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Ok so some of you know that I’m the primary pianist every other week and today I learned the new theme for 2011 “I Know the Scriptures are True”. What does this really mean? As I’ve been reading “The Bible: A Biography” by Karen Armstrong I am learning how the bible was put together and my thought is that well I’m not sure “true” is how I would describe those scriptures. “Inspired” barely. Political, traditional, mythological, allegorical, those are words I would use and yes I do believe there was some inspiration involved but “true”? I realize that for kids we need to make things simple but I’m wondering how I might give my kids a little different perspective. The YW/YM theme is the 13th article of faith. What does it mean to believe all things, hope all things, endure many things and hope to endure all things? I’m really beginning to parse out the words in scripture and this part confuses me? Any thoughts would be so appreciated!!
Thanks,
CG
Of course they are true! You just have to understand what “true” means and how slippery it can be. One of the songs that help primary kids know how “true” scriptures can be is the once called “Scripture Power” where everyone throws up their hand in the chorus while trying to hold their quads and inevitably knocking their neighbor in the noggin. Talk about power!
As far as how to help your kids better understand your perspective, I guess it depends on their ages. My strategy is to just try to help the child understand what you want to teach them at a level appropriate to their development and ability. How do you explain sex to your kids? Santa Claus? Or, abstract gospel themes like the Atonement or plan of salvation?
I had a similar experience tonight when my teenage daughter was asking my wife about where Adam fit in the chronology of dinosaurs and cave men. They were coming up with some possibilities and I added, “… or, maybe it’s just a good story to teach us about our relationship with God” and all I got was rolled eyes, a teenage smirk, and a cold shoulder. So, then I mentioned that maybe Adam and Eve were the first “normal” human people after a long history of evolution through the dinosaur age and my teenager decided maybe that was possible. At least she’s thinking and asking questions… even if not of me. I think she’s figured out already that my thinking is sometimes way outside the box she still wants to be in.
Back to the Primary Theme for 2011, I’m not a fan. I wish it were more something like “The Scriptures Can Help Me Grow Closer to Christ”
As long as we throw in the “as far as it is translated correctly” . . . That disclaimer leaves the door WIDE open. 
We had a really good discussion a while ago of what “true” can mean in the context of a non-literal paradigm. I’ll try to find it (or more than one, possibly) and provide the link(s).
Unfortunately many folks equate “true” with the word “literal.” I believe there are some “truths” within the scriptures, but I KNOW they are not to be taken literal.
I just learned last week what this years Primary theme was and I was hoping the topic would come up. The problem is kids have a very b&w and literal view. Trying to explain differing shades of truth to a primary age child doesn’t always go over well. I will be following this thread.
Ugh, I had some of the same thoughts as I was sitting in sharing time the last 2 weeks. And then the lady in the presidency gave an object lesson. She had 3 adults in front of the class and she served them brownie sundae’s. One of them was barely eating any of it, another was eating normally and the 3rd was gobbling it up ferociously.
Of course the lesson was on how we should be partaking of the scriptures.
🙄 So far the lessons haven’t been too bad, but I can see some of the directions this is going to be taken and I know that I am going to struggle with sitting there quietly. I did keep my mouth shut last week because I know that if I were to have said something I would have been met with
:wtf: looks. (The thoughts were along with what CG had said in the original post).I am with you, CG, I am not sure how to go about teaching my kids differently without coming full out with my issues on things. I am just going to hope that I am lead into discussions with them at the right time that will open some room for thoughts.
It does take some time to sort things out as your understanding evolves. Scriptural stories may not be as “literally” true as you once thought, but I feel they can be deeply true – in a religious/spiritual sense of the word. [Again, allow some time and “let the spirit teach” you about what that really means.] I love the 13th article of faith! “Believe ALL things” Perfect!! Believe the literal, spiritual, metaphorical, scientific, etc.. All truths, believe it ALL! Hope ALL things… I take this as all things good, I aspire to hope all things good — and to endure all things well.
If we replaced the word true with accurate. Would people be as willing to say the scriptures were accurate? Not so sure. Two of my least favourite words: ‘know’ and ‘true’ — all in the the same short sentence. Good luck with that. Or so says my annoying rational self. If I were being a good boy, I think I would try to convey that
myunderstanding of that statement would be “I feel in my heart that in the scriptures I can find things that bring me closer to God.” I don’t know how one does that, particularly in primary. And, frankly, for most of those kids, and many adults, for that matter, the distinction will be lost. No matter. For me, it helps to find intellectually honest, and yet positive and helpful (at least in my opinion) ways to affirm faith, because, for me, it’s really hard not to grit my teeth when I say things in ways that I feel are expected of me, but with which I can not come to terms. Even when nobody else would know or notice the difference.
BTW, thanks for the Karen Armstrong reference. I’ve been looking for something like that.
Cadence wrote:If we replaced the word true with accurate. Would people be as willing to say the scriptures were accurate? Not so sure.
Perhaps a better question is do they have to be accurate to be true? I know that a compass does.
cwald wrote:Perhaps a better question is do they have to be accurate to be true? I know that a compass does.
A compass does, but a ham sandwich doesn’t.
How accurate is the love of a parent? You could say the parent of a serial killer has a complex form of love. If they are in denial it may even have elements that are false. Does that make it any less true? Faith can be a reflection of the source, it IS what the bearer makes it. Spiritual truth is personal truth.
It works, thatis what makes it true. A compass will have no truth in the hands of someone who doesn’t know what it is.
Orson wrote:cwald wrote:Perhaps a better question is do they have to be accurate to be true? I know that a compass does.
A compass does, but a ham sandwich doesn’t.How accurate is the love of a parent? You could say the parent of a serial killer has a complex form of love. If they are in denial it may even have elements that are false. Does that make it any less true? Faith can be a reflection of the source, it IS what the bearer makes it. Spiritual truth is personal truth.
It works, thatis what makes it true. A compass will have no truth in the hands of someone who doesn’t know what it is.
Nice.
🙂 cwald wrote:Nice.
🙂 Credit goes to Brian for that. It’s his phrase.
Sorry I’ve been out of touch for awhile. I go through phases where I just can’t make myself get on the computer for awhile. I do it with TV and phones as well 😳 Quote:Two of my least favourite words: ‘know’ and ‘true’ — all in the the same short sentence.
Ugh I agree!
I loved last years theme that was focused on the Savior and was a little disappointed when I learned what this years theme was. As Primary prez I am in charge of sharing times in our little branch and decided to focus as much as I can on familiarizing the kids with the scriptures and less on whether or not they are true. I will leave that up to individual families. Luckily I am able to get away with stuff like this because our primary is predominately converts and less actives. It also helps that many of them can’t read or are far below the reading level for their age. We will focus more on learning where the books are located, writing down our favorite scriptures and becoming familiar with the language of the Bible and BoM.
Thank you for all of the responses!!! So helpful. I found this little article by someone named Helen Kimball. Perhaps some of you know who this is and while the last name if familiar 
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Latter-Day-Saints/2005/09/Becoming-A-True-Believer.aspx I like what she says here. I especially resonate with her “answer” to prayer and study. This article is helping me with the “know” word. I’m not sure if the culture will ever change but its nice to know that many members (meaning those here on this board and I hope many others) understand the problem with the word.
CG
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