Super powers and the plan of salvation

As the kids grow, Mary and I are always thinking about how to help them understand the resurrection and plan of salvation. We had a really cool family home evening lesson about the monsters Death and Hell. Mike seemed to really connect to fighting monsters. It was a good lesson, but we worry about calls from Mike in the middle of the night about how hell is in his closet or death is under his bed.

We also look for those teachable moments (whatever those are). For example, a while back, Grandma got Mike and Jack a fish tank, which meant Mary and I got fish. At the fish store, Mike chose one blue and one gold guppy. He appropriately named them bluie and goldie. The great thing about these guppies is that they came with a death warranty. To be specific, they came with a limited death warranty. We set up the tank, slightly bypassing the time needed for the chemicals to clean the water. I mean they are fish. Fish are resilient. You can hook them in the lips and watch them flop around on the dry ground and once you put them back in the water they swim away like nothing happened. So a little tap water shouldn't hurt.

A day or so later, we found Goldie's lifeless body bumping up against the filter. Mike was devastated. Mary and I thought that this was a great time to teach him about death and what happens when we die. After a brief flushing burial, we went to redeem the death warranty and get a replacement Goldie. Here is where the limited part comes in. The fish lady asked me where the fish was. I told her we flushed it. She said I had to show her proof and provide a water sample. I had no idea that it took so much to get a replacement guppy. I said, "What was I supposed to do, put the dead fish in my pocket?" She nodded. However, after a bit of back and forth, she gave us a replacement, Goldie 2. As we were on the way home, I explained to Mike what happens to our bodies and spirits when we die. I thought my explanation was pretty good. It was clear and simple to understand. It even included the resurrection. I was really proud of myself and thought it would surely build Mike's understanding of the plan of salvation. At the end of my explanation, Mike said, "Dad, I want to be a superhero when I grow up." I was devastated.


By the way, Goldie 2 died the same sucking death as her predecessor.