Mothers Teaching Children in the Home

by Elder L. Tom Perry
Saturday Morning Session April 2010
(click on title to read entire talk)

We have such a great responsibility to teach our children. Elder Perry says,

"....ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn."

Too often in society people expect the teachers both in school and church to raise their kids. While they do have a great responsibility. Ultimately, the parents are in charge. When I was a young Young Women's President, I had a mother chew me out about not doing enough for her daughter. She told me when she was young she was always at her leader's house. I tried to tell her that we were doing the best we knew how to but we can only do so much. I found out later that the parents were going through a divorce so the daughter was having a lot of issues. We can only do so much out of the home.

I don't know if you have ever noticed but Nick and Disney shows really bug me because more and more they are demeaning authority figures and parental figures. Satan is using these tools to teach children that they are better than their parents and that what they say is basically stupid. Are we teaching our children to combat this? He goes on to say ....

"Times are very different today, but while times may change, a parent’s teaching must never be devalued. Many activities link the values of one generation to the next, but perhaps the most central of these activities is parents teaching children in the home. This is especially true when we consider the teaching of values, moral and ethical standards, and faith."


and this goes along with that also ...

"Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents."


As my kids are getting closer and closer to the teenage years, I have been feeling this pressure more and more. Have I prepared them enough? We have been trying to instill in them a love of learning the gospel. We load their ipods and mp3 players with John Bytheway talks so that they will love them while they are young. My goal is to create positive spiritual experiences for them to lean on when times are hard.

"Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home."