doing temple work.
Elder David Sorenson taught the following:
[T]emples are of great value to us because they help us express our core theology, that of coming to Christ.Temples … remind us and teach us about Christ and His Father. … Christ spent key parts of His ministry at the temple in Jerusalem, and [talked about the temple often]. Our temple worship today includes many symbolic references to Christ, from the spires on the outside that point our minds heavenward, to the white clothing we wear inside the temple to symbolize that, as the book of Revelation says, we have come “out of great tribulation, and have washed [our] robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14).
Temples stand as a constant physical reminder of the grace and the goodness of the Father. … President George Q. Cannon said: “Every foundation stone that is laid for a temple, and every temple completed … lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness” (Logan Temple cornerstone ceremony, 19 Sept. 1877; quoted in Nolan Porter Olsen, Logan Temple: The First 100 Years [1978], 34).
Temples have always symbolized being in the presence of the Lord. … There is a closeness to God that comes through … worship in the house of the Lord. We can come to know Him and feel welcome, “at home,” in His house. …
[T]emples can inspire us to come unto Christ … by the ordinances we perform in them. All temple ordinances are centered in Jesus Christ and His divine mission … Each ordinance is calculated to reveal to us something about Christ and our relationship to God. …Temple ordinances also provide an opportunity to strengthen our families, … Strength can be provided through performing ordinances [on behalf of] our ancestors, thus forming a “welding link” between parents and children (D&C 128:18).(David E. Sorensen, “Small Temples—Large Blessings,” Ensign, Nov 1998, 64)
Talk Source:
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught us we can come to Jesus Christ by repenting when we make a mistake:
“Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need not fear, for we will live forever, never to taste of death again.23 Because of His infinite Atonement, we can be cleansed of sin and stand pure and holy before the judgment bar. The Savior is the Author of our Salvation. … Those who come unto Christ, repent of their sins, and live in faith will reside forever in peace. Think of the worth of this eternal gift. Surrounded by those we love, we will know the meaning of ultimate joy … because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)’ (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 21–24)”
When we repent, we turn away from our sins. We will not commit them again. Each sin we give up brings us closer to being like Jesus.
Talk Source:
The prophet Alma wanted to share the gospel with everyone. “O, that I were an angel,” Alma said, “and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul … the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth” (Alma 29:1–2).
Alma knew that sharing the gospel would be a blessing for others. Alma wanted to tell others about Jesus Christ.
Elder Robert D Hales says we can share the gospel with others by creating a gospel sharing home. Here are some ways we can share the gospel with our friends at home:
“Having a gospel-sharing home will not only be a blessing for those we bring into our homes but for those who live within it. By living in a gospel-sharing home, our testimonies become stronger and our understanding of the gospel improves. The Doctrine and Covenants teaches that we can be forgiven of our sins when we help someone else repent (see D&C 62:3). We find joy in helping others come unto Christ and feel the redemptive power of His love (see D&C 18:14–16). Our families are blessed as the testimonies and faith of both parents and children increase.” (M. Russell Ballard, “Creating a Gospel-Sharing Home,” Liahona, May 2006, 84–87)
Talk Source:
In the Bible we read of prophets who lived on Earth many years ago. We also read stories about these prophets in the Book of Mormon. Every single one of those prophets testified of Jesus Christ.
We have prophets today who teach us about Jesus Christ, too. We may learn of Jesus Christ by following the prophets who lived long ago and prophets who live on the earth today.
Elder Robert D Hales says:
From the beginning of time, prophets have known that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, of His mortal mission, and of His Atonement for all mankind. Sacred records give the prophecies of thousands of years, not only of the first coming of our Savior but also of the Second Coming–a glorious day that will most assuredly come. (Robert D. Hales, “Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Liahona, Nov 2004, 70–73)
I can learn about Jesus Christ by following the prophets.
[bear testimony]Talk Source:
The scriptures have many stories of Jesus Christ. I can learn about Jesus Christ when my parents and teachers read me scripture stories.
I will read the lyrics of a song called Tell me the Stories of Jesus that talks about how children may feel when they hear scripture stories about Jesus:
[child bears testimony]Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the lovelight of Jesus’ face.Into the city I’d follow the children’s band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas, “Jesus is King!” ()
Note: If your child is interested in learning sign language, a performance of this song in American Sign Language is available online at:
http://stream.lds.org/churchmusic/ASL/childrens_songbook/ASL_CS_TellMeTh…
Talk Source:
