Fanning the Flame

I loved this past LDS General Conference. There was so much directed toward our responsibility as parents. Having children is such a sacred stewardship. I loved what Elder Neil A. Anderson said about that stewardship.

"We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of their premortal faith.
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."

I love how he emphasized the plea of a child from the primary song, “Tell me the stories of Jesus." Elder Anderson said that the stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the testimony.

He asked....

Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ imbedded in our children?
Do they think about the Savior’s life when they think of their own life?
“Do they know of the love Jesus has for children?”

Do they think about His humble birth, the Savior of the world lying in a manger?

Do His circumstances help them better understand the proper place of material possessions?
Do they know that he stands with open arms to receive them?”

Do they know of the loneliness he felt and how he can help them overcome loneliness in their own lives?

Have they felt the power of the Savior’s miracles?

And then he promised....

As you reverently speak about the Savior—in the car, on the bus, at the dinner table, as you kneel in prayer, during scripture study, or in late-night conversations—the Spirit of the Lord will accompany your words.
If a child is not listening, don’t despair. Time and truth are on your side. At the right moment, your words will return as if from heaven itself. Your testimony will never leave your children.
He promised that As you do your best, the testimony of Jesus will gently distill upon your children’s hearts.

Elder Anderson’s talk was especially meaningful to me because it reinforced specific promptings I had had earlier in the week prior to conference. For the past few years, the week prior to Easter Sunday we spend a little time each evening talking about the last week of the Savior’s mortal ministry. We talk of the triumphal entry, the cleansing of the temple, his day of rest in Bethany, the feast of the Passover, prayer in Gethsemane, the crucifixion , his resurrection and appearances after his resurrection. We also read and talk about parables he taught, and the miracles and teachings of his earthly ministry. Sometimes we prepare well for this and other times we just throw something together last minute. This year, with the move and all, was rather thrown together. But as I watched my children sit quietly next to my husband and attentively listen to the stories, I had a distinct impression that this was something we needed to do more often, not just at Easter, or Christmas, or on Sundays, or Monday nights, but all the time. I could tell they loved hearing the stories. When I heard Elder Anderson give this counsel, the importance of what I felt earlier in the week was reaffirmed to a greater degree. I want for my children the promises that Elder Anderson proclaimed, I want the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in their minds and their souls.

I want to help them develop a personal faith in Jesus Christ that will prepare them for the challenges they will face.

I want them to think of the words Helaman spoke to his sons, “Remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” Helaman Chapter 5 verse 12~The Book of Mormon

I want them to feel that they can do all things through Christ.

As this session of General Conference concluded, I felt a greater desire to actively and intentionally parent, to live by the spirit, to bear testimony spontaneously and regularly, I want our children to feel the love of our Heavenly Father and Savior in their lives and I want them to desire to have the spirit with them always. I know that the purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to make individuals and families whole and unified. I want to make sure that my everyday habits and efforts are focused on principles and activities that will support this purpose.