Monday, June 25, 2012

Consistency/Constancy is Necessary

 The speaker in the Ward I visited presented a great talk.  She approached it from the perspective of her need of repentance for the things, the acts of obedience, that she hadn't done for her children when they were young.  She felt if she had been more consistent that maybe her children would not have suffered as many mistakes with that as a foundation.

She mentioned the faithfulness, the consistent activity and attendance, of her parents but also the lack of scripture study, FHE and prayers.  With her children they had infrequent Scripture Study, FHE, and prayers.  She talked about the importance of children being taught until they understand what they've been taught.

There were many in the congregation that could completely identify with her remarks, her story, her experience because it was ours also. 

The excellent talk that she made reference to is printed below.  I really liked this quote that she shared from that article.....

 Years ago, Bishop Stanley Smoot was interviewed by President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985). President Kimball asked, “How often do you have family prayer?”

Bishop Smoot answered, “We try to have family prayer twice a day, but we average about once.”
President Kimball responded, “In the past, having family prayer once a day may have been all right. But in the future it will not be enough if we are going to save our families.”

I wonder if having casual and infrequent family home evening will be enough in the future to fortify our children with sufficient moral strength. In the future, infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which they will live. Where in the world will the children learn chastity, integrity, honesty, and basic human decency if not at home? These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but parental teaching is more constant.  
                                                                         (excerpt from 2010 talk below by Elder Faust) 

  A Thousand Threads of Love by Elder Faust  -Oct. 2010 
http://www.lds.org/liahona/2005/10/a-thousand-threads-of-love?lang=eng&query=faust+/threads

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Her heart was so tender and her pain and regret were so evident.  I wanted to share with her this quote from the talk below.  It's so hope filled.  C., I hope you enjoy this and feel good that you are on the right track in reaching out to your grandchildren.  Thanks again for a great message!

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And second, even should we be forgiven at some later time, the Lord cannot restore the good effects our repentance today might have had on those we love and are to serve. That is particularly poignant for the parents of young children. In those tender years there are chances for shaping and lifting spirits which may never come again. But even the grandfather who may have missed chances with his own children might, by choosing to repent today, do for grandchildren what he once could have done for their parents.  
                                                                    (excerpt from 1999 talk below by Elder Henry B. Eyring) 

 Do Not Delay by Elder Henry B. Eyring - Nov 1999
 http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/10/do-not-delay?lang=eng


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