This lesson help is based on the book Girls Who Choose God by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding, illustrated by Kathleen Peterson.
Thought: Our Father in Heaven reaches out for each of us with His infinite love. He has power over all things and desires to help us learn, grown, and return to Him. This defines our Father's purpose: 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.'
As we develop greater faith and trust in the Lord, we can access His power to bless and deliver us.
(Jean A. Stevens, "Fear Not; I Am With Thee," April 2014 general conference)
Song: "The Lord Is My Shepherd" Hymns #108
Scriptures: "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:4).
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Conference Talk: "Trust in God, Then Go and Do" by President Henry B. Eyring, October 2010 general conference
Lesson:
We must build trust in God so that when the time comes, we will go and obey His counsel as Nephi did: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7).
When God asks us to trust Him and obey His commandments, it may seem difficult and even frightening, but we can know from scriptures and from personal experience that God has everything planned for us to succeed if we only listen to Him.
Not trusting in God brings sadness, but when we do listen, we can "be still and know that [He] is God" (Psalm 46:10).
Read the story below as a family, then discuss and roleplay what you will do when faced with the choice to follow God or to follow the ways of the world.
Story:
From Girls Who Choose God
Mahlah and Her Sisters
Mahlah and her four sisters, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, followed Moses through the wilderness toward the promised land. Life in the desert was difficult, but they believed the prophet was leading them to a place flowing with milk and honey. Before they arrived, their father, Zelophehad, died. The sisters were heartbroken to lose their dad. They were also dismayed to learn that if a man died without any sons, his daughters would not be given property in the promised land. That was the inheritance law.
The sisters had a choice to make. They could get angry and complain,
or
they could take their concerns to Moses. . . .
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah humbly approached Moses at the tabernacle. They told Moses their family had been faithful and longed for an inheritance in the promised land. Moses listened to their concerns and decided to take their cause to God. God said to Moses, "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right," and instructed Moses to change the law of the land. The five sisters were blessed to inherit a lovely parcel of land near the Jordan River facing the sunrise.
(Numbers 26:33; 27:1-11; 34:14-15)
Discussion: When have you chosen to solve a problem peacefully?
Activity: Role play. Come up with different scenarios where you might be tempted to make a wrong choice, and act out the decision you would make in that situation.
Or look for other scripture stories like the one with Mahlah and her sisters where someone is faced with a difficult choice. Act out the story.
Find more inspiring stories in Girls Who Choose God by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding, illustrated by Kathleen Peterson.
Girls Who Choose God invites young readers (and those who love them) to make important choices of their own, following the examples of great women in the scriptures. With breathtaking illustrations, beautifully told stories, and insightful discussion questions, this delightful book is perfect for sharing, reading aloud, and drawing children into the scriptures.
All proceeds are donated to Interweave Solutions. For more information about the organization's good work, visit interweavesolutions.org.