The meaning of How Firm A Foundation

[Nicole]

(Posted by Christy on the Yahoo Group)

Hi everyone! I'm in need of your thoughts - I am preparing to teach HFAF next month, and want to make sure I know how to explain the meaning of the words to the kids. In my head, I think I understand the meaning of the lyrics, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how
exactly to describe that to the kids. Any light you could shed would be wonderful!

Thanks!

[Nicole]

(Reply by Bruce)

First, teach the children that this is the only hymn in our hymnal written as if it is Heavenly Father speaking to us. In all my
research, I haven't found another. (Having said that, I will now be bombarded...)

VERSE ONE:

Here is a "rewording" of Verse One as if God were saying it to us in today's language:

"What a firm, steady foundation I have laid for you to build on! - to build upon according to your Faith in Jesus' Excellent Word ... what more can I say to you Saints who have already come unto Him for Refuge from the World?"

I am going to teach the children that our Faith in Jesus & His Gospel is the glue/cement that holds us to the foundation our Heavenly
Father has laid for us.

VERSE THREE:

Here is a quote from an article I wrote about men and depression that is posted at my personal website:

"Every single military man or veteran interviewed for this article, who has also served in battle, quoted verse three word-for-word and
attributed great comfort and hope to those times that the Lord spoke these words to them as they went into a battle situation. I asked my son, who served on night patrols and guarding schools and other institutions in downtown Bagdad, if there was something - "some scripture or..." - He didn't even let me finish before quoting this verse to me. "It wasn't just in my head," he explained forcefully; "Heavenly Father was speaking it to me every time I was entering danger. He was promising me..." -

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."

I am going to point out that the very first thing the angels said to the shepherds in Bethlehem was: "Fear Not!" Line one tells us why we need not fear - because God is still with us; He has not left us alone.

In line two He establishes that He is still our God - our Supreme Ruler throughout all the Universe and all of Creation... and yet He
has time to reach out and help the weakest and lowliest of us! THAT is a God.

In line three He says He will give us strength, He will help us, and He will give us the virtue (strength; courage) to stand ('withstand')
even when the world is against us. (As in "Stand Against the Wind'.)

You will need to explain at least three words to the children in this verse:

DISMAYED - fearful to the point of losing hope or faith (according to the 30-pound Oxford Dictionary on my desk :-) )

UPHELD - to keep from sinking; protect and support; defend; maintain

OMNIPOTENT - 'potent' means strong; powerful; virile; 'omni-'means 'all-encompassing'. God's hands are the most all-encomapassing, powerful, and life-giving hands that can ever help us in this mortal life - there is simply no other.

Hope this helps!

[Nicole]

(Reply by Rebecca)

The meaning of this song may be a bit tricky for me to explain too but it never ceases to amaze me how much our little ones take in. I have that book called 'Our Latter-day Hymns' with all the backgrounds to each song and i read in there that "In the words of this hymn we express our absolute faith in the saving and protecting power of our Saviour". it also says that in Emma Smith's first hymnal quotation marks were placed around all verses except the first two. "A careful look at the words of the hymn will show why this punctuation was logical: the hymn writer, in an unusual decision, wrote the last five verses as if they were spoken by Jesus himself to his faithful followers." I plan to teach the children that if we build a sure foundation on the teachings of Jesus Christ that we cannot fail and will always be happy.

I have also finished my visual aids on how I plan to teach this song. I've done pictures with key words that put together on the board will form a foundation. I'm just waiting for one last picture and if someone can tell me how to post it to the group or where a good place to post it is I'll be very happy to share it.

[Nicole]

(Reply by Ann)

You might want to read the February edition of the friend. On page 14, it gives some excellent ideas for how to help the children understand the words of the song.

[DHatch]

So, I wanted to clarify WHO is the one talking in vs.3 - 7...I believe it is God, not Jesus. In all the picture flip charts it shows pictures as if it were Jesus, and I don't want the kids to believe it is Jesus talking when I do believe it is our Father in Heaven.
Am I right? v. 3-7 are as if God, not Jesus, is speaking?
I know it is difficult to find a picture of God-without Jesus in the picture as well...
I have one that I found in a Friend Magazine, and I am going to use that picture to clarify that God is the speaker in v. 3- 7.
Let the debate begin...(My mom originally thought it was Jesus, until I pointed out the logicality of it actually being God).

[diane]

Rebecca,
Have you found a way to share your pictures for this song? I would be really interested in them. I have just recently been called as the choirster and am in need of a lot of help!!!! Thanks

[Emilee]

Unless I am mistaken, in the scriptures, the only time Heavenly Father speaks directly to us is to introduce his Son Jesus Christ. In the bible dictionary we read that He, Christ, is “the God of the whole earth” (page 633) Through divine investiture of authority, Heavenly Father has placed His name on Christ (see D&C section 93 and Doctrines of Salvation (DofS)book 1 page 29 for support)
“so that he can minister in and through that name as though he were the Father; and thus, so far as power and authority are concerned, his words and acts become and are those of the Father. “ (DofS book 1 page 29-30)
I believe it is Christ speaking to us in this song. He speaks for Heavenly Father. Through Christ, Heavenly Father will “strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand”. Another thought, although this is a wonderful Hymn, my favorite in fact, it is not Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ speaking to us. It is an author’s interpretation of what they might say to us. Although the author may have been inspired by our Father in Heaven to write this song, it cannot be considered revelation for the church, it does not come from our prophet, it is not scripture. This debate could go on, maybe as primary choristers we need to find another method to teach this song to the children other than a confusing flip chart. I’m not sure how I will teach the song yet, but as someone stated earlier, the Feb. 2009 Friend has some good suggestions. I know however that I will not be bringing up the subject of who is speaking in the song. Clearly I have my opinions, I don’t know the correct answer and do not want to teach false doctrine or confuse the children. The song has so many wonderful messages that I don’t feel I need to focus on who is speaking in the song, but rather teach them that they are loved by both their Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

[avsfan]

From the yahoo group (sorry don't know the author, but she is quoting from a book and that's what's important)

I have that book called 'Our Latter-day Hymns' with all the backgrounds to each song and i read in there that "In the words of this hymn we express our absolute faith in the saving and protecting power of our Saviour". it also says that in Emma Smith's first hymnal quotation marks were placed around all verses except the first two.
"A careful look at the words of the hymn will show why this punctuation was logical: the hymn writer, in an unusual decision, wrote the last five verses as if they were spoken by Jesus himself to his faithful follwers." I plan to teach the children that if we build a sure foundation on the teachings of Jesus Christ that we cannot
fail and will always be happy.

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