Is There Really Hope?
Our Heavenly Father knows, far better than any mortal, the pain and sorrow associated with having children who exercise their moral agency to their condemnation rather than exaltation. Can there be any better parent than God? Children's decisions may bring us sorrow, no matter how faithfully we have taught our children. This consolation does not excuse families from their obligation to teach and model correct principles and try to lead their children to Christ, but it does bring a clearer perspective of the divine work of parents and families.
Parents can pray, cultivate certain emotions including love unfeigned, patience, and long-suffering, and be wary of emotions such as anger, hate, resentment, envy, and jealousy.
It should be no surprise that in the Proclamation love is virtually commanded and tied to moral commitment and obligation, even toward family members who seem committed to breaking God's commandments. The commands are: Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. It also says parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, . . . to teach them to love and serve one another. Forgiveness, respect, love, and compassion are essential to success in family life.
The Saving Power of Temple Covenants
There is every reason to believe that the wayward children of righteous parents will, in the end, receive salvation. Amid the anguished experiences of wandering children, abuse, addiction, and every other conceivable heartache, the words of the prophets are clear and unequivocal. From the teachings of Joseph Smith through the teachings of the prophets of our day, the message of hope is this: temple covenants save families.
In 1929, Elder Orson F. Whitney said:
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared--and he never taught more comforting doctrine--that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.Joseph Smith taught: When a seal [the everlasting covenant] is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their mother and father.
Triumph Over Satan
How is it possible that the willful and wayward disobedient can be reclaimed? After all, the scriptures are very clear that "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (Alma 34:32). Perhaps it is beneficial to consider how much we once knew, how clearly we once understood the choice between right and wrong, and that in the future the same clear understanding will return to all of the children of God.
Having the reassurance of prophets and apostles that the sealing power of the holy priesthood is sufficient to allow righteous parents to reclaim their wayward children, we can do everything in our power to ensure that we merit exaltation, and leave the timing of our children's acceptance of the gospel to the Lord. Joseph Smith's exhortation in Doctrine and Covenants 128:22 captures the idea that, ultimately, triumph will be the Lord's "for the prisoners shall go free."
From the textbook, Successful Marriages and Families, Hawkins, Alan J., Dollahite, David C., & Draper, Thomas W., 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment