Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read "Even a Child Can Understand," by Elder Gérald Caussé, Ensign, Nov 2008, 32-34.
Thought:
"At 8 years old, a child can have sufficient understanding to enter the waters of baptism and make a covenant with God with complete understanding" (Gérald Caussé, "Even a Child Can Understand,")
Song:
"I Am a Child of God," Children's Songbook, p. 206
Scripture: "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).
Lesson:
Give each person a piece of paper and something to write with. Show your family a picture of Jesus with the children (such as Gospel Art Kit, no. 216). Invite a family member to read Mark 10:13-16. Ask the following questions and have family members write their answers on their piece of paper:
- How does Jesus feel about little children?
- What qualities do little children have that are an example of what we must be like to obtain the kingdom of heaven?
Make a list of ways your family can become more childlike and talk about ways your family can develop these childlike qualities. You may want to post these qualities where they can be seen often.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 70.)
Story:
I was called to the County Hospital in Salt Lake City by a mother. I didn't know her. She said her boy was dying from polio and asked if I would come down and give that boy a blessing. So I picked up a young bishop whom I generally take with me, for I think his faith is greater than mine, and I always like him along. We went down there, and here was this young lad in an iron lung, unconscious, his face rather a blackish color, with a tube in his throat, and they said he had a tube lower down in his abdomen. He had been flown in from an outlying community. The mother said to me, "This is an unusual boy. Not because he's my child, but he is an unusual boy." I think he was eight or nine years of age. After they put the usual coverings on us, we went in, and we blessed that boy. It was one of those occasions when I knew as I laid my hands upon that lad that he was an unusual boy, and he had faith. Having faith in his faith, I blessed him to get well and promised him he would. I never heard any more about him until last Sunday. I was on my way to Murray to conference; I dropped in the County Hospital, and I asked if I might see the lad. The nurse said, "Certainly. Walk right down the hall." As I walked down the hall, out came the boy running to meet me. He ran up and asked, "Are you Brother Cowley?"
And I said, "Yes."
He said, "I want to thank you for that prayer. He added, "I was unconscious then, wasn't I?"
I replied, "You certainly were."
He said, "That's the reason I don't recognize you." Then he asked, "Come in my room; I want to talk to you." He was an unusual boy. Well, we went in the room. He still had a tube in his throat. I said, "How long are you going to have that tube there?"
He said, "Oh, two weeks. Two more weeks, and then I'm all well. How about another blessing?"
So I said, "Certainly." I blessed him again. I was in a hurry. I wanted to get out to my conference. But he stopped me and asked, "Hey, how about my partner in the next bed?" There was a young fellow about sixteen or seventeen.
I said, "What do you mean?"
He said, "Don't go without blessing him. He's my partner."
I said, "Sure." Then I asked the boy, "Would you like a blessing?"
He said, "Yes, sir. I'm a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood in my ward." I blessed him, and then my little friend went and brought another fellow in. Here was another partner. And I blessed him.
Now, except ye believe as a child, you can't receive these blessings. We have to have the faith of a child in order to believe in these things, especially when you reach college age, and your minds are so full of skepticism and doubt. I guess there are some things that you should doubt. But you can become as little children in these things. Miracles are commonplace, brothers and sisters.
(Matthew Cowley, Matthew Cowley Speaks, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1954].)
Activity:
Children enjoy feeling different textures. Place a number of items in a bag (such as yarn, a pine cone, velvet, feathers, a cotton ball, a rock, sandpaper, plastic, etc. Have family members take turns reaching into the bag (without looking) and selecting an object. Have them feel the object and guess what it is.
Lead image from lds.org