Fire!

By President Thomas S. Monson

Adapted from “Obedience Brings Blessings,” Ensign, May 2013, 89–92.

There are rules and laws to keep us physically safe.

When I was growing up, each summer my family stayed at our cabin in Utah. One morning my friend Danny and I decided we wanted to clear an area in a nearby field so we could have a campfire. We began to pull at the tall grass, but we knew this would take the entire day.

I said to Danny, “All we need is to set these weeds on fire. We’ll just burn a circle in the weeds!”

I want to make it clear that both Danny and I were forbidden to use matches without adult supervision. Our parents had warned us many times of the dangers of fire. However, I knew where my family kept the matches, and we thought we needed to clear that field. I grabbed a few matchsticks, making certain no one was watching.

Back to Danny I ran. I struck a match and set the grass ablaze. It ignited as though it had been drenched in gasoline. At first Danny and I were thrilled as we watched the weeds disappear, but soon we saw that the fire was not about to go out on its own. We panicked as we realized there was nothing we could do to stop it.

Finally we had no option but to run for help. Soon all available men and women were dashing back and forth with wet burlap bags, beating at the flames to try to put them out. After several hours the last remaining embers were smothered.

Danny and I learned several difficult but important lessons that day—not the least of which was the importance of obedience.

There are rules and laws to keep us physically safe. Likewise, Heavenly Father has provided guidelines and commandments to help ensure our spiritual safety so that we can return to Him. It is my humble prayer that we may be blessed with the rich rewards promised to the obedient.

Scripture Chase

Using the scriptures below, fill in the blanks to find one reason we should be obedient. Check your answers below.

The tenth word in Romans 1:5
The fourth word in D&C 63:13
The second word in Proverbs 8:17
The third and fourth words in 3 Nephi 13:32
The sixth word in John 1:42

Our __________________________ to the ___________________________ shows our _____________ for _______________________ _______________________ and _______________________.

Showing the Way

Heavenly Father gives us guidelines and commandments through prayer, scriptures, general conference, and Church magazines. They help show us the way back to Him. Make your way to the four pictures and they will help you find your way home to Heavenly Father!

Read or watch a talk from April conference with your family. What did the speaker say we should do to stay on the right path? Set some goals with your family. Then set some goals for yourself! Find conference talks at gc.lds.org.