December 2007 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

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6 the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies.” 1 instrument of punishment, though on occasion they may have deserved it. I have since discovered that the man I disliked was And those babies, I should like to add, will become one of that very substantial body of parents who seem forces for good or ill, depending in large measure on incapable of anything but harshness toward those for how they are reared. The Lord, without equivocation, whose coming into the world they are responsible. I has declared, “I have commanded you to bring up your have also come to realize that this man, children in light and truth” (D&C 93:40). who walks in the memories of my childhood, is but an example of uncounted Four Imperatives thousands across the world who are known If I may be pardoned for suggesting the as child abusers. Every social worker, every obvious, I do so only because the obvious duty officer in the emergency room of a large is not observed in so many instances. hospital, every police officer and judge in a large The obvious includes four imperatives city can tell you of them. The whole tragic pic- with reference to children: (1) love ture is one of beating, kicking, slamming, and them, (2) teach them, (3) respect them, even of sexual assault on small children. And and (4) pray with them and for them. akin to these violent child abusers are those There once was a commonly seen bumper vicious men and women who exploit children sticker that asked the question, “Have you for pornographic purposes. hugged your child today?” How fortunate, how I have no disposition to dwell on this ugly blessed is the child who feels the affection of his picture. I wish to say only that no one who or her parents. That warmth, that love will is a professed follower of Christ and no one bear sweet fruit in the years that follow. In When I was a boy, we who is a professed member of this Church large measure, the harshness that character- learned that by clipping can engage in such practices without offendizes so much of our society is an outgrowth of and sawing in the right ing God and repudiating the teachings of His harshness imposed on children years ago. places, even when snow Son. It was Jesus Himself who, while holding The neighborhood in which I grew up was was on the ground and before us the example of the purity and inno- a microcosm of the world, with many varieties the wood appeared cence of children, declared, “Whoso shall of people. They were a close-knit group, and I dead, we could shape offend one of these little ones . . . , it were think we knew them all. I think also we loved a tree so that the sun better for him that a millstone were hanged them all—that is, except for one man. I must would touch the fruit about his neck, and that he were drowned in make a confession: I detested that man. I have which was to come with the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). Could since repented of that emotion, but as I look spring and summer. there be a stronger denunciation of those back, I can sense again the intensity of my feel- who abuse children than these words spoken ing. Why this strong antipathy? Because he by the Savior of mankind? whipped his children with strap or stick or whatever came to hand as his vicious anger flared on the slightest Begin at Home provocation. Do you want a spirit of love to grow in the world? Then Perhaps it was because of the home in which I lived, begin within the walls of your own home. Behold your lit- where there was a father who, by some quiet magic, was tle ones, and see within them the wonders of God, from able to discipline his children without the use of any whose presence they have recently come.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY EMILY LEISHMAN, POSED BY MODELS President Brigham Young (1801–77) once said: “A child loves the smiles of its mother, but hates her frowns. I tell the mothers not to allow the children to indulge in evils, but at the same time to treat them with mildness.” 2 He further stated, “Bring up your children in the love and fear of the Lord; study their dispositions and their temperaments, and deal with them accordingly, never allowing yourself to correct them in the heat of passion; teach them to love you rather than to fear you.” 3 Of course, there is need for discipline with families. But discipline with severity, discipline with cruelty, inevitably leads not to correction but rather to resentment and bitterness. It cures nothing and only aggravates the problem. It is self-defeating. The Lord, in setting forth the spirit of governance in His Church, has also set forth the spirit of governance in the home in these great words of revelation: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained . . . , only by persuasion, by longsuffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; . . . “Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; “That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death” (D&C 121:41, 43–44). The Endurance of Example Behold your little ones, and teach them. I need not remind you that your example will do more than anything else in impressing upon their minds a pattern of life. It is always interesting to meet the children of old friends and to find in another generation the ways of their fathers and mothers. The story is told that in ancient Rome a group of women were, with vanity, showing their jewels one to another. Among them was Cornelia, the mother of two boys. One of the women said to her, “And Behold your little ones, and teach them. Your example will do more than anything else in impressing upon their minds a pattern of life. ENSIGN DECEMBER 2007 7
Page 1 and 2: T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H
Page 3 and 4: T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H
Page 5: 34 USING THIS ISSUE Celebrating Chr
Page 10 and 11: 8 The noble Roman mother responded,
Page 12 and 13: 10 Not only is the story of the Sav
Page 14 and 15: The angel Gabriel was sent to Zacha
Page 16 and 17: 14 Ushering In a New Dispensation T
Page 18 and 19: 16 & QUESTIONS ANSWERS The holidays
Page 20 and 21: 18 works through others. He knows w
Page 22 and 23: 20 As I enjoyed my other children,
Page 24 and 25: 22 THE TRUTH TRUTH FOUND FOUND ME I
Page 26 and 27: 24 “How about one more door?” s
Page 28 and 29: PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT CASEY, POSED B
Page 30 and 31: 28 There Shall Be a Record Kept amo
Page 32 and 33: 30 LEARN MORE ABOUT CHURCH HISTORY
Page 34 and 35: 32 As today, ancient prophets like
Page 36 and 37: 34 The Joseph Smith Journals The Pr
Page 38 and 39: 36 The Prophet’s second Ohio jour
Page 40 and 41: 38 Below: The Prophet’s first Ill
Page 42 and 43: A Mother AND AN OVERFLOWING HEART 4
Page 44 and 45: Elizabeth Teaching John, by Ardith
Page 46 and 47: I testify that Jesus is the perfect
Page 48 and 49: 46 I testify that Jesus was, in fac
Page 50 and 51: 48 LESSONS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT F
Page 52 and 53: 50 from the power of a fallen and d
Page 54 and 55: 52 BY STEFFANI R. PACKER For most c
Page 56 and 57: Below, from left to right: Purevsur
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Above: Odgerel (left), Ulaanbaatar
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58 manages the one-room distributio
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INSET: PHOTOGRAPH BY HENRIK ALS, PO
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62 Mother’s Christmas Mouse By Be
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64 Did Heavenly Father Really Love
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Our Christmas Experiment When our c
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68 INDEX for 2007 V OLUME 37 A AARO
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70 Foundation for the Future in San
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72 Mother’s Christmas Mouse, Bett
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74 Meals and Memorization, Chantell
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76 Elder Oaks Bolsters Members in A
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78 Months of effort help make Templ
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80 education program offered their
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4 02006 12000 1 00612 Dec 07 Madonn
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