Lesson #27: Peace in Troubled Times

James and I had the opportunity to teach Sunday school for the 12-13 year olds this past Sunday for our friends that normally teach the class. It was a great experience and am grateful for the lesson. It was about George Albert Smith and his amazing faith in the gospel and his Heavenly Father. The stories shared in the lesson about his example of faith are truly remarkable. Heres one that touched me deeply:

One evening George Albert Smith stayed in the home of some members along with several other elders and the mission president, J. Golden Kimball. That night, as they slept, a mob gathered. President Smith relates:

"About midnight we were awakened with a terrible shouting and yelling from the outside. President Kimball [J. Golden] jumped up and started to dress. … The men pounded on the door and used filthy language, ordering the Mormons to come out that they were going to shoot them. President Kimball asked me if I wasn’t going to get up and dress and I told him no, I was going to stay in bed, that I was sure the Lord would take care of us. In just a few seconds the room was filled with shots. Apparently the mob had divided itself into four groups and were shooting into the corners of the house. Splinters were flying over our heads in every direction. There were a few moments of quiet, then another volley of shots was fired and more splinters flew. I felt absolutely no terror. I was very calm as I lay there, experiencing one of the most horrible events of my life, but I was sure that as long as I was preaching the word of God and following his teachings that the Lord would protect me, and he did” (George Albert Smith, “How My Life Was Preserved,” in A Story to Tell, comp. Primary Association General Board and the Deseret Sunday School Union Board [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1945], pp. 155–56)."

I freak out when theres a bee near by! I cant even imagine how I would react to people shooting at me. But he had absolute PEACE in his heart, knowing that the Lord would protect him. What an example he is to us that if we just put our faith in God, only good can come about.

We then played a game of "Concentration", or "Memory" as some of you might know it by. It was centered around Ephesians 6: 10-18, scripture of armor as I call it. If we just 'put on the whole armor of God' we will be protected in all things and have a stronger testimony.

This world increasingly challenges our faith in God and our standards of righteousness. If we would be “able to stand,” as Paul says, we must prepare now by “wearing” the “armor of righteousness.” With it we can move forward knowing that all will be well. Our righteousness will bring us peace even in the midst of troubled times. Let us help each other to stand “on the Lord’s side.”