#LIGHTtheWORLD Dec 12

The Savior taught others.  So can you.  

It is an easy statement to make, but living it is even harder.  I read part of a talk given by President Hunter today that made so much sense when it comes to teaching.  It was of a very young bird.  It appeared that this small creature had just left the nest for the first time.  It sat perched beneath a tree chirping continuously as if it were in need of help of some kind.  

As he watched for a moment, a larger bird swooped down and landed next to the small one.  Instinctively, the small bird started to hop towards the larger bird, but to no avail.  The large bird hopped a few feet a way from the smaller and proceeded to pound the earth below.  In just moments a large worm emerged from the ground and the larger bird immediately caught it within it's beak and hopped over to the smaller bird.  

Again, instinct set in and the smaller bird tilted it's small head back, beak open wide, ready to receive.  The larger bird blinked a couple times and then swallowed the worm.  The small bird began to chirp more loudly this time and hopped towards the larger bird.

The larger bird took flight to the bark of the closest tree and proceeded to peck the trunk with it's beak.  It was not long before a large black beetle emerged from beneath the bark, just in time for the large bird to grab it with it's beak.  

Again, it flew down to the smaller bird.  And yes, the smaller bird leaned back, beak opened wide, ready to receive.  Then Gulp, the larger bird swallowed the beetle and flew away.

This time, the small bird sat there in wonder.  I a few minutes later, it began to pound the earth below in the same rhythmic pattern it has witnessed the larger bird do.  In seconds, a large worm emerged from the ground and the small bird swallowed it up.

What a great lesson.

I wonder how many times the larger bird related how to catch a worm, draw out a beetle, or told stories to the smaller bird in the nest.  I wonder how many hours it spent talking about safety, teaching and educating the smaller bird from it's own life experiences.  How many dinner table discussion, book read, games played, family home evenings, or scriptures were read together before this small bird left the nest.  I am sure there were many.  But teaching is done by more than just word or written word, it has be exemplified and experienced to be completely embedded in who we are.

It is why we are here.  How many hours do you think our Father in Heaven spend with us, how many stories, lessons, life experiences were shared, yet we could not fully understand until we had our own experiences.  He sent His son, to live as an example that we might follow.

Today I am grateful for being able to teach and be taught.