January 29, 2008

Today in class we talked about President Gordon B. Hinckley. The students all shared where they were and what they were doing, and how they felt when they heard the news that President Hinckley had passed away on Sunday night. Afterwards, we made a list on the board of everything we could think of that had been done in the past 13 years that he has been our Prophet. We discussed the Family, a Proclamation to the world, the Living Christ, for the strength of youth, the temples, the 2nd and third (etc) quorum of seventies, the perpetual education fund, the duty to God program, counsel on getting out of debt, physical appearance counsel (1 set of earrings, no body piercings or tatoos etc), food storage, counsel on raves, gambling, anger, forgiveness etc. The list just goes on and on.
Moving forward, we discussed momentarily how the Catholic church chooses their next leader the pope, and then we discussed succession within our own church. A couple of the families had had a lesson on this last night for FHE - it was great to review and have their input. We had some pictures of the 12 apostles (14) and we laid them out on the floor. We worked together to put them into order and discussed the order and seniority of the 12, and we read a quote from President Hinckley. This quote discussed how the 14 meet in the temple, and in a very simple and sacred manner sing and pray together, partake of the sacrament, and then set apart the new prophet. His counselors are then set apart as well. We discussed that President Monson is the most senior member, therefore he will be the next prophet, and President Packer unless called to be one of the counselors in the first presidency will be the president of the quorum of the 12.
I gave the students some time at the end of class to write in their journals their feelings etc. regarding this change, and how President Hinckley has affected their lives.
Due to this lesson today and the cancellation of class yesterday - we will be combining 1 Samuel 1-8 in some shape or fashion tomorrow.
We are still working on Isaiah 29:13-14 for our scripture mastery this week.