Blessings of Teaching

The scripture that resonated most with me this week in our Come, Follow Me study was Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 which taught me the importance of teaching our children about the love of God and His words, and that it is something that should be on our minds all day long ("when thou sittest...when thou walkest...when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." v. 7). 

In this most recent General Conference, President Nelson mentioned this important principle in his talk entitled The Power of Spiritual Momentum. Pres. Nelson shared five suggestions to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum in our lives. His second suggestion was entitled "Discover the joy of daily repentance." In the very first paragraph of this section he says "Repentance is required of every accountable person who desires eternal glory. There are no exceptions. In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord chastised early Church leaders for not teaching the gospel to their children."

When I taught Pres. Nelson's talk in a Relief Society class a few weeks ago, I asked the sisters (at least one from every age group) what they do to teach their children the gospel. It varied based on the ages of the children in their homes (or not in their homes). Here are some of their suggestions....

Music-listening and singing to Primary songs with young children or, for older children, the Youth Music that the church produces each year. All of these can be found on the church's "Sacred Music" app.

Reading Materiels-having board books or picture books with Bible and Book of Mormon stories for children and also subscribing to The Friend and For the Strength of Youth magazines. Having these available in your homes for FHE or CFM lessons, daily reading time with your kids or help with Primary and Youth talks at church.

Having kids teach-teach your kids how to teach by giving them opportunities to do it in your home. Not only will it strengthen their testimonies but it will prepare them for the teaching opportunities that will come in their Young Men and Young Women classes.

Family group chats-as children leave home you can continue to teach them via technology. Several women mentioned having family group chats where they post things to their families about which they are reading and thinking about. This often leads to gospel discussions and questions that are done all online and at everyone’s convenience.  

As we study the gospel with the intent of teaching the things that we are learning, it cements it more into our own minds and hearts. I've gained a testimony of this principle over the many years that I've studied and taught in my home and in various callings. Even though I still don't feel eloquent when I teach, my testimony has grown immensely through the process of studying and teaching. Not only does teaching the rising generation help them stay on the covenant path, it strengthens our testimonies and helps us to stay on the covenant path as well.

I love this quote by Elder Holland "no child in this Church should be left with uncertainty about his or her parents’ devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Restoration of His Church, and the reality of living prophets and apostles who, now as in earlier days, lead that Church according to “the will of the Lord, … the mind of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … and the power of God unto salvation.” (A Prayer for the Children). I hope we can put our best efforts into teaching and sharing our testimonies and faith with our children to help give them the best chance we can to stay on the covenant path.