“I Promise …”

Mount page 13 on heavy paper, then cut out figures and chain along broken lines. Glue sides A and B together on each figure. Read “Love Fails Not” and use finger puppets to help you retell story during your family home evening.

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Damon; King; Pythias

Damon; King; Pythias. (Illustrated by Dilleen Marsh.)

Damon hurried along the cold stone passageway beneath the castle. He was looking for his friend Pythias, who had been arrested by the king’s soldiers. Damon searched among the prisoners until he found Pythias, who was chained in a dim corner of the dungeon.

“Why did they bring you here, my friend?” asked Damon.

Pythias reached his hand between the narrow bars to touch his childhood friend. “I am accused of being a rebel,” Pythias answered. “But I did nothing.”

The two young men did not hear the outer door open as the king entered the dungeon. He stood listening to the boys talk.

“How can I help you?” asked Damon. “Shall I go to your parents and comfort them?”

“If only I could see them again … , ” said Pythias. “If only I could say farewell to them … then I would return again to prison.”

The king laughed aloud. “So, you would come back to die if I would release you to say good-bye to your parents?” the monarch asked skeptically.

“I would come back,” Pythias said simply. “I promise that I would come back.”

“How do I know that you would keep your promise?” roared the king. His eyes glared.

Damon stood before the king. “Let me stay here in his place. Pythias has always kept his word. You may execute me if he does not keep his promise.”

The king could not believe his ears. This would be an interesting story to tell—a boy willing to risk his life for the promise of a friend. “I will grant your wish, Pythias,” said the king, “if Damon will take your place.” And so it was. Pythias was released, and Damon was chained in his friend’s place.

Many days passed. The king came to the prison to taunt Damon. “You will die for your friend—he has not kept his promise!” jeered the king. “Pythias always keeps his word,” replied Damon calmly.

Finally the day of the execution arrived. Many people came to mock the boy who had entrusted his life to his friend. “We told you that he would not return,” they jeered.

“He will come if he can,” Damon said. “It is a long way, and he will come if he—”

“Here he comes!” shouted a soldier. “Pythias has returned!”

Damon smiled as Pythias rushed to take his place. Storms and misfortune had delayed him, and Pythias could hardly breathe after his hard run. “I made it, Damon!” he panted.

“I knew that you would,” his friend replied.

The king was amazed. Never had he known that there could be such friendship and loyalty. His heart softened, and he said, “Go, Damon and Pythias. Go back to your homes. Keeping your promise has set you free.” Then the king turned to the crowd and said, “I would give all my wealth to have one such friend.” (Adapted from “Love Fails Not,” Sharing Time Resource Manual, page 57.)

1. Have each child prepare set of finger puppets. As you read story, they could hold up character who is speaking.

2. Assign three boys and one narrator to role-play story. Use simple costumes.

3. Have children trace their right hands on paper and think of promises or pledges that they have made. Have them write promises that they have kept on fingers of traced hands.

4. Discuss Moroni 7:16 (how to tell good from evil) and Joshua 24:15 (verbal promise to love right and serve God).

5. Sing “I Pledge Myself to Love the Right” (Sing with Me, B-47).