I am not usually a fan of the, "In the _________ dictionary (insert Webster here), _________ is defined as _________. But when I read the talk, "Moral Discipline" given by Elder D. Todd Christofferson at the 2009 Oct. General Conference, I was so thankful there exists such a format:)
"President Faust recognized that we all possess the God-given gift of moral agency—the right to make choices and the obligation to account for those choices (see D&C 101:78). He also understood and demonstrated that, for positive outcomes, moral agency must be accompanied by moral discipline.
By “moral discipline,” I mean self-discipline based on moral standards. Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service (see Mark 10:42–45). The root of the word discipline is shared by the word disciple, suggesting to the mind the fact that conformity to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ is the ideal discipline that, coupled with His grace, forms a virtuous and morally excellent person."
Why have I never put two and two together... It's funny how we can speak a language so fluently but hardly think about the meaning behind the words we are saying. There is so much richness in the words if we just pay attention to them with our hearts.
One other quote in this talk also stood out to me...
"I have heard a few parents state that they don’t want to impose the gospel on their children but want them to make up their own minds about what they will believe and follow. They think that in this way they are allowing children to exercise their agency. What they forget is that the intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of the truth, of things as they really are (see D&C 93:24). Without that, young people can hardly be expected to understand and evaluate the alternatives that come before them. Parents should consider how the adversary approaches their children. He and his followers are not promoting objectivity but are vigorous, multimedia advocates of sin and selfishness.
Seeking to be neutral about the gospel is, in reality, to reject the existence of God and His authority. We must, rather, acknowledge Him and His omniscience if we want our children to see life’s choices clearly and be able to think for themselves. They should not have to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10)."
If we are to be true disciples of Jesus Christ then it is our duty to instruct the young as well as remain disciplined in our every day lives.
"There must be constant teaching, mostly by example."
President Henry B. Eyring expressed the vision we strive to attain:“The pure gospel of Jesus Christ must go down into the hearts of [our children] by the power of the Holy Ghost. It will not be enough for them to have had a spiritual witness of the truth and to want good things later. It will not be enough for them to hope for some future cleansing and strengthening. Our aim must be for them to become truly converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ while they are with us. . . . Then they will have gained a strength from what they are, not only from what they know. They will become disciples of Christ."
They will see His light through our example. Through the choices me make. How we interact with others around us. How we treat the less fortunate of the world, our spouses, our friends and our family... And what we would be like if we were before the Lord.
I love this gospel. I know God lives. And I love Him.
