FHE Discussion...inspired by skunks?

This summer has been the "summer of the skunks" in our small town.  For some reason the skunks are flourishing.  They are living under sheds, carrying off chickens, and even being so bold as to eat cat food and chicken feed off of people's porches.  We've seen so many skunks in the evenings this summer that our boys, who usually enjoy many nights sleeping out on the trampoline, have avoided it.  Jerry has a gigantic lime green flashlight that he can shine out our back sliding door and see all the way back to our chicken coop.  It has been out quite a bit this summer as we scope things out in the evenings. 

Last night for Family Home Evening, Jerry led a simple and awesome discussion.  He brought his super powerful lime green flashlight with him.  It has a battery that detaches and can be charged.  He simply asked each of us to think up some kind of gospel principle or lesson that could be understood better by comparing it with his flashlight.  We started with Sophia and went up the family from there.  The discussion was excellent.  Everyone contributed.  Every person had a different idea, and we added to each other's ideas as they were presented. 

Here are a few of the ideas that were brought up:

"The flashlight is like your body and the battery is like your spirit.  Your body can't move without being connected to the spirit".

"The flashlight and battery can be compared to the story of the ten virgins.  You can't share your flashlight battery with someone else.  Every flashlight needs its own battery.  You need to be prepared and make sure your battery is ready and charged for when you will need it." 
 
"The flashlight could be faith, and the battery could be works.  Faith without works is dead."

"The flashlight is ordinances like the sacrament and baptism.  Without the battery, which is the proper priesthood authority, the words said in the sacrament and baptismal prayers are not effective."

He finished by challenging us to look for gospel lessons in objects and situations all around us every day. 

In the manual, Teaching, No Greater Call, it says,

"You can use comparisons and object lessons to help learners understand intangible principles.  Together with the use of stories and personal testimony, these methods give you an excellent set of tools for teaching the eternal realities that we cannot perceive with our senses."

The Savior used comparisons in his teaching as well.  He called himself the Bread of Life, and the Good Shepherd. Some of my favorite General Conference talks are those which use analogies and comparisons to teach gospel lessons.  It's probably the way I learn the gospel the best!!