Article September 16, 1967 Issue

Stan Learns to Live "the first lessons"

[For young teens]

MARY FOX PUMPHREY

Stan didn't like Sunday School assignments, even though he loved the things he had learned in Christian Science Sunday School about God and His healing power.

He could see that Moses must have thought the Ten Commandments were important, for Moses wanted his people to "learn them, and keep, and do them."^{ Dent. 5:1;} And he guessed Christ Jesus must have expected his followers to learn, remember, and live by his Beatitudes, for he said to them, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."^{ Matt. 5:16;} But Stan felt there are so many important things to do today. Why should a fellow be expected to take time to study a lot of things?

In the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy says, "The first lessons of the children should be the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17), the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), and its Spiritual Interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3-12)."^{ Man., Art. XX, Sect. 3;} Stan's teacher was encouraging him and his classmates to review all "the first lessons," starting with the Beatitudes. When they tried to tell her they didn't have the time, she insisted it wasn't time they needed, but desire, for if they had the desire, they would find the time. Stan thought perhaps she was right, but he didn't seem to have either one.