Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “God Be with You Till We Meet Again,” by President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 2012, 110.
Thought:
May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. Let us not be critical and judgmental but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness.
(President Thomas S. Monson, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 110.)
Song:
“Jesus Said Love Everyone,” Children’s Songbook, p. 61.
Scripture:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44)
Object Lesson:
Get a large stocking and place ten household items inside it such as a spoon,a small ball, a stapler,a small toy soldier, tweezers, an audiotape, a small ruler, a screwdriver, etc. Tie the end of the stocking. Allow each family member two minutes to feel the contents of the stocking. During the two minutes, the person tries to identify and privately write down what he or she thinks the items are.
When everyone has had a turn, the contents are shown as each person checks the answers on his or her paper. The stocking activity demonstrates that it is difficult to judge what’s inside something by how it looks or feels. This is especially true of people. We can see what people do, but we cannot see inside to understand why they do things or how they feel.
(Max H. Molgard and Allan K. Burgess, The Best of Fun for Family Night, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 68.)
Story:
[Many] years ago, President [George Albert] Smith made a visit to the Navajo Indian Reservation, taking Elder Cowley and myself with him. It was a missionary meeting, there being priests and ministers present from many of the sects and denominations. A hundred and fifty men and women were there. There were some disputations. Apparently some missionaries had gone to the hospital patients of other sects to bring relief and succor, and heated suggestions were made to restrict missionaries to visit only their own people.
President Smith in majesty stood up, and obtained the floor and said: “My friends, I am perplexed and shocked. I thought it would please me very much if any good Christian missionary of any denomination would be kind enough to visit me and bind up my wounds and pour on the sacred oil.”
And then President Smith went on to tell them that this Church not only believes in tolerance, but also in understanding, and expressed the thought that long years ago Father Scanlan, a Roman Catholic Priest, conducted mass in the St. George Tabernacle at the suggestion and with permission of one of the Council of the Twelve and the president of the stake, who were there.
That happened on May 25, 1879. The priest had complained that he had no place in which he could conduct a mass for his people in southern Utah. The suggestion came from our brethren, and the mass was held. He had said, “We have no one to sing the Mass.” The brethren had said, “You furnish the score; we will furnish the singers.” And Catholic mass was conducted in a tabernacle.
He also told the group of ministers that the Church had also assisted some of the Protestant denominations to get started in Salt Lake City and in Utah.
There was general applause from these church dignitaries and it was as though a magic word had been spoken, like the Master spoke when he said “Peace, peace, be still.” The waves of suspicion and antagonism became calm and placid.
(Joseph Anderson, Prophets I Have Known, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1973], p. 110.)
Activity:
Have everyone stand within a large circle. On the signal to begin, toss a large, soft ball (such as a beachball or volleyball) or balloon into theair. Everyone must then keep it in the air by hitting, batting, or swatting and not let it hit the ground. The score for each round could be the number of hits before the ball hits the ground or the number of seconds the ball was kept in the air.
(George and Jeane Chipman, Games! Games! Games!, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 1983], p. 85.)
Refreshment:Cloud Biscuits
1⁄2 cup shortening
4 cups all-purpose flour
2⁄3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
3⁄4 cup milk or buttermilk
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, cut shortening into flour with a knife or pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs the size of a pea. Add remaining ingredients and mix well until dough forms. Flour your hands lightly, reach in, and knead dough 6 times until smooth. Dust your clean countertop with some flour. Using a rolling pin, roll dough to 1 1⁄2-inch thickness. Using a cup or a circle cookie cutter, cut biscuits and place on a cookie sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray.
Gather together dough scraps, shape into a ball, and roll out. Repeat until the dough is gone. Bake for 10 minutes, until golden brown. Put a clean towel in a basket or pretty bowl and place hot biscuits inside. Cover to keep warm. This recipe is good with honey butter (1 stick softened butter whipped with 1 cup honey) or a homemade raspberry jam. Makes 2 dozen biscuits.
Jill McKenzie, 52 Weeks of Proven Recipes for Picky Kids, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2008], p. 97.)