Maundy Thursday: The Gospel Story is Our Story

A week that began with praises grows more difficult. 

One day, at the home of a friend, a woman anoints Jesus’ head with oil, preparing him for burial. 

Like Jesus, we have been prepared by loving companions for the difficult road ahead of us. 

Let us not turn our eyes away from the difficulty. 

Jesus tells his disciples to prepare a place to celebrate Passover. 

Like the disciples, we have been given commands from Jesus. How will we prepare for Him?

At evening, Jesus gathers with his friends to celebrate the Passover meal. 

A meal rich with symbolism, a meal that begins in the darkness of slavery and rejoices in God’s light of liberation. 

A meal that recognizes our own darkness, and hopes for God to bring light again. 

Jesus eats this meal with his friends. 

We eat this meal with Jesus. We, too, hope for God to turn our darkness into light. 

Jesus knows what his future holds. His heart is heavy. 

He takes the bread, thanks God for it, breaks it, and shares it - the Bread of Life.

He takes the cup, thanks God for it, and shares it - Living Water, the cup of Salvation. 

After the meal, Jesus and his friends sing a song of praise to God.

They go out to the Mount of Olives, to the garden called Gethsemane. 

Jesus says to his disciples, “Wait here, while I pray. I’m very sad - as if I’m dying.”

Like Jesus, we have felt grief so heavy it felt like we were dying.

Like the disciples, we have been asked to witness the heavy grief of our friends. 

Like Jesus, we retreat to pray. 

“Father, for you, all things are possible. Let this cup pass! Nevertheless, not my will but thine.”

An angel appears to strengthen Jesus. 

Like Jesus, we have received divine help in our time of need.

Like the angel, we have been a blessing and provided strength to those around us. 

Jesus returns to find his friends sleeping, overcome with grief. They have let him down.

Like the disciples, we have been overcome with grief, grief so heavy we feel we cannot move. 

Like Jesus, we have been disappointed by our friends. 

Like the disciples, we have disappointed our friends and our God. 

Judas arrives with a crowd carrying swords and clubs. 

Judas betrays his friend, and Jesus is arrested.

Like Jesus, we have been betrayed by those we called friends. 

Like Judas, we have betrayed our friends and our God.

Like this crowd, we have captured Jesus and taken him to be judged. 

All the disciples leave Jesus and run away. 

Like Jesus, we have been abandoned. 

Like the disciples, we have abandoned our friends and our God. 

Jesus is led to Caiaphas, the high priest. A crowd bears false witness, telling lies, and spits in Jesus’ face.

Like Jesus, we have been victim to lying foes.

Like the crowd, we have told lies. 

Like Jesus, we have been mocked and scorned.

Like the crowd, we have mocked and scorned the image of God in those around us. 

Meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus three times - just as Jesus predicted.

Like Jesus, we have been denied and left alone by those whose we thought would stay with us. 

Like Peter, we have denied our friends and our God. 

Like Peter, we have realized our mistake and cried uncontrollably. 

What will tomorrow hold?

Can it get worse than this? 

Bambi: Discussion Guide for Parents

Walt Disney Pictures, 1942

All information below is general suggestions and ideas. 

Always adapt to your family’s situation and beliefs and the needs of individual children. 

Content Warnings:

• Some scenes may be frightening to sensitive viewers - thunderstorm in the woods, Bambi and his Mother get separated in a dangerous situation, animals run and hide while gunshots are fired, forest fire.
• Violence - Gunshots (sound only), deer fighting. 
• Bambi’s Mother dies (offscreen), birds are shot and drop to the ground.
• Romantic attraction, kissing (pecks). 

Discussion Questions

• Thumper’s father teaches, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” What do you think about this suggestion?
• When Bambi is learning to walk, he falls down a lot. As he learns to talk, he makes many mistakes. How do the other animals react when Bambi falls or makes a mistake? We will fall and make mistakes when we are learning new things, too. How do you think God reacts when we fall or make a mistake? Why is it important to try again? 
• In the movie we see many animal families. How do the grown up animals help the baby animals? How do grown-ups in your family help you (children)? How do you (children) help the grown-ups in your family? Why are families important? 
• Bambi’s Mother waited to bring Bambi to the meadow until he was old enough. What’s something you are too little to do? What’s something you couldn’t do before, but can do now? 
• In the meadow, deer have to be very careful and watch their surroundings for danger. We, too, need to watch out for danger. What kinds of danger do we watch out for (physical, spiritual, etc)? How can we protect ourselves from danger? 
• Role play different dangerous situations your children might experience - talking to strangers, inappropriate sexual contact (abusive or consensual), exposure to alcohol or drugs, fire, etc. 
• Going out into the meadow was a risk. Bambi and his Mother would be safer in the trees, but they would miss out on the fun in the meadow. What was a time you took a risk, like jumping off the diving board or trying out for a sports team? What did that feel like? How did it turn out? What did you learn from that experience? 
• The Great Prince of the Forest is known for being brave and wise. What does bravery mean to you? What about wisdom? How can you grow in bravery and wisdom? 
• When men are near, all the animals retreat into the forest and hide. Discuss guns, your family’s morals around hunting, and gun safety. How can we care for animals and each other? 
• By the second spring of the movie, Bambi, Thumper, and Flower are all experiencing some changes in their bodies (most obviously, voice drops!). Talk with children and tweens about how their bodies will change as they mature from children to adults. 
• Owl tells Bambi and his friends about being “twitterpatted,” and we see some of the animals experience romantic attraction. Feelings of attraction and romance are a normal and wonderful part of life. When we experience these feelings, how can we be sure to always respect ourselves and the other person? Discuss your family’s standards and values when it comes to romance and dating. If you (parent) are married or in a serious, long-term relationship, share with children how you and your partner nurture feelings of love for one another. 
• Bambi provides an opportunity to talk with children about death. What is death? What happens after we die? It’s okay to have lots of feelings when someone we love dies - sad, angry, lonely, etc. Invite children to share about someone they know who has died and share memories about that person. 
• In one scene, we see a forest fire. How do humans contribute to the start and increase of forest fires? Why is it important to take care of our planet?
• The movie ends like it begins - with a mother deer and her new baby. Talk about how grown-ups in your family used to be kids, and how kids will be grown-ups one day. Discuss this quote from President Lorenzo Snow: “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” How can we live our lives to become more like God? 

Scripture Connections

• Kindness. Matt 7:12; Luke 10: 25-37; 1 Cor 13:4; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12; D&C 4:6
• Failure, Mistakes, and Repentance. 2 Nephi 2:11; Matt 3:2; Luke 15:7; Acts 26:20; D&C 122:7
• Family. Deut 4:9, 6:7 11:19; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4; 2 Nephi 25:26; 3 Nephi 18:21; D&C 93:40; Moses 5:12, 6:58
• Friendship. 1 Sam 18:1; Ruth 1:16; Prov 17:17; Luke 10: 25-37;
• Danger. Neh 4:9, 7:3; Matt 24:42; Matt 10:16, 26:41; 1 Pet 5:8; 2 Tim 3:1; Alma 13:28, 15:17, 34:39; D&C 29:3, 50:46, 82:5
• Bravery. Deut 20:1, 31:6; Josh 1:6-9; 2 Sam 2:7; Acts 5:29; 2 Tim 1:7; 1 Nephi 3:7, 4:1; Alma 51:21, 56:45-48; D&C 38:15; 128:22
• Wisdom. 1 Kings 3:4-12, 4:29-30; Prov 1:2, 2:6; Luke 2:40, 2:52; 1 Cor 12:8; James 1:5; Jacob 6:12; Alma 37:35; D&C 6:7, 136:32
• Hunting. D&C 49:18-21, 89:4-15. “Fundamental Principles” (Spencer W. Kimbal, Oct 1978)
• Romantic Love & Marriage. Gen 2:24; Prov 5:18; 1 Cor 11:11; Eph 5:25, 5:31; Jacob 3:7; D&C 49:15, 132; Bible Dictionary, “Marriage”
• Death. Gen 2:17, 3:19; Josh 23:14; Eccl 12:7; Rom 8:28; Mosiah 15:8; Alma 11:45, 12:24, 34:32; D&C 101:36, 138; Moses 3:17, 4:25
• Becoming Like God. Gen 3:22; Lev 19:2; Ps 82:6; Matt 5:48; Acts 17:29; Rom 8:17; Gal 4:7; Eph 4:13; i John 3:2; 3 Nephi 28:10; D&C 88:107, 130:22, 132:20; Moses 1:39, 4:28; Abraham 3:25

Ideas for Further Study

• Read Felix Salten's Bambi, a Life in the Woods.
• Choose an animal from the film to learn more about. Take a walk to see what kinds of plants and animals grow where you live.
• In the movie we see many different seasons and types of weather. Learn about weather and the water cycle. How is rain made? Why is rain important? What causes thunderstorms? What is lightning? Why do leaves turn different colors and fall off of trees in autumn? How does snow form?
• The deer run from the meadow when a man approaches. Research how hunting affects life for animals in the woods. What are the laws in your area about hunting? Research other gun safety laws. Consider getting involved in efforts in your community to promote gun safety. 
• Some animals hibernate in winter. How can animals do this? Research hibernation, how it works, and how animals prepare to hibernate. 
• The film includes a scene of a forest fire. Research and learn more about forest fires. What causes them? What makes them difficult to stop? Research the circumstances of recent forest fires around the world and climate change. Learn about people who work to prevent and put out forest fires.