Teaching our Children

We traveled up to JB again Sunday because I was assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  Just wanted to share some of my thoughts from my talk...

Elder L. Tom Perry, "The influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world."

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states that we are to provide for not only physical, but SPIRITUAL needs of our children.  We are all grateful for teachers and leaders who teach our children, but the ultimate responsibility rests with the parents.  We must ensure that they are being taught what Heavenly Father wants them know.

We can all do 3 things:

Teach our children the scriptures.  Set a time each day that you can read together, and discuss.  With small children, it starts small, short and sweet.  Gradually add as they get older.  If one parent is gone, the other parent should still lead out.

Teach our children to pray.  We have been counseled to have family prayer morning and night.  Spencer leaves for work early, so we have spent the past several years just having prayers at night.  We have recently made the sacrifice of getting up a bit earlier to have prayers together before he leaves.  I know there is power in sending our children and husbands off for the day with prayer.  Same goes; if one parent is gone, continue the routine of morning and evening family prayer.

Have Family Home Evening.  Every Monday night should be reserved and looked forward too.  If Monday absolutely doesn't work, pick another night.  Have a short gospel lesson and give your children an opportunity to bear their testimony. Sing songs, have an activity or game.  Enjoy spending the evening together.  Lesson ideas can be found anywhere and everywhere...we have no excuse!
We are promised that teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ adds another layer of insulation to protect our children from worldly influences.

 I have a testimony of these 3 things.  They are so simple and don't take much time, but the blessings that come are greater than we can ever imagine.

In 3rd Nephi, the Savior comes and ministers to the people.  He gives them some amazing counsel.  These parents took His advice and the fruits of their labors were huge!  Their posterity lived in righteousness for 200 years.  I would highly recommend reading through these chapters for, "parenting advice."

Elder Robert D. Hales, "We live in the last dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.  The priesthood will never be taken from the earth again as we prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ.  No one knows when He will come.  We are told in the scriptures that Satan will tempt us in the last days before the Savior comes again.  For this reason, our children need to know that God and Jesus Christ will always love them and answer their prayers.  This knowledge will bring them abiding strength."

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to strengthen my testimony this past week as I studied and prepared for this talk.  Our children deserve the best...and this is it!