Watching with All Perseverance

As I sat at lunch today with the baby, I listened to this talk. I had heard it once before during conference, but this time I was able to absorb so much more. It is so true, that like the scriptures that we should read each day, we should also be reading and re-reading or listening to the messages of the prophet and apostles.

Click Here for a link to the full talk. 

"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 (Isaiah 29:4; see also 2 Nephi 26:16). 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."

This made me remember a time when I was reading The Book of Mormon with my eldest son. He might have been around 2 years old, or just under. As I was reading a passage out loud he said, "I feel happy in my heart." I knew that at that moment he was feeling the Spirit because of what I was reading. Unfortunately, I don't have so many of the one-on-one moments anymore and less so with the younger ones. And many times I put the baby to bed before we do our family scripture study. This has reminded me how important it is to make sure they are being taught from even the youngest age.

"I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (see Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families—“watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)—to the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen." Elder Bednar April Conference 2010

And I know that some of the sweetest moments I have had with my children is when I tell them how special they are and how they were created. It has lead us to talk about the purpose of life. How we should try and choose the right and follow Jesus rather than follow the darkness by making bad choices.

If fact, Family Home Evening rarely is enriching in our home. They kids get all crazy and protest with their actions. On the other hand, at night, just before bed when we are reading the scriptures they listen intently to the stories and ask questions. I guess the formality of FHE drives them crazy. But we are trying to help them take a more active part in preparing lessons, choosing songs and picking out the treat. So far, Indy is looking forward to it a lot more.

Our children are our greatest responsibility. We have to help them. They aren't always going to understand things. They may seem to at one point and then later contradict that. If we are talking to them, watching them and most importantly listening to them, we will know them and their doubts and misunderstandings and we'll be able to help them before it's to late.