FATHERING LEADERSHIP
Develop a Healthier Personal Behavior PatternDAY 6 | TEN DAYS
Sunday Question | Scouting
PURPOSE OF THIS 10 DAY COURSE:
- LEARN profound lessons through daily stories & reflection
- Gain MOTIVATION to change behavior through understanding
- TRACK your progress | ACCOUNT for what you’ve done
- RECORD your thoughts & impressions
- REPEAT good behavior until healthy habits are formed
WHAT TO DO:
MORNING DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY QUESTION AT SCHOOL
- Pray | To Heavenly Father
- Sing/Listen to Hymn
- The Lord is My Light
- LDS Hymn #89
- Read Scripture | Matthew 4:23-25
- Serve | How can I serve today?
- Read Story | Sunday Question at School
- Ponder | Answer
EVENING DEVOTIONAL: SCOUTING
- Read Story | Scouting
- Journal | Write in your Journal
- Read Scripture | Matthew 5:1-9
- Sing/Listen to Hymn
- True to the Faith
- LDS Hymn #254
- Pray | To Heavenly Father
- Ponder | Answer
MORNING DEVOTIONAL | SUNDAY QUESTION AT SCHOOL
PRAY | TO HEAVENLY FATHER
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank thee… [use your own words]
I ask thee… [use your own words]
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
READ | SCRIPTURE
NEW TESTAMENT | MATTHEW 4:23-25
CHAPTER 4
23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease amoung the people.
24. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had palsy; and he healed them.
25. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
NOTE
Jesus has power to heal you.
SERVE | HOW CAN I SERVE TODAY?
READ STORY | SUNDAY QUESTION AT SCHOOL
The in-class worksheet assignment was a perfect opportunity for everyone to begin talking. And as you can imagine, not everyone was talking about the class assignment.
Harry overheard one classmate say, “How can you believe that God has a physical body when the Bible says that ‘God is a spirit!'” (John 4:24)
Another classmate replied, “How can you believe He’s a spirit when the Bible says Jesus was resurrected!”
(see John 20 & Luke 24)
After some arguing about who was right and who was wrong, it was obvious emotions were beginning to rise. These two were always debating something. One would take one point of view and the other would take another. Usually Harry tried not to listen – he didn’t like arguing – but this subject did interest him.
Tommy was apparently listening too, because suddenly he volunteered Harry to answer the question. “Harry reads the Bible. He’ll know,” said Tommy.
Harry hesitated to answer. But with the added reassurance the teacher wasn’t noticing their group he finally said in a quiet voice, “I believe God has a physical body.”
“How can you believe that when the scriptures say ‘God is a spirit’?” repeated his classmate.
Harry asked, “Do you believe Jesus was resurrected?”
“Yes,” said his friend.
Harry paused, looked at Tommy, and then turned to look at his friend. “I do too. So, if Jesus is only a spirit today, what did He do with His physical body after He was resurrected?” Harry asked.
“What do you mean?” asked his friend.
“After Jesus was resurrected, after Thomas (John 20:24-29) felt the wounds in His hands, and after He ate fish (Luke 24:42-43) with His disciples, what did Jesus do with His physical body?” questioned Harry.
“I don’t know,” said his friend. “I’ll ask my father. He will know. He knows the scriptures really well.”
Harry then said, “I believe Jesus has a spirit in His resurrected body just as we have a spirit inside our physical body and one day, after we die, we will be resurrected too.” (Job 19:25-27) Everyone went silent as they thought about what Harry said.
Silence seemed to warn their teacher that something was up. “Have you completed your worksheet assignment?” she asked sternly. “I’ll only give you five more minutes.”
The Doubting Thomas, by Carl Heinrich Bloch
RESOURCES
PONDER | ANSWER
Charity is Christ-like love.
1 CORINTHIANS | CHAPTER 13
1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
QUESTIONS
- How has Christ shown His love for us?
- How should we treat others?
- Commitment: I will forgive someone who has hurt my feelings.
- Commitment Kept:
- Signature: ________________________
EVENING DEVOTIONAL | SCOUTING
READ STORY | SCOUTING
Tommy had never been to a Scout meeting before.
Harry had explained to him that Scouting is where the young men and young women meet and learn to put their Sunday teachings into practice. He also explained that Scouting was fun because they learned things like first aid, cooking skills, and they go camping every month.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, tying knots relay race, and many other loud activities, the patrol leader called all the scouts together. Harry had done well in every activity, while Tommy sat and watched from a safe distance.
The youth patrol leader reminded the scouts to meet at Mrs. Jones’ house on Friday to help clean up her yard and then turned the time over to the Scoutmaster for a closing thought.
The Scoutmaster told a story about how dishonesty hurts and then asked the youth patrol leader to lead everyone in repeating the Scout Law.
DISHONESTY HURTS
One day, while shopping with my mother at the local grocery store, I caught sight of a shiny silver cap gun. It was just what I wanted. I imagined myself playing for hours, hiding behind the couch and chairs, defending myself from imaginary enemies. Each time the bad guys would lose and I would win.
Nothing I could say changed mother’s answer. “No, we can’t buy a cap gun.”
“But why not, why not” I pleaded.
“We aren’t going to buy a cap gun” she said more firmly.
My mind wouldn’t let it go. Hours after returning home I still thought about that shiny silver cap gun and how much fun I would have. That’s when things started to go wrong.
I decided to go see how much it cost. In spite of mother’s warnings not to cross the busy street by my self, I thought I was big enough. I’d be careful, I told myself.
I waited for the street light to change and then hurried across the street, passing the corner gas station, and on toward the store. I entered the store and walked to where the cap gun was on display.
The price made me gasp. I’ll never have that much money, I said to myself. Then a thought came into my mind, “Just take it.”
I walked up and down all the isles in the store, stopping to look at the candy, and then back to the shelf where the cap gun waited. “Just take it” I thought.
Strangely, all the clerks were gone. I slipped the cap gun into my pocket. Another thought came to my mind, “If you don’t leave the store no one can accuse you of stealing. Just stand by the door for a while, check to be sure no one is around, and then hurry out the door.”
I walked to the store entrance and stopped.
Suddenly there was a huge hand tightening on my shoulder. My heart jumped and I turned my head to see who held me.
A very tall man with unhappy eyes glared down at me. “What do you have in your pocket?” he asked.
“Nothing” I barely managed to say.
“We better go to my office.” Now it seemed dozens of clerks were watching as the large hand easily guided me to a small office.
“What do you have in your pocket?” the man in a red vest ask once again.
Again I calmly said, “Nothing,” but my head was swirling and my heart pounding.
“Empty your pockets,” he said.
I did.
“Is this yours?” he asked.
“No,” I finally had to admit.
“Maybe I should call the police. Do you want me to call the police?” his voice grew louder each time he spoke the word ‘police.’
“No!” I said quickly. Panic was starting to take over. How can it get any worse, I thought. And then it got worse.
“Who’s your father?”
“Fred Brown” I said with eyes that began to get blurry.
“Maybe I should call your father. Do you want me to call your father?”
“No!” I said with a quiver in my voice.
I’d rather he call the police than my father. I didn’t want to disappoint my father.
“If I don’t call the police or your father will you promise never to steal again?” he offered.
“Yes!” I said, my head nodding it’s agreement.
“Do you promise?” the blurry figure repeated.
“I promise” came from me.
“Okay, you can go this time but next time I’ll call the police AND your father,” he added with more than adequate emphasis.
I hurried to the door and to freedom, past all the smiling clerks.
For months I refused to go with my mother back to that store. I learned that dishonesty hurts. I never wanted to feel like that again. I’ve tried to keep that promise until this very day. I think my father would be proud of me.
SCOUT LAW
A Scout is…
-
- Trustworthy
- Loyal
- Helpful
- Friendly
- Curteous
- Kiind
- Obedient
- Cheerful
- Thrifty
- Brave
- Clean
- Reverent
SCOUT SIGN
Scout’s Salute | Scouting for Boys | p.41 | 1915
Later that evening, as usual in Harry’s home, they opened the Bible and read that evening’s scriptures. Then, after writing in their journals, they knelt together and said their evening prayer.
RESOURCES
JOURNAL ENTRY | DAY 6
Record your activites, feelings, thoughts, and/or questions.
READ | SCRIPTURE
CHAPTER 5
1. And seeing the multitudes, he [Jesus] went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11. Blessed are ye, when men revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
NOTE
The Sermon on the Mount fortifies us against the world’s scoffing.
PRAY | TO HEAVENLY FATHER
“Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for the Son and His sacrifice for us.
We are grateful for the resurrection and pray for greater love for others as we have been taught.
Help us to always be honest.
Please forgive us for our sins.
We want to do better.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
PONDER | ANSWER
Honesty is telling the truth. An honest person can be trusted to tell what really happened, even if it means their getting in trouble. When George Washington’s father asked, ‘Who chopped down the cherry tree?’ he truthfully answered, ‘I did.’ People re-tell this story because it represents the kind of person we should be…trustworthy.
Honesty is living the truth. An honest person will not lie, steal, or cheat. When we know its wrong to steal, and we don’t, we are being honest to what we believe. This is called integrity.
Honesty is a companion of goodness and purity. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (see John 8:32).
QUESTIONS
- How difficult is it to be honest?
- Commitment: I promise to be more honest from now on.
- Commitment Kept:
- Signature: ________________________
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
TEMPLES
FATHERS