Lesson #3

I taught this past Sunday, but because I left right away after church, I have been without internet access to blog about it. I am home now... so here we go :)

I did not teach the 'assigned' lesson for Sunday, but got permission to do something different... I presented The Garden by Michael McLean and Bryce Neubert (I hope I spelled their names right, I'm going off memory here). The Garden is an allegorical (like a parable... uses objects to represent something else) oratorio (done in singing). When I was in my home ward, I was part of this presentation (that was back in April of '98!), and I fell in love with it. I listen to it as frequently as I can, and talk about it as much as I can too.

It starts with 'Elements' (Seedling, Ram, Olive Tree, Millstone - representing each of us) singing about how bad their lives are and how they are feeling unloved and depressed. A Gardner (representing the prophet) comes and starts to care for this garden. The Landlord (Satan) comes to the garden and tells the Gardner to leave. The Gardner tells the Elements that there is one who will come to save them... the Man With Many Names (Jesus Christ). Then it proceeds with the Elements' view of the pain and suffering of Christ as He was atoning for all of us. After He was risen, the Elements are amazed at how happy and free they feel.

If you've never heard of The Garden, I would recommend finding it and listening to it. Such a great message and I still learn things from it every time I hear it. Incredible. At any rate, after it was over, there was a very good spirit in the room - I hope the sisters felt it.