Hastening

As always, General Conference weekend was a bit of heaven.  I was just back from my trip to Salt Lake City and enjoyed all the watching via comfy couch next to sweet husband.  Ezra's nap schedule allowed us to fully enjoy the morning sessions while he slept.  Ezra was fascinated by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (who wouldn't be!?), and recognized President Thomas S. Monson's face!  (We had talked about him, and looked at his picture half a dozen times.)  When President Monson spoke Ezra got excited, pointed and called to him.  Very cute.

It takes me some time to process all the doctrine-dense content, but as a cursory comment, I am so impressed by the active, vibrant, forward-motion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  During the Saturday morning session, President Monson announced (optional) changes to the minimum missionary age for elders and sisters.  In the press conference between Saturday sessions to further discuss the new missionary-age announcement, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland commented on the "hastening" and "accelerating" work in the kingdom.  A completely new youth curriculum, which will take effect in January 2013, was also announced.  The new curriculum for youth focuses more intensely on core doctrines of the church, emphasizes spiritual self-reliance, and active gospel learning.

It is an exciting time to be a parent in the church!  I see so much effort on the part of the church to safeguard, prepare, and teach the rising generation.  I acknowledge that the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, who have been called as prophets, seers, and revelators, can see and understand so much more than I can.  I am so grateful for their foresight to both invite younger men and women to serve missions, and, at the same time, prepare them with pure doctrine more earnestly.

It is also a humbling time to be a parent in the church!  As the work accelerates and hastens, as temptation is more pernicious and prevalent, so the teaching in the home must be all the more focused and consistent.  I have been impressed lately, that there must be teaching for understanding; teaching that touches the heart, and brings conversion.  The influence of the Holy Ghost is vital in this kind of teaching!  Teaching for understanding means that children act for themselves, respond to invitations to know for themselves, and have personal experience with gospel principles.

I am inspired by this thought from Elder Neil L. Andersen:

In our world today, each child, each young man and young woman needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own “steadfast and immovable”  faith in the Lord Jesus Christ independent of parents, youth leaders, and supportive friends.

The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony. Can you think of a more valuable gift for our children?