Alexander gave our family home evening lesson on Monday. He chose to teach about the ten commandments. Seems like a simple review of basic principles, huh? Well, I found out they aren't so simple to an 8-year old.
Sabrina generally believes the things she learns in our scripture study or that I teach her and the things she learns in primary, but sometimes she does question things. This time she questioned one of the ten commandments. Which one? Only the most important one--number one: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. She doesn't belive in another god, but she thinks that it is a selfish request that he be the most important thing or person.
I tried to explain to her that we will keep all the other commandments, which sometimes is hard to do, if we love our Heavenly Father more than we love our toys, a car, a job, money, or anything else. We can only get to know him if we love him more than anything else. It didn't change anything. She repeated that it was still selfish.
I am glad that she is thinking about what she is learning. I just wish I could help her understand and I didn't seem to come up with any good ideas. So I'm turning to you, my smart, inspired friends to help me know how to explain it to her. I will continue to pray about how to teach her, but if any of you have any ideas, I'd love for you to share them in the comments! Thank you.
Ahhh, I am not sure how to explain it to her, except maybe to tell her how Heavenly Father has given us everything, even our own breath. Because He gives us literally everything, He does not want us to worship anyone or anything more than Him. There is a talk I read somewhere about how money can be a God, sports can be a god, pretty much anything that we spend too much time doing that takes our time away from the things that matter most can become a god to us. Maybe if she understands why He wants us to not worship other things than she will understand.
ReplyDeleteOk.. This may be a novel. Be prepared. haha
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this post last night.. I had a few thoughts.. but I wanted to sleep on it.. and then answer you.
It was hard for me to hear selfish and God in the same sentence... just because that is something that he is so very far from.. but when I tried to think like an 8 year old.. tried to look at this logically.. instead of spititually... these thoughts came to me. I hope you will understand what I am trying to say.....
We are given rules every where in life for our own good. We have rules we have to live by even as citizens of a state. ( Like traffic rules, not stealing, killing...etc. ) We do have our own agency.. and if we decide to break these rules.. and not obey them---their is a consiquence like Jail.. prison.. fines.. or a trial. These rules are here to protect us... and keep us safe.
Now for the spiritual side of things..
There was a great war in heaven. Satan wanted to FORCE us to do things.. but our loving Father in heaven had a different plan.
We would each come here to earth with our own free agency.
Our Heavenly Father knows EVERYTHING. He knew what good and terrible things would happen here on earth.. and he loved us so much..all he hopes/hoped is that we will return and live with him.
But-- their is only one WAY. His way.
He loved us so very much.. he sent his son to die for us... and make it possible to live with him again. -- But Satan wanted us to believe that other things are more important -- and tries to distract us with things that will take us off of the path that leads to our Father.
When I watched the movie "The Ten Commandments" I remember watching the parts where people were living so wickedly.. and worshipping animals made out of Gold and etc... I am sure this made our Father so very sad... and when Moses went up to the mountain...it was a HUGE blessing that he told him of these very important rules to live by in order to stay on the righteous path.
By stating " Thou shalt have no other Gods before me" -- Teaches me.. to remember that HE is the only God.. and if someone tells me to pray to a False Prophet.. an idol... or to worship money and other worldly distractions.. then I am on the wrong path.
Maybe you can find the movie.. and show the part.. of how the people were living..before Moses was given the Commandments. -- Maybe show her how we have all of these different religions ( how they pray to Buddah and etc ) and -- this is why we have these rules. People have gotten distracted...
I hope this all makes sense. I was going to call you.. because I can usually explain better.
I hope you get the answers that will help her.
Love ya.
I
Simply put, if we have other gods, we won't fully worship our Heavenly Father. If we don't worship our Heavenly Father, we won't be blessed in the way He wants to bless us. He's not being selfish, He just wants what's best for us!
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