I have to chuckle at the "is it free?" story. My children do this all the time, but what is worse is I have six kids and so if ONE wants it then they ALL want it. We can clean out a "free" brochure stand in no time.
Where and when did you get your testimony?
I remember lots of incidents where my testimony grew and I know parts and pieces of the gospel were true. But then I too had someone who like Elder Pace asked me "Do you KNOW?" I had never added up all the little things that had happened to me, but it was when I was asked that question that I sat down (probably knelt down) and did the math. It added up to a firm testimony of the complete gospel, except for one missing piece. I was brave enough to ask my seminary teacher at that time about polygamy and he read from the D&C section 88 verse 78 "...that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;" He asked me if I threw out my doubts about this one principle of the gospel what would my little bits and pieces add up to. I told him a firm testimony. He then asked me if I could set that question aside and just ask it later when my understanding of a celestial marriage was broaden. I said that maybe I could. He then told me that I would probably find the answer to my polygamy question in the temple when I got my endowments and/or married and I wasn't to worry about it too much. I remember him clearly saying, "Just set it aside, but don't forget it and every now and then look it over as you read the scriptures, attend your meetings and ponder on things eternal." I will always remember the phrase, "ponder on things eternal." As I have pondered, I have added to my testimony of the gospel and its living bits and pieces.
What really amazes me is that I thought back then I had a testimony of the gospel. I barely put a drop in the bucket compared to what kind of testimony I had now!
This incident reminds me of something I heard a long time ago. I want tocontribute this to Sister Hinckley, but I honestly don't know who said it or when. (I'm horrible with who said what and when, but I sure remember what idea was said.) She said that when she has eternal question that she can't find the answer to and that really don't matter right then and there, that she takes a book off her heaven shelf and writes the question or thought in it. She then said that when she is at the feet of the Savior in the hereafter she will pull that book down and ask those questions. She then said, "And I think most of them will have been answered by then."
This is kind of like what my seminary teacher told me to do.
I have told my children about my "Heaven book shelf" and told them that I have volumes of books up there. Sometimes I pull the book down and cross questions off. Sometimes, I add questions to the book. Sometimes I justr ead them and ponder on them again, but not really come to a satisfactory answer. But I'm OK with that because "I KNOW!"
How do we teach this to our children? I know this one was one thing that wasn't taught to one family and now onlytwo of seven children still attend church. They let their doubts and fearserase all the positive addends. Well, I will tell you our formula. These aren't in order of frequency or use, but they are the things we throw in to our children's lives.
- Family Home Evening
- Family scripture time
- Family activities and projects (building memories)
- Family vacations
- Family traditions
- Personal priesthood interviews
- Personal parent interviews (those are mine)
- Family learning
- Church attendance
- Parent temple attendance (we should and could do better)
- Control media and outside influences
- Goal setting and accomplishment
- Scout and YW participation
- Leadership opportunities
- Commandment obedience
- Encouragement of personal prayers and scriptures
- And I'm sure there are others that we missed.
What does your family do to help your children (and yourself) answer thequestion "Do you know?"
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