The first talk to read was by Elder Bednar in October 2009 General Conference, More Diligent and Concerned at Home. The talk for today is another talk given by Elder Bednar in the very next General Conference. Both talks are so jam-packed with principles that you would miss so much unless you read and reread the talks! I am only including some of my highlighted parts of this talk.
Elder Bednar gives some of the most wonderful promises to parents if they will be vigilant and spiritually attentive.
Watching with All Perseverance by Elder David A. Bednar
"Spiritual warnings should lead to increasingly vigilant watching. You and I live in “a day of warning” (D&C 63:58). And because we have been and will be warned, we need to be, as the Apostle Paul admonished, “watching … with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)."
- I often find myself relaxing, thinking all is well; in my family, in church and in my community. It is talks like this that put me back on my toes. Watching and waiting for the attacks on my family or the world around us.
"This early warning system applies to children of all ages and contains three basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon. Parents who do these things faithfully will be blessed to recognize early signals of spiritual growth in or challenges with their children and be better prepared to receive inspiration to strengthen and help those children."
"Component Number One: Reading and Talking about the Book of Mormon with your children. he Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the Savior’s gospel and is the only book the Lord Himself has testified to be true. Indeed, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion."
- I love all the new resources that the Church is using in order to help members study and share the gospel. I sometimes take for granted the "keystone" of our religion. I need to do better at making the Book of Mormon the "keystone" of our family.
"The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that abiding by the precepts found in the Book of Mormon would help us 'get nearer to God' than any other book... power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within our families. And discussions about the doctrines and principles in the Book of Mormon provide opportunities for parents to observe their children, to listen to them, to learn from them, and to teach them.
Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the 'familiar spirit' described by Isaiah. And the questions a child asks, the observations a child shares, and the discussions that occur provide crucial spiritual early warning signals. Importantly, such conversations can help parents to discern what their children are learning, thinking, and feeling about the truths contained in this sacred volume of scripture, as well as the difficulties they may be facing."
- Seriously? What better promises are there for parents? Of course it is easier said than done, but I receive these amazing blessings just from daily reading the Book of Mormon with my family?
"Component Number Two: Bearing Testimony Spontaneously
Parents should be vigilant and spiritually attentive to spontaneously occurring opportunities to bear testimony to their children."
- This quote is specifically speaking of bearing testimony, but if we cut off part of the sentence:
Parents should be vigilant and spiritually attentive.
What a great motto for a parent to live by!
"The reactions of children to such impromptu testimony bearing and their eagerness or reluctance to participate are potent sources of spiritual early warning signals. A child’s expression about a lesson learned in family scripture study or a candid statement of concern about a gospel principle or practice can be most illuminating and help parents better understand a child’s specific question or needs. Such discussions—especially when parents are as eager to listen intently as they are to talk—can foster a supportive and secure environment in the home and encourage ongoing communication about difficult topics."
- If we are paying attention and actively listening to our children (spoken and unspoken) we can know where they are at spiritually and emotionally.
"Component Number Three: Inviting Children to Act"
"...we 'seek learning … by study and also by faith...' "
"As gospel learners, we should be 'doers of the word, and not hearers only' (James 1:22). Our hearts are opened to the influence of the Holy Ghost as we properly exercise agency and act in accordance with correct principles—and we thereby invite His teaching and testifying power. Parents have the sacred responsibility to help children to act and to seek learning by faith..."
"Giving a man a fish feeds him for one meal. Teaching a man to fish feeds him for a lifetime. As parents and gospel instructors, you and I are not in the business of distributing fish; rather, our work is to help our children learn 'to fish' and to become spiritually steadfast. This vital objective is best accomplished as we encourage our children to act in accordance with correct principles—as we help them to learn by doing. 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God' (John 7:17)."
"Such learning requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception."
- I truly believe that the only way for parents to invite children to act, is to first set the example themselves and then to foster opportunities that allow the children to learn how to take action! This learning requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion, and as parents it takes all of those things in order to create an environment where this is possible!
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