Tag Archives: Children

General Conference as a Kid

Elder Robert D. Hales in emphasizing the importance of general conference, made the following statement regarding youth and conference:

Children and youth love to be included. We make a serious mistake if we assume that the conference is above their intellect and spiritual sensitivity. To the young members of the Church, I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you. The Lord will tell you what He wants you to do with your life. (General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony)

I thought I would run down a couple conference memories as a kid. All of these were before I was 12.

  • Gordon B. Hinckley challenged a speaker to a duel in the tabernacle basement
  • I remember Neal A. Maxwell spoke to children and told a number of Aesop-like fables to illustrate gospel principles
  • I remember when my Dad invited me to attend Priesthood with him (ten years old)
  • I remember the World News being on in the stake center between sessions and the report on 100 million copies of the Book of Mormon being printed.
  • I remember a regional conference with Thomas S. Monson where he told a number of stories from his life
  • I remember the announcement of the building of the Nauvoo temple

As a youth, I remember a number of specific talks and poignant moments:

  • Dallin H. Oaks spoke on Pornography and made some specific statements about modesty as well.
  • President Hinckley announcing Perpetual Education Fund
  • President Hinckley speaking in different Priesthood sessions about pornography and anger
  • Elder Bednar introducing Church culture to the concept of ‘tender mercies’

I remember very well the thoughts and emotions I had from these talks. For me, they make up a foundation of faith, trust and love of General Conference (and other conferences of the Church). These experiences helped me gain trust enough to seek out their counsel.

Duty of Parents

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught:

“It is the duty of parents to teach their children these saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they will know why they are to be baptized and that they may be impressed in their hearts with a desire to continue to keep the commandments of God after they are baptized, that they may come back into his presence. Do you, my good brethren and sisters, want your families, your children; do you want to be sealed to your fathers and your mothers before you … ? If so, then you must begin by teaching at the cradle-side. You are to teach by example as well as precept.”

(2012 October General Conference, Becoming Goodly Parents, Sat. Afternoon Session – By L. Tom Perry)

The Influence of a Mother

Brigham Young taught,

It is the mother’s influence that is most effective in molding the mind of the child for good or for evil. If she treat lightly the things of God, it is more than likely her children will be inclined to do the same, and the Lord will not hold her guiltless when He comes to make up His jewels; He will disown all such when He comes to claim His own, and will say, Go hence, I never knew you.

(Brigham Young, JD 18:263)