Jordan and I spoke in church yesterday. I thought I'd just post my talk for anyone interested out there.
1. mother’s teaching children in the home: L. Tom Perry
constantly be looking for opportunities to teach your children and then act on those opportunities.
Use our callings to teach our children. Explain to them what your calling is and why it is important to heavenly father. And how you carry out your calling. For example if you are a teacher in relief society not only will your kids see you studying, reading, praying and preparing for your lesson. You can take that opportunity to get there input, practice teaching your lesson to your children, and discuss why this is an important lesson.
L. Tom Perry “…parents are entrusted with the education of their children and, ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn.”
d&C 93:40 “ it however, is parents who have been commanded by the lord to bring up their children in light and truth”
How do we bring light and truth into the home? L. Tom Perry suggests that “light and truth (can be brought) into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. “ I love this, it is do able.
Joseph Fielding Smith taught: it is the duty of parents to teach their children these saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they will know why they are to be baptized AND THAT THEY MAY BE IMPRESSED IN THEIR HEARTS WITH A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AFTER THEY ARE BAPTIZED, that they may come back into his presence. Do you, my good brethren and sisters, want your families, your children; do you want to be sealed to your fathers and your mothers before you…? if so, then you must begin by teaching at the cradle side. YOU ARE TO TEACH BY EXAMPLE AS WELL AS PRECEPT.
There are a lot of terrible influences subtle or not acting on our children, another layer of defense we can use to protect our children is teaching them in our homes the truth of the Gospel, if they know and believe in the Gospel they will have the holy Ghost with them and they will make good decisions.
L. Tom Perry: “as parents we partner, even join, with God in bringing to pass His work and glory among His children. It is our sacred duty to do our very best.” – my mom always taught me that in EVERYTHING I do I need to do my very best.
2. Mother told me : elder Bradley d foster
a. Pg 98 The story about the little boy having his dad read a story … mother told me. – our children are listening they act how we act, they say what we say, they do what we do. Make sure we are teaching them the way our heavenly father would teach them.
b. James E. Faust: “there is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.”
c. We respond to a mothers love because it is so much like the Saviors love. Joseph F. Smith “the love of a true Mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love.” When I read this quote of course my mother came to mind. She has always been there for me, she is so supportive, when I am happy she is happy. The best thing I have learned from my mother is how to be a good mother because my mom loved and still loves being a mom. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her children. She has always been that way, she will always be that way and now she loves to be with my little Peyton. My mom will babysit her for us and when I go to pick her up my mom says “not yet, I’m not ready for her to go.” The other person who came to my mind as a read this quote was sister Emily our relief society president. I can’t think of someone who exemplifies the savior more when it comes to loving her flock. I can’t count the number of times she has called to check on me just to see how I am. She magnifies her calling and loves the sisters in this ward as if we were her own children, much like the savior loves us.
d. Elder Bradley Foster said “ my mother assured me that if I stayed on the road of truth… the end would be better than the beginning and I will be eternally grateful that mother told me.” I hope that our children can one day say that they are grateful for their testimonies and that they gained them because there mother told them of the truth of the gospel.
3. Tell Me the stories of Jesus : elder neil L. anderson
Our children are born with great spiritual capacities and responsibilities. “we cannot be casual in how we prepare them.” we need to make valiant effort, prayerfully studying what our children need to learn and how best we can get through to them on an individual basis. This should constantly be the thoughts and wants of our heart.
Our kids need our direction to gain an individual testimony. But that is the goal that they will be able to stand on their own two feet to face the challenges of the adversary because they have their own testimony… one day they will have a family of their own and they need that personal testimony to raise their children in truth and light.
Elder Neil L. Andersen asks these questions: pg 109 ponder these questions, study them, answer them, if our children do not know these things now make sure they do!!! It is our job as parents it is our responsibility, if they do not know it is because we have not taught them.
Neil L. Anderson: “to fathers and mothers to grandfathers and grandmothers, and to those without children of their own who lovingly nurture children and youth. My counsel is to speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name is great spiritual power.” And I ask you this … do you speak of Christ with your children, in your home, on a daily basis? Or do you only talk about Christ at church or church activities. Lets all strive to make Christ a part of our families in our homes on a daily basis. Not just on Sundays.
If you are trying to teach your children and you feel they are not listening elder Anderson says this : “time and truth are on your side. At the right moment, your words will return as if from heaven itself. YOUR TESTIMONY WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN.
