What I want to share with you tonight is along the same vein, and I take inspiration from Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
But in training our children, I hope we emphasize the teaching part so they will gain an understanding of the principles behind the commandment we are training them to obey.
As explained by Elder Jack H Goaslind of the Presidency of the Seventy at the October 1995 general conference, 'Sometimes I think that we fear too much to link all of our teaching to the foundation of gospel truths. Too often, perhaps, we teach children to obey a law or a principle because our family expects that obedience. They might observe another truth in order to please a neighbor or a bishop, and another for yet some other reason. When we teach an eternal truth to our children and don't explain it in the context of a firm testimony of the Savior, we miss the power of the example of the greatest teacher the world has ever known.'
Lagi nating ituro sa ating mga anak ang dahilan ng bawat kautusan o alituntunin ng ebanghelyo. Imumulat nito ang kanilang mga mata, palalaguin ang kanilang pang-unawa, at aantigin ang kanilang puso. Just like the new “For the Strength of Youth” resource which is aptly called “A Guide for Making Choices,” where no specific list of do’s and don’ts are presented, but instead, the focus is on gospel principles, agency, and inspiration. The new pamphlet points the youth to Jesus Christ. It helps us to come unto Christ.
So how will you discuss the principles of the new area plan with your children? In your home evening lesson, you can review and discuss the messages we are sharing today, and you can even review the messages we shared at the fireside last November 20 in Cebu. All this information will be included in the Area Plan app which is being updated and will be available shortly. You may go to Google play for android and the App Store for IOS devices and download the app for free. The app has a “Events and News” section where exclusive content from the area like special messages, live events, news items, and other local and global stories. This latest update will also have a music player where you can create your own playlist of sacred music produced by the Church.
Para matulungan ang bawat member ng Simbahan na mag-set ng personal at family goals ngayong 2023 sa ilalim ng Area Plan na “Come Unto Christ: I Will Go, I Will Serve”, panoorin natin Brothers ang susunod na video na espesyal na inihanda para tulungan ang ating Primary at Youth na makita ang ugnayan ng Area Plan at ng covenant path.
Coby and Patty helped JT understand that the Area Plan can be used as a tool to determine his progress along the covenant path. JT was able to set future goals to help him track his progress on the path.
Sa ating buhay, ang pagtahak sa covenant path ay tumutulong sa atin na makilala nang husto ang ating Ama sa Langit at si Jesucristo at bumuo ng malalim na personal na relasyon o ugnayan sa kanila. Tinutulungan tayo nitong madama ang Kanilang lubos na pagmamahal para sa atin na naghahatid sa atin ng pag-asa, kagalakan, at kapayapaan. As President Russell M. Nelson said in the last October 2022 General Conference, “we can overcome the world and find true rest-meaning relief and peace by entering into a covenant relationship with God which binds us to Him in a way that makes everything about life easier. Please do not misunderstand me: I did not say that making covenants makes life easy. In fact, expect opposition, because the adversary does not want you to discover the power of Jesus Christ. But yoking yourself with the Savior means you have access to His strength and redeeming power.
He also reaffirmed a profound teaching of President Ezra Taft Benson: “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, … lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace.”
I conclude with our beloved prophets’ promise that as we come unto Christ and let Him prevail in our lives, we will have greater peace, confidence, joy, and yes, rest.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.