Thursday, September 27, 2012

Follow up--Teaching Children to Feel the Spirit (Class #2)



Tshirt like “Moroni’s flag”---And it came to pass that (our family) wants to be an eternal family by…
CTR---young kids (ages 7 & 2)---words to go with each letter.  Can expand as children get older.

Motto---Do what is right no matter what.

Sometimes we get in a place where the spirit tells us to teach, but it’s a very inconvenient time.  It’s the follow up that teaches.  

Parenting is inconvenient.  It’s never convenient to teach a good lesson.  When it’s convenient in FHE they aren’t listening.  It’s hard when it’s in real life.

Class member shared….She has 3 boys…taken class for many years.  16, 14, 9.  Went to production that was not appropriate.  It was a story they had read and loved. We talked about it and shared story with kids.  They were sitting there with kids when you can’t get out.  They were just sick.  We needed to have FHE afterwards.  We knelt and had family prayer.  16 year old was called on to say prayer.  HF you know and we know that we had a bad experience.  Please help us to have the spirit in our home and in our lives.  Forget the bad and remember the good.  So grateful that he “gets it”.  We have to teach them what are you going to do with it.  Are you going to let it be in your mind or get rid of it?  The kids were able to express what they felt when it was so yucky.  They were able to tell the difference between taking the sacrament and being in this production.  

Negative experiences can still be fabulous teaching experiences. 

Tracy's Story…We live in Kuna.  Our Kuna football team has won 2 games in 3 years.  16 year old son is good at football.  No freshman were allowed to play varsity.  As sophomore he played offense and defense.  The talk would be really negative.  Got another coach to come look into coaching for them.  He was the #1 pick for D1 college in California 6 figure pay.  Kuna $4000 head coach pay.  The high school does the tour.  They wanted to hire someone from inside.  Coach said he wasn’t interested. 

 They said let me set you up for another tour.  The middle school is all district champs or runners up.  Spencer emailed him and said he was so tired of playing on a losing team.  Their own school is bashing on them.  I love football.  I want to play football.  He tours with middle school.  We get this coach.  Invited Spencer to house for dinner with his own staff.   The coach said I need to ask you a few questions.  Do you have a cell phone…no  Do you have a girl friend…no.  What kind of student are you 4.2 student.  You are the reason I am coming to this school.  I turned down this other position because they didn’t like that he was LDS. 

They start practicing.  They have heck week.  They camp at the school for a week.  3 a day practices.  It’s hot.  In between those they are having “mini firesides”.  He talked to the kids about making  good choices.  Had the same talk with parents.  They are going to be respectful in school.  They will respect women.  When the principal comes into an assembly you will give them a standing ovation.   When you band plays you will wave your helmet and cheer. 

He told parents if you give your children beer you child will not play.  It’s not legal.  At midnight he wakes up the players.  He puts them in lines of freshman, sophomores, jr, sr.  In the middle of field there was a spear with spotlight on it.  Freshman make large circle each of them making smaller circles to the spear.  He then asks the seniors I want to know what you want out of life.  7 seniors.  Each called by name and had to say what they wanted out of life. 

He said if you can respect women you will be a better man.  He joined the church at 21.  When he was 4 days old mom died, dad in jail, in orphanage, grandparents found him and raised him.  His success is attributed to his football coaches.  

One kid says I don’t have a dad.  I want to be a good dad, but I don’t know how because I don’t  have an example.  I know when I get there I don’t know how to do it.  This kid drives $180,000 car.  His mom is rich, but he  only wants a dad.  

Another kid said mom is abusive, alcoholic.  The other kids said they didn’t know that.  Then on the field that night they make promises to themselves and the team that they will do certain things and not do certain things.  New coach does fundraisers.   He works for Scentsy.  Has a lot of money.  He wants to build room off the field.  He quit job at Scentsy and said I will be teaching at Kuna a history class.  He expects kids to be respectful.  There will be no disrespect to the teachers.  He talks the talk and walks the walk.  

There is a mandatory study hall.  He pulls in whatever teachers he needs.  He is there for the study hall.  There is a change in spirit and attitude because of this one man.  

There is power in A person.  That is a story of the why.  It’s not the what and the how.  Why are we parenting?  If that is always our focus the what and how will take care of themselves.  The motivations and help will always be there.  

Last conference one of  the Seventy quoting from previous talk Pres. Monson gave.  Mother had 7 children and went across the street to deliver something.  Knows the kids are all there.  Breaks down in tears and says Heavenly Father I am so tired.  I can’t do it.  Please just let me come home for 1 night and then I’ll come back.  All those demands during the killer hours of the day 5-8pm.  Heavenly Father said I can’t take you home to me, but I can come to you.  

That is the why.  He will come and hold us and give us courage, but the bottom line is you are the one to make the difference in your home.  They need that example, from the men, but you are the heart.  You are the one that teaches the why.  

The Dad’s responsibility is to call you to prayer (priesthood responsibility), but it’s the mother that teaches children how to pray.  

We get so discouraged. 

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