My usual Sunday assignments start fairly early in the morning and continue for most of the day. That means I don’t have a chance to check out Twitter or Facebook until sometime in the evening, even with an iPhone. However, there is one bit of iPhone magic that is fairly essential to me on some Sundays. That’s the Scriptures application.

This application, including having all of the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price immediately available (although I prefer my book for these), it also has the lesson manuals. Sometime during the week I use my iPhone to read the material that’s going to be taught and discussed in Sunday School so that I can be somewhat prepared for the class.

Occasionally (and sometimes more often) the teacher for the 16-17 year-old class simply doesn’t show up. The Sunday School President, knowing that I have read the lesson, will often ask if I’ll be an on-the-spot substitute for the class. These folks in this class are absolutely delightful people and I thoroughly enjoy being in class with them. They like to talk and they like to joke, but they also really like a good, thoughtful religious discussion. Having the manual immediately available on my iPhone is very helpful for these impromptu opportunities.

The material for the lesson on May 2nd was centered around the story of Balak the King of Moab and Balaam the Prophet of Mesopotamia with Balaam’s interaction with his donkey being one of the key points for the lesson. There was quite a bit of discussion about Balaam’s lack of reaction when the donkey talks to him. As we wrapped up the lesson, I asked them what they thought I should learn from the story. To do that, I go around the room and let each class member have a turn. Of course the remark, “When the donkey talks, you better start listening!” got a good reaction. Then one of the more quiet and shy students said his take-away was that the “call to repentance often comes from the least expected and least respected sources.”

I was impressed.

TTFN!