The Courage to Choose the Right

By Laurel Rohlfing

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).

Courage! You probably think of someone doing something very brave and daring when you hear that word. Maybe you think of someone fighting battles, exploring dangerous places, or risking his life in some other way. But what about you? Have you ever shown courage? There will be many times in your life when you will need courage to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you choose the right if you are tempted to do wrong, or when you defend what you know is true, you are showing courage.

Your testimony can give you that courage. It gives you an inner strength that helps you do what Heavenly Father expects.

Helaman’s two thousand stripling warriors had testimonies that gave them the courage to defend their families and country from the Lamanites. Although they had never fought in a war, they did not fear death. Their mothers had taught them that if they believed in God, he would deliver them. In a fierce battle, a thousand Lamanites were killed, but not one of the courageous young warriors died, although all were wounded. This was a great miracle that occurred “because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God” (Alma 57:26).

Brian, a Latter-day Saint boy, attended a school run by another church. One day the children were being very noisy as the teacher tried to read from the Bible. She closed the Bible and said, “No wonder there are no prophets on the earth today. You children are so naughty that you wouldn’t listen to them anyway.” Brian had an important choice to make. He could remain silent, or he could tell his teacher what he believed. He gathered his courage, quietly raised his hand, and said, “Teacher, there is a prophet on the earth today. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States.” The teacher was very interested in this information and asked him to tell her more about his church.

Just like Brian and Helaman’s stripling warriors, you can have a testimony that can give you the courage to choose the right. So, as it says in the scriptures, “Be of good courage, and do it” (Ezra 10:4).

Instructions

On the previous page are names of people in the scriptures whose testimonies gave them the courage to choose the right. Read the scripture, then draw a line from the name to the phrase that tells how they showed courage.

JOSEPH SMITH (See JS—H 1:25.)	He gave up all his riches and was rejected by his father, kindred, and friends because he believed the word of God.
DAVID (See 1 Sam. 17:33–50.)	Even though he was just a boy, he fought Goliath to save Israel.
RUTH (See Ruth 1:16.)	He was put into prison for his testimony and later escaped with the help of an angel.
JOSEPH OF EGYPT (See Gen. 39:7–20.)	They faced death because they believed in the sign that would tell them of the Savior’s birth.
AMULEK (See Alma 15:16.)	She left her home to go to a country where she could live her new religion.
SOME RIGHTEOUS NEPHITES (See 3 Ne. 1:9–13.)	Even though people hated and persecuted him, he told others that he had seen a vision.
PETER (See Acts 12:1, 5–11.)	He went to prison rather than do what was wrong.

Sharing Time Ideas

Divide children into groups. Have each group read one of the scripture stories, then dramatize or tell it in their own words to the other groups. You could also use pioneer stories that show courage and faith.
Tell younger children the scripture stories, but leave off the endings. Ask questions such as, “What would you do if you were Ruth?” After children have given their ideas, finish the story.
Invite members of your ward or branch to share appropriate stories of times when their testimonies helped them to choose the right. Let children share their own experiences.
Give children pieces of paper, and have each write down a situation in which someone would need courage to choose the right. Read the situations and discuss possible solutions.

Illustrated by Brad Teare