2017
Don’t Play with Fire!
September 2017

“Don’t Play with Fire!” Friend, September 2017

Friend to Friend

Don’t Play with Fire!

By Jean B. Bingham

Relief Society General President

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Sister Jean B. Bingham

From an interview with Maryssa Dennis.

“Keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace” (Children’s Songbook, 146).

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Don’t Play with Fire!

Illustrations by Mark Robison

When I was growing up, one of my jobs was to burn the trash. I would gather the garbage from the house. I’d put it in a big metal barrel in the backyard. Then I would light a match and drop it in the barrel.

One day it was really windy, and the match just wouldn’t stay lit. I decided to make a torch out of newspaper. I thought that way the flame would last long enough to light the trash on fire. I remembered that it wasn’t smart to play with fire, but I ignored the warning feeling. I rolled up some newspaper into a cone, lit it with a match, and dropped it into the barrel.

Whoosh! The strong wind made the newspaper burst into flames, and the trash quickly caught fire. Big flames blew past my face. Luckily most of my hair was pulled back into a ponytail. But my bangs were singed into crisp little wisps! My eyelashes were gone, and my eyebrows too. It just happened so fast!

That taught me a lesson: if you play with something dangerous, you can get hurt! Our parents and the Holy Ghost warn us to avoid dangerous things like pornography and drugs. If we choose to ignore the warnings, there are harmful consequences.

I’m grateful that my hair grew back over time. That’s like repentance. When we make wrong choices, we can choose to change. We can be forgiven because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. No matter how young or old we are, our Savior is always there to help us. We can feel peace again, just like on the day we were baptized.

Heavenly Father gave us commandments because He loves us. He wants to protect and help us. What wonderful gifts Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ have given us!

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Don’t Play with Fire! 2
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Don’t Play with Fire! 3

The Ten Commandments

Can you find all the bold words in the word search below? Read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3–17.

  • Love God with all your might.

  • Don’t worship idols.

  • Don’t use the Lord’s name as a swear word.

  • Keep the Sabbath day holy.

  • Respect your parents.

  • Don’t kill.

  • Use your body for pure, good things.

  • Don’t steal.

  • Always tell the truth.

  • Don’t be jealous.

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Women Leader Cards

Meet our new Relief Society General Presidency! They were sustained in the April 2017 general conference.

Sister Jean B. Bingham

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Sister Jean B. Bingham

Relief Society General President

  • By the time she was seven, she had lived in four U.S. states!

  • Loves to climb trees, watch birds, and collect interesting rocks.

  • Studied teaching in college and enjoys helping children learn.

Sister Sharon Eubank

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Sister Sharon Eubank

First Counselor, Relief Society General Presidency

  • Served a mission in Finland and taught English in Japan.

  • Is the director of the Church’s humanitarian work, including giving wheelchairs to thousands of people who can’t walk.

  • Likes history, homemade pie, and crossword puzzles.

Sister Reyna I. Aburto

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Sister Reyna I. Aburto

Second Counselor, Relief Society General Presidency

  • Was born in Nicaragua and survived a big earthquake as a child.

  • Studied engineering in college and owns a translation company with her husband.

  • Was baptized when she was 26 years old.