Sis. Nolan gave this weeks lesson on Chapter 22 - Bringing up Children in Light and Truth.
She compared some of her lesson with a the recent conference address from Elder Perry - Becoming Goodly Parents. So many of the same things that President Smith said years and years ago parallel the same advice given today from Elder Perry.
President Smith told of a story about when his daughter was young and took the streetcar home from piano lessons. The driver forgot to ask for her money to pay and she proudly told her father of her good fortune. He replied, " ‘But, darling, even if the conductor doesn’t know about this, you know
and I know and Heavenly Father knows. So, there are still three of us
who must be satisfied in seeing that you pay in full for value
received.’”
What was he able to teach her so successfully?
We are told we as Parents have the primary responsibility to teach our children the gospel. Why did the Lord put this responsibility with the Parents? why not the church leaders? President Smith tells us, "My Father in heaven has commanded that I should do that myself. Nobody
else can perform the part that God has assigned to us as parents. We
have assumed an obligation when we have been the means of bringing
children into the world. We can’t place that responsibility upon any
organization. It is ours. … First and foremost the obligation is upon
you and upon me to not only advise and counsel but to train, by setting
an example, by spending sufficient time with our loved ones, these boys
and girls, that they may not be led into … forbidden paths"
Other interests must not cause us to lose sight of our duty to teach our children. The manual says, "I want to suggest to you … , there is no time that you can spend, no way
in which you can utilize your time that will be of greater advantage
than training your boys and your girls to be worthy of the blessings of
our Heavenly Father". Our example can lead a child to safety, righteousness and happiness.
"you
safeguard the rising generation from the pitfalls that the adversary
has laid for their feet. Many of our [movies], radio programs,
magazines, books, etc., are unfit … , and unless we neutralize the
influence of these things by wholesome teaching and environment,
bringing to the youth the benefits derived from knowing the lives of
good men and women, teaching them the virtues of the prophets and the
meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, some of those whom we love may slip away from us. …
Let us teach our children to be pure in their lives, to be upright."
There were many wonderful comments made and stories shared. Come join us in RS to get your cup filled for the coming week and drink in the wonderful spirit there.