We Teach of Christ

As a parent, one of my responsibilities is to teach my children. Over the years, this has meant teaching physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual “lessons”. In his address, “Preserving the Voice of the Covenant People in the Rising Generation“, Brother Jan E. Newman states, “One of our most sacred responsibilities is to help our children come to know deeply and specifically that Jesus is the Christ.”

I used the word “lessons” above because it was the one that seemed to fit the best. In reality, teaching my children is not a sit-down and have-them-take-notes “lesson”. Instead, I have found that there are three elements to teaching my children in all things. I call them the three “E’s”: example, explanation, and endurance.

Example

The first E is Example. Growing up, my parents used this technique more than any other. I watched as my father would go to work to earn money, come home and work in the yard, and take time to be with us. My mother would take care of the house, show compassion and love to others, and live her religion. Their examples taught me how to be a better person.

Similarly, I try to be an example to my children. When we talk about teaching our children about Christ, the examples I set show my devotion to Him. Some of how I set the example are:

1. Attending Church
2. Reading my scriptures
3. Having personal and family prayer
4. Writing this blog
5. Serving in my calling
6. Serving others and loving my neighbor

I hope that my children learn through my example what it means to be Christlike and that this is the way He would be living if He were here today.

Explanation

The second E is Explanation. There are times when an example just isn’t enough. Inevitably, my children have asked over the years “Why?”. This is the time to explain why I live the way I do.

In this, again, my parents showed me the way. When something was difficult, or I looked confused, or I asked “Why?”, my parents would explain it to me.

One of the questions each of my children has asked is “Why do we go to church?” They ask this question more than once and at different stages of their development. When they were younger, the explanation was that Jesus has asked us to. As they’ve gotten older, I’ve explained that we go to church to renew our covenants with God, learn more of Christ, and feel the Spirit as a new week starts.

During the week, we try our best to have scripture time. When we do, it’s usually only one or two verses or a video such as the Book of Mormon videos. We then take time to discuss what we learned in those scriptures. This gives me time to explain what I know about what we have read and how that can positively influence us in our daily lives.

I have found that when I can explain things to my children, they are, 1. more receptive to learning, and 2. come to me with other questions they have. This is key, as in today’s world there are a slew of sources that they can turn to. I have a son who for a long time would only take advice from his online friends. They knew better than his parents did. Recently, however, he has come to us for explanations and advice. I attribute that to the third E, Endurance.

Endurance

The last E is Endurance. This is the hardest of the three. Enduring is never easy. It means that we keep going, even if it seems like no progress is being made. Brother Newman states “Taken individually, a single home evening, scripture study session, or gospel conversation may not seem like it is accomplishing much. But the accumulation of small, simple efforts, repeated consistently over time, can be more powerful and strengthening than an occasional monumental moment or landmark lesson.”

There have been times when Cheryl and I have looked at each other and asked “Why do we bother?”. When moments like this happen, we know it’s an influence that wants us to stop trying, to not endure. We remember all that has been promised us if we teach our children and stick with it. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Our oldest son is an example of this. He is an adult now, but when he was younger he didn’t want to believe in what we were teaching. We let him have his agency and choose. Recently, he had, what I’ll call, an awakening. He realized that there is more to life than just working and playing video games. He changed his life and has improved himself, mentally, physically, and spiritually. We asked him what led him to this change. Part of his answer was that he remembered the things we taught him and the love we showed him. He said we were an example to him and that we never gave up on him. Tears came to our eyes as he said this as we realized that the verse in Proverbs manifested in our own lives.

Conclusion

As parents, we have a responsibility to teach our children. We do this because we love them and want them to have the best lives possible. Brother Newman reaffirms that “Your children are watching, listening, and learning” (emphasis added). The three E’s of example, explanation, and endurance have helped me to teach my children that Jesus is The Christ.