Tonight I showed my children a movie they have not seen before. I own it, but wasn't sure I wanted to introduce the alcoholic father theme to them.
I asked my two youngest what happens when they drink alcohol. My newly turned 7 year old said, "They die." I explained that over time because it destroys the liver, but that is not what happens immediately.
My 9 year old struggled to find the word, but then remembered it, "They get drunk." "Yes," I replied, and I proceeded to talk about the effects of alcohol on the brain and body.
I also talked about how people who make movies try to make it seems funny to see someone acting drunk, but that it really isn't funny because it's hurting the person, and it's very addictive. Of course I talked about a few other things, like our religious belief in the "Mormon" church (The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints).
Some of you may think this is strange, but I want my children to enjoy the innocence of youth. I do not tell them all the lifestyles and choices live. Instead I focus on the blessings that come from living a life that is virtuous before Heavenly Father.
Having values and Christ-based traditions will bless them as they grow and realize how much turmoil and confusion is in the world. If I do my part as a parent to loving teach and nurture them in the ways of Jesus Christ, they will indeed understand the blessings of this scripture which says:
This movie, The Legend of Johnny Lingo, was actually a perfect teaching tool.
Afterward we talked about how this young boy and young girl didn't really know their true value or identity. They believed the lying words of what other said about them. They
internalized the cruelty, unkindness, circumstantial trials, and poverty, believing what these things seemed to teach them of their identity
In the end that boy grew to be someone of righteous power and influence and that girl was recognized as the most virtuous jewel of the island! Quite a turn around from their former circumstances
After the movie I had something of an epiphany as we had family scripture together. My daughter read for us in 1 Nephi 21 (compare to Isaiah 49) where it reads:
And yet, even in his wisdom those (with exception to a very few) around Jesus did not see him as for who He was-- the Messiah, who had come to save his people, and the world!
Instead His people tried to attach an identity to Christ, which was ordinary, such as when they asked,
And yet, in this process of growth and experience the Savior was figuratively in the "shadow," in that he was not initially recognized for WHO HE was (and IS!). His people did not recognize Him, nor identify the perfect, omniscient care of God, our Heavenly Father, who did kept Christ in the "shadow of His hand (and) hid" Him. I believe that the Savior was protective so hidden.
If Heavenly Father had wanted His son to be more easily recognizable don't you think he would have created him to be born into a higher social standing, and given him the face and beauty of an angel. After all, the corruption of society basis value on beauty!
Wouldn't having status and beauty been an easy way to get the attention of the world? Yes, surely! But those things would have impeded the real purpose of Christ's mission on earth. Christ was hidden in what seemed physical and social imperfection. He seemed to have all the odds against his success. And yet it was in fact those very odds which helped Christ to be "polished" and prepared for His redemptive, atoning sacrifice and crowning glory!
Nothing easily gained can be truly treasured! Those who seek to know Christ and willingly face any sacrifice, sorrow and persecution in that endeavor, also know that part of treasuring Christ in our hearts is having paid the price to know and appreciate that sacred gift of testimony that He is the son of God, and our Savior and Redeemer!
When I read this segment "and made Christ a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid (Him)," I think about a rock polisher, which turns and grinds rocks in a small container and with fine grit intermixed with the rocks they rub, hit, and tumble into the other rocks and in the process are polished through what would seem a painful experience.
But that tumbling and turning is what helps the rocks to become shiny and polished! I read about Christ's polishing and hiding to show that Christ was figuratively "polished, but also hidden away in the supreme creator's figurative warrior bag (represented by a weapon of war--an arrow in a quiver), and awaiting his warrior action on the front line.
Now, I'm no expert in rocks or arrows, but imagine, if you will that The Creator, God the Father, has a quiver (bag/pouch/sack) filled with finely crafted, polished, sharpened arrows (representing men and women of
righteousness who fight off evil and influence others for good), but this uniquely special arrow spoken of in this verse is His son Jesus Christ was saved and hidden until our God, the divine warrior (so to speak), was ready to pull this arrow (His son) out of the quiver and put his marksmanship against evil to its ultimate aim---the freeing of His children from sin and damnation (being cut off from the presence of God). Talk about the ultimate secret weapon against sin!!
As my daughter read this scripture I realized that applications of this singular verse compared not only to the movie, but my own life!
Can you imagine a bag filled with strong, beautifully crafted arrows? Can you now imagine anyone in this world who has ever lived, or lived now, who is an arrow of God--straight, righteously beautiful, trustworthy, and focused on the sole duty of allowing God to aim and shoot wherever God points? Can you understand how Gods aim is perfect, and how he seems to know how to work with an arrow that is resistant or hesitant? Sometimes you may wonder why the arrow lands as it does, or why we find we've been shot into an
unpleasant place, and yet God in His perfect wisdom can create "beauty for ashes" (Isaiah 61:1–3)?! Just as He did with Christ, He too can do with us!
There is no "arrow" (person), as perfect as Jesus Christ, but I can certainly think of men and women who have blessed my life because they were willing to be carried in the quiver of God and let His perfect marksmanship point the way they should fly through the battlefield of life.
Isn't it exciting to think that, like Christ, our lives may not initially seem of great value or purpose and yet we have a seedling of understanding that helps us feel that there is more to our existence that just barely surviving the trials of life, and then dying??!
Doesn't it make you consider how the cruely and unkindness of people and circumstance may actually be polishing you and I, and helping us protect us and polish us, so that we can ultimately "fill the measure of (our) creation"?! (compare to Doctrine and Covenants 49:17 and Doctrine and Covenants 88:19)
The "measure" of our lives will never equally compare to the grand scale as Jesus Christ, but whatever good we do here on earth will affect the eternal significance of ourselves and others that we have positively influenced!
You and I are in the process of something great, but we need to look to God and let him teach us where he wants us to aim the unique gifts of quiver and arrows that he has given us stewardship over for our personalized journeys.
"You are not forgotten."
As you look for the witnesses of God's love for you, I am certain that you will have a glimpse into knowing that you are LOVED and of GREAT WORTH!
To close with a quote from The Legend of Johnny Lingo:
Christine
"And we atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our cchildren may know to what source they may look for a dremission of their sins.)" (2 Nephi 25:26)As my children get older they are going to understand more, and yes, lose their innocence to some degree. I'm trying to do my best to help my children see the beauty and goodness in the world and in people, before they realize just how much sorrow exists.
This movie, The Legend of Johnny Lingo, was actually a perfect teaching tool.
Afterward we talked about how this young boy and young girl didn't really know their true value or identity. They believed the lying words of what other said about them. They
internalized the cruelty, unkindness, circumstantial trials, and poverty, believing what these things seemed to teach them of their identityIn the end that boy grew to be someone of righteous power and influence and that girl was recognized as the most virtuous jewel of the island! Quite a turn around from their former circumstances
After the movie I had something of an epiphany as we had family scripture together. My daughter read for us in 1 Nephi 21 (compare to Isaiah 49) where it reads:
2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharpI got excited when I heard her read this verse and I had her go back and repeat it. I then explained it as I understand it. Which is is that Jesus Christ came to this earth and following the natural course of his mortal body he grew into manhood. From his youth he had a gift of speaking wisdom and understanding. (a "mouth like a sharp sword")a sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
And yet, even in his wisdom those (with exception to a very few) around Jesus did not see him as for who He was-- the Messiah, who had come to save his people, and the world!
Instead His people tried to attach an identity to Christ, which was ordinary, such as when they asked,
"Is not this theCan you believe it?! They tried to label Christ's identity and value as nothing special, even worthless!a carpenter, the son of Mary, theb brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him." (Mark 6:3 KJV)
And yet, in this process of growth and experience the Savior was figuratively in the "shadow," in that he was not initially recognized for WHO HE was (and IS!). His people did not recognize Him, nor identify the perfect, omniscient care of God, our Heavenly Father, who did kept Christ in the "shadow of His hand (and) hid" Him. I believe that the Savior was protective so hidden. 
If Heavenly Father had wanted His son to be more easily recognizable don't you think he would have created him to be born into a higher social standing, and given him the face and beauty of an angel. After all, the corruption of society basis value on beauty!Wouldn't having status and beauty been an easy way to get the attention of the world? Yes, surely! But those things would have impeded the real purpose of Christ's mission on earth. Christ was hidden in what seemed physical and social imperfection. He seemed to have all the odds against his success. And yet it was in fact those very odds which helped Christ to be "polished" and prepared for His redemptive, atoning sacrifice and crowning glory!
Nothing easily gained can be truly treasured! Those who seek to know Christ and willingly face any sacrifice, sorrow and persecution in that endeavor, also know that part of treasuring Christ in our hearts is having paid the price to know and appreciate that sacred gift of testimony that He is the son of God, and our Savior and Redeemer!
When I read this segment "and made Christ a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid (Him)," I think about a rock polisher, which turns and grinds rocks in a small container and with fine grit intermixed with the rocks they rub, hit, and tumble into the other rocks and in the process are polished through what would seem a painful experience.
But that tumbling and turning is what helps the rocks to become shiny and polished! I read about Christ's polishing and hiding to show that Christ was figuratively "polished, but also hidden away in the supreme creator's figurative warrior bag (represented by a weapon of war--an arrow in a quiver), and awaiting his warrior action on the front line.
Now, I'm no expert in rocks or arrows, but imagine, if you will that The Creator, God the Father, has a quiver (bag/pouch/sack) filled with finely crafted, polished, sharpened arrows (representing men and women of
righteousness who fight off evil and influence others for good), but this uniquely special arrow spoken of in this verse is His son Jesus Christ was saved and hidden until our God, the divine warrior (so to speak), was ready to pull this arrow (His son) out of the quiver and put his marksmanship against evil to its ultimate aim---the freeing of His children from sin and damnation (being cut off from the presence of God). Talk about the ultimate secret weapon against sin!!As my daughter read this scripture I realized that applications of this singular verse compared not only to the movie, but my own life! Can you imagine a bag filled with strong, beautifully crafted arrows? Can you now imagine anyone in this world who has ever lived, or lived now, who is an arrow of God--straight, righteously beautiful, trustworthy, and focused on the sole duty of allowing God to aim and shoot wherever God points? Can you understand how Gods aim is perfect, and how he seems to know how to work with an arrow that is resistant or hesitant? Sometimes you may wonder why the arrow lands as it does, or why we find we've been shot into an
There is no "arrow" (person), as perfect as Jesus Christ, but I can certainly think of men and women who have blessed my life because they were willing to be carried in the quiver of God and let His perfect marksmanship point the way they should fly through the battlefield of life.
Isn't it exciting to think that, like Christ, our lives may not initially seem of great value or purpose and yet we have a seedling of understanding that helps us feel that there is more to our existence that just barely surviving the trials of life, and then dying??!
Doesn't it make you consider how the cruely and unkindness of people and circumstance may actually be polishing you and I, and helping us protect us and polish us, so that we can ultimately "fill the measure of (our) creation"?! (compare to Doctrine and Covenants 49:17 and Doctrine and Covenants 88:19) The "measure" of our lives will never equally compare to the grand scale as Jesus Christ, but whatever good we do here on earth will affect the eternal significance of ourselves and others that we have positively influenced!
"You are not forgotten."
".... wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love."
"Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!"
"He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name!"
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/forget-me-not?lang=eng&_r=1
As you look for the witnesses of God's love for you, I am certain that you will have a glimpse into knowing that you are LOVED and of GREAT WORTH!
To close with a quote from The Legend of Johnny Lingo:
"....love is a most costly commodity. The more you are willing to pay, the more valuable the prize. The question is, are you willing to pay the price?"Let us all be willing to pay the price for true love. A love which protects, polishes, and points us heavenward!
Christine
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