Week 1 - Looking Back

Last week we spent quite a bit of time on the Plan of Salvation. Your creative and very unique individual depictions of that let me know that you have a good understanding of where we came from, why we are here, where we want to go, and how to get there. Here are a few special nuggets from our study:

Pres. Boyd K. Packer said, “A parent once angrily scolded a child for a serious mistake, saying, “Why on earth did you do such a thing?” The child answered, “If I’d had a ‘why,’ I wouldn’t have done it.”

He went on to say, “Young people wonder why? – Why are we commanded to do some things, and why we are commanded not to do other things? A knowledge of the plan of happiness, even in outline form, can give young minds a why. . . Alma said this, and this is, I think of late, my favorite scripture, although I change now and again: God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption (Alma 12:32). Let me say that again: God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption. Now let me say it again: God gave unto them commandments, AFTER having made known unto them the plan of redemption.” In regards to making an outline of the plan of salvation, he stated, “Brevity and simplicity are remarkably difficult to achieve. At first you will be tempted to include too much. The plan in its fullness encompasses every gospel truth.” (see The Great Plan of Happiness, August 10, 1993, BYU symposium)

So, with those thoughts of Pres. Packer’s as a backdrop, I asked each of you to depict through artwork, The Great Plan of Happiness. From this point forward, every commandment and every standard that you’re counseled to observe has a place to be “hung.” Every commandment of do or don’t, every ordinance, every principle of the gospel – all of it can be hung on the framework of the merciful plan of the great Creator. When in your mind you question why, you will have your answer. The object of if all is to get us safely back to God who is our Home.

The rest of our time was spent in an overview of the Book of Mormon, learning the order of the books in the Book of Mormon, preparing scripture mastery cards, etc. It was a full week!