It's not enoug to have them join the journey!

Happy New Year to all!
Today is the first day of a new year and I decided to not end the day without some scripture study. Starting the new year in a great way.
Our Sunday School study course this year is the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon to me is a precious gift from our Heavenly Father, his mercy , in giving us this book,is unlimited. After the gift of his own son, this is the second greatest in my opinion.
I have to say that the book of Mormon took a new meaning in my life after I became a parent, as specially after i became the parent of a teenager.
I have become to understand that the Book of Mormon has a great impact in helping us raise our families and the role that the Saviour Jesus Christ and his prophets have in the process.
So I decided to write about one of my learning experiences in reading the Book of Mormon and being so inspired as a parent.
A few years a go I found myself teaching seminary, I loved . I learned a lot from my students and all the training we had from General Authorities and our CES leaders in Brazil. In Brazil a seminary teacher is a Stake calling.Each ward has it is own teacher and after we are sustained and set apart we are all turned over to CES to be trained. Once you are called there is no way to tell how long you'll have that calling. I was also called to teach institute at one point. I loved every minute of it.
One thing always bothered me. When I had a student who did not wanted to be there, in class .
Most of the time they had a not so good behavior and were very disruptive to the rest of the class. Our course of action was to always talk to the parents first.
many countless times I heard the phrase"at least he/she is there , in seminary!"
Many timesIwanted to say and I believe I did said a few times: "no, your son/daughter is not there." Truth is they were everywhere but in class. I and my colleges felt powerless, what could we do?
Time went on and I no longer teach seminary, but I still hear the same Fraze, even in a different language.
In study the Book of Mormon, after i became a parent, my heart always feel so heavy for the prophet and father Lehi. When I read his words to Laman and Lemuel, oh so many times. Like:
1Nephi 2:12-13 -

12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.

13 Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.

So many times this same thing happen. When I was younger I found myself thinking: "who wants to take this 2 guys on the trip, just live them behind". But that was not the heart of father Lehi. This was more like him.
1 Nephi 2:14

14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

That is more like Father Lehi. " Filled with the spirit".
For father Lehi it was never enough that Laman and Lemeul join them in the journey, he made sure they knew all about it. He thought and exhorted them all the way. The final decision to rebel was theirs, but never because the did not new where to look for salvation, but because they did wanted too.
For Father Lehi it was never enough that they were on their way to the promise land, that they join the family on their journey, that they are at least on the ship, no that was never enough
1 Nephi 2: 8-10

8 And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof.

9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!

10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!

That is the lesson I learned and I wish I had it back them when I was a seminary teacher.
The lesson that is not enough that they are at least at seminary or at church. Just like Laman and Lemuel it's not enough for them to join the journey to the promise land. If we don't take upon our shoulders the responsibility the Lord has given us, to teach them, they will eventually be distracted by the great and spacious building and go after the world. No, sorry, but is not enough to be there, they need to hear what is said and they need to here from us, the parents, first.
So when we hear our leaders in general conference directing us to teach doctrine, gospel, in our family home evenings, we need to remember Father Lehi, and his example of never give up.
I would not have left any of my kids in Jerusalem either, I would have taken them all with me and like Lehi I would have said, it is not enough that you came. Now listen to what I have to teach.
It is not enough to be together we need to be nurtured by the Good word of God.
So let us ponder the words of a great parent.
2 Nephi 4:5

5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.

May we never said "at least", may we say instead, "we'll talk about it at family home evening tonight."
May we never think that is enough for our children to join us in the journey, may we teach them a long the way, the power of the word of God, so they can hold tight to the rod and eat the fruit with us and may we all seat together in the kingdom of God.


Hugs to all
may 2008 be a great year...
Sorry about all the grammar mistakes, it's late...

Carmen