Last updated on February 25th, 2024 at 09:47 pm
General Conference Applied
“Preserving the Voice of the Covenant People in the Rising Generation” by Brother Jan E. Newman; October 2023 General Conference
Corresponding General Conference Applied episode show notes: S2 E20
Talk Outline
Invitations
“One of our most sacred responsibilities is to help our children come to know deeply and specifically that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, their personal Savior and Redeemer, who stands at the head of His Church! We cannot allow our covenant voice to become muted or silent when it comes to Him.”
Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)
- “He invites us, as He invited those parents in the Book of Mormon, to bring our little ones to Him. We can help them know their Savior and Redeemer the way these children did. We can show them how to find the Savior in the scriptures and build their foundations on Him.”
- “To build our lives on the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we need to dig deep. We remove anything that is sandy or superfluous in our lives. We keep digging until we find Him. And we teach our children to bind themselves to Him through sacred ordinances and covenants.”
- “For the rising generation, it’s not enough for faith in Jesus Christ to be ‘the tradition of their fathers.’ They need to own faith in Christ for themselves. As the covenant people of God, how can we instill within the hearts of our children a desire to make and keep covenants with Him? We can start by following the example of Nephi: ‘We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.’ Nephi’s words imply a constant, ongoing effort to teach our children about Christ. We can ensure that the voice of the covenant people is not silent in the ears of the rising generation and that Jesus is not a Sunday-only topic.”
- “So what does it look like to feast on the words of Christ and hear Him? Well, it looks like whatever works best for you! It might be gathering with your family to talk about the things the Holy Ghost taught you in your scripture study using Come, Follow Me. It might be gathering each day with your children to read a few verses from the scriptures and then looking for opportunities to discuss what you learned as you spend time together. Just find what works for you and your family; then try to do a little better each day.”
- “Ward councils are authorized to organize teacher council meetings for parents. In these quarterly meetings, parents can gather to learn from each other’s experiences, discuss how they are strengthening their families, and learn key principles of Christlike teaching. This meeting should be held in the second hour of church. It is led by a ward member selected by the bishop and follows the format of regular teacher council meetings, using Teaching in the Savior’s Way as the primary resource. Bishops, if your ward is not currently holding teacher council meetings for parents, work with your Sunday School president and ward council to organize yourselves.”
Promises
- Action: “Let us accept the Savior’s invitation and bring our children to Him.”
Promise: “As we do so, they will see Him. They will feel Him. They will know Him. He will teach them. He will bless them. And, oh, how He will love them.”
Doctrines
Marriage and Family: “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, such as faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”
Principles
Family Responsibilities: “Some responsibilities must be shared by the husband and the wife. Parents should teach their children the gospel. The Lord warned that if parents do not teach their children about faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sin will be upon the heads of the parents. Parents should also teach their children to pray and to obey the Lord’s commandments. (See D&C 68:25, 28.)
“One of the best ways parents can teach their children is by example. Husbands and wives should show love and respect for each other and for their children by both actions and words. It is important to remember that each member of the family is a child of God. Parents should treat their children with love and respect, being firm but kind to them.
“Parents should understand that sometimes children will make wrong choices even after they have been taught the truth. When this happens, parents should not give up. They should continue to teach their children, to express love for them, to be good examples to them, and to fast and pray for them.
“The Book of Mormon tells us how the prayers of a father helped a rebellious son return to the ways of the Lord. Alma the Younger had fallen away from the teachings of his righteous father, Alma, and had gone about seeking to destroy the Church. The father prayed with faith for his son. Alma the Younger was visited by an angel and repented of his evil way of living. He became a great leader of the Church. (See Mosiah 27:8–32.)
“Parents can provide an atmosphere of reverence and respect in the home if they teach and guide their children with love. Parents should also provide happy experiences for their children.”
Christlike Attributes
Diligence: “Diligence is consistent, earnest effort. In missionary work, diligence is an expression of your love for the Lord. When you are diligent, you find joy and satisfaction in the Lord’s work (see Alma 26:16).
“Diligence includes doing many good things of your own free will instead of waiting for leaders to tell you what to do (see Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–29).
“Continue to do good even when it is hard or you are tired. Yet recognize the need for balance and rest so you do not ‘run faster than [you have] strength’ (Mosiah 4:27).
“Center your heart and interests on the Lord and His work. Avoid things that distract you from your priorities. Focus your time and efforts on the activities that will be most effective in your area and most helpful to the people you are teaching.”
Attribute Activity
- “I work effectively, even when I’m not under close supervision. (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–27)”
- “I focus my efforts on the most important things. (Matthew 23:23)”
- “I have a personal prayer at least twice a day. (Alma 34:17–27)”
- “I focus my thoughts on my calling as a missionary. (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2, 5)”
- “I set goals and plan regularly. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119)”
- “I work hard until the job is completed. (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4)”
- “I find joy and satisfaction in my work. (Alma 36:24–25)”
Most Important Quote
“One of our most sacred responsibilities is to help our children come to know deeply and specifically that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, their personal Savior and Redeemer, who stands at the head of His Church! We cannot allow our covenant voice to become muted or silent when it comes to Him.
“You may feel a bit inadequate in this role, but you should never feel alone. For example, ward councils are authorized to organize teacher council meetings for parents. In these quarterly meetings, parents can gather to learn from each other’s experiences, discuss how they are strengthening their families, and learn key principles of Christlike teaching. This meeting should be held in the second hour of church. It is led by a ward member selected by the bishop and follows the format of regular teacher council meetings, using Teaching in the Savior’s Way as the primary resource. Bishops, if your ward is not currently holding teacher council meetings for parents, work with your Sunday School president and ward council to organize yourselves.”
Powerful Stories
“One of the most touching moments in the Book of Mormon is the resurrected Savior’s visit to the people at the temple in the land Bountiful. After a day of teaching, healing, and building faith, Jesus directed the people’s attention to the rising generation: ‘He commanded that their little children should be brought.’ He prayed for them and blessed them one by one. The experience was so moving that the Savior Himself wept multiple times.
“Then, speaking to the multitude, Jesus said:
“‘Behold your little ones.
“‘And as they looked … they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven,’ ministering to their children.”
The Best Footnote
Footnote 17: “Remember that among the rising generation of unbelievers in the Book of Mormon were Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. When Alma the Younger finally recognized his need to change his life, he remembered what his father had taught about Jesus Christ—teachings that Alma had apparently ignored in the past. But the memory of it remained, and that memory saved Alma spiritually (see Alma 36:17–20).”
Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker
- “As the covenant people of God, how can we instill within the hearts of our children a desire to make and keep covenants with Him?”
- “So what does it look like to feast on the words of Christ and hear Him?”
Tags
Children | Councils | Covenants | Jesus Christ | Parents | Scripture Study | Teaching
Additional Content
Previous Talk Outline (“More Than a Hero” by Bishop W. Christopher Waddell)
Next Talk Outline (“Do You Want to Be Happy?” by Elder Yoon Hwan Choi)