FHE: By Divine Design 2017 Conference Talk

(Image from Polgar Chess News)

By Divine Design by Elder Ronald Rasband 

October 2017 General Conference

Question: Is chess a game of luck or strategy? Or both?

Activity: Well, today we're going to play a different version of chess! What is meant to be will be!! 

1. Place chess board in the middle of 2 players. 

2. Rotate seats after each player takes a turn in a circular fashion to the right. Confusing? 

Behold my super power point skills. Say you have 5 people for Family Home Evening:

etc.

3. Everyone is going to get a turn as black or white and who knows who will win!! It will be quite lucky because the move you make might be to your eventual demise. (Enter evil chess laugh)

4. Keep playing until there is one winner who gets ALL THE TREATS FOR FAMILY HOME EVENING!!!

(For real. No. Yes. Just joking. Sure we are.)

After the game questions to ask: Was this fun? What did you enjoy about playing chess this way? What did you NOT enjoy about playing chess this way? 

Elder Rasband says, "Our lives are like a chessboard, and the Lord moves us from one place to another—if we are responsive to spiritual promptings. Looking back, we can see His hand in our lives."

Activity: Give each person a quote or two from the talk. Ask them to come up with a question having to do with their quotation. They will read (IN A CLEAR AUDIBLE VOICE) the quote when their turn, then ask their question for the family.

Other great quotes from the talk:

1."Alma left the city due to the wickedness of the people. Soon an angel appeared to Alma and called him to “return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city.” Alma did so “speedily,” entering “the city by another way.”

“As he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat? “And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive.” The man was Amulek. Now, did Alma just happen upon Amulek? No, it was no coincidence that he went into the city by the way that would lead him to this faithful man who would become his missionary companion."

2. "Elder Neal A. Maxwell once explained: "coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by ‘coincidence’ but … by ‘divine design."

3. "There is a guiding hand above all things. Often when things happen, it’s not by accident. One day, when we look back at the seeming coincidences of our lives, we will realize that perhaps they weren’t so coincidental after all.”

4. "No trial or calamity can derail God’s plan of happiness. Indeed, by “divine design,” “joy cometh in the morning.”

5. "Through the experience of my own life’s journey, I know that the Lord will move us on that seeming chessboard to do His work. What may appear to be a random chance is, in fact, overseen by a loving Father in Heaven, who can number the hairs of every head."

6. "Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father’s notice. The Lord is in the small details of our lives."

7. "Heavenly Father can put us in situations with specific intent in mind."

8. "Each of us is precious and loved by the Lord, who cares, who whispers, and who watches over us in ways unique to each of us. He is infinitely wiser and more powerful than mortal men and women. He knows our challenges, our triumphs, and the righteous desires of our hearts."

9. "When we are righteous, willing, and able, when we are striving to be worthy and qualified, we progress to places we never imagined and become part of Heavenly Father’s “divine design.” Each of us has divinity within us. When we see God working through us and with us, may we be encouraged, even grateful for that guidance."

10. "The Lord’s hand is guiding you. By “divine design,” He is in the small details of your life as well as the major milestones. As it says in Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; … and he shall direct thy paths.”

Final question from Elder Rasband's talk: What are God’s miracles that remind you that He is close, saying, “I am right here”? 

Final Quote: "Think of those times, some daily, when the Lord has acted in your life—and then acted again. Treasure them as moments the Lord has shown confidence in you and in your choices. But allow Him to make more of you than you can make of yourself on your own. Treasure His involvement."

Our lives are not random circling around a chessboard! Bear testimonies and enjoy treat.

Want to go the extra mile to make a memorable family home evening treat:

( $5.20 on Amazon)

Or you can do what I usually do, scrounge in the cabinet for stale marshmallows