When we are sitting on the stand each week in different Stake Conferences
my eyes wander to the children.
I love to watch them. They are so entertaining and beautiful.
My heart is happy when I see wonderful parents taking care of these little ones.
Parents have a huge responsibility to keep their children
safe, happy and healthy.
They have to make sure that they are
physically, emotionally and spiritually safe and sound.
Doctrine and Convenants 68 says...
25 And again, inasmuch as aparents have children in Zion, or in any of her bstakes which are organized, that cteach them not to understand the ddoctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eeight years old, the fsin be upon the heads of the parents.
With 220 missionaries from all parts of the world...
It is amazing all the different backgrounds that we have.
Some are recent converts and the only members in the family, some come
from split homes with a single parent, Some are from blended families with
step parents and siblings...
Yours - mine and ours, Some from less active families, some are
raised by grandparents, and others by Aunts and Uncles.
Some come from wealth others from poverty.
And on top of all these circumstances they have all been raised
with different parenting skills and methods.
I am sure that you are familiar with this poem...
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition,
they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security,
they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
We have more empathy and understanding in dealing with each one
when we know their backgrounds.
But the most beautiful thing we encounter is watching
each missionary overcome weaknesses and start to fill in the gaps
as they live and teach and understand the Gospel
line upon line... precept upon precept.
When we teach our children the Gospel of Jesus Christ
all the hiccups and mistakes and pain
can be made whole and understandable
through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is the answer and the cure
for all of our human frailties and weaknesses.
and especially my Savior!
