The teacher made an analogy about his high school football days when the coach would have them watch game film of their upcoming opponent to prepare to compete against them. I thought about the analogy for a while and raised my hand (I’m one of those really annoying can’t-keep-my-mouth-shut kind of Sunday School participants): “The game film is actually much like the scriptures. It shows us patterns from the past and gives us the examples of what works and what does not. A living prophet, then, would be like if the coach watched a film of what WILL happen and explains to the team exactly what should be practiced and prepared in order to meet the opponent and all that will occur.” And I mentioned this talk that I only vaguely remembered, but now I want to study.
The talk is “The Past Way of Facing the Future” by Elder L. Tom Perry, from the Sunday morning session of the October 2009 conference. He said,
“The lessons of the past . . . prepare us to face the challenges of the future.”
Upon reviewing the talk, I realized it wasn’t quite what I had remembered. But he relates some specific accounts from the lives of pioneers as well as other historical events, and then harvests important lessons from them that we should learn and remember. And as a living apostle, sustained as a seer, he must speak of principles pertinent to our future.
You can read the talk here, listen to it here, or watch it here.
Referring back to Noah, what things do you find in Elder Perry’s talk that would help us to build our own arks or be protected from the coming floods or calamities?
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Stephanie is a mom of three young and relentless children. Her interests include latin music, naps, restaurants, writing, travel, teaching, housework denial and long showers. Stephanie seeks for the divinity in motherhood--- tries to share it when she finds it, and tries to laugh when she doesn't. She blogs for fun, posterity, and therapy. Her musings are chronicled at Diapers and Divinity, and if you know how to send chocolate as an attachment, you're welcome to email her here.
