Saturday, March 7, 2009

Stake Women Conference

Last Saturday I went to our stake's Women Conference. The theme was about Finding Joy. We could take 2 classes that would focus on where we wanted to apply this concept. I decided that I would take one on raising teens.
I love my teens. I was so excited when they turned 12 and then 13. But I didn't like being a teenager. It was hard. I made many mistakes. I felt insecure. So I want my children to have better memories of their teen-age years.
I learned that Love Comes First. That we need to love our teens more than things. Love them more than our parents. Serve them, for we serve those we love. And it is the parents responsibility to act first. One thing I'm going to do to show this is write them notes. I use to do this when they were little. Write little notes on their napkins in their lunch boxes. So I need to do this again.

Elder John H Groberg said:

When filled with God’s love, we can do and see and understand things that we could not otherwise do or see or understand. Filled with His love, we can endure pain, quell fear, forgive freely, avoid contention, renew strength, and bless and help others in ways surprising even to us.

Jesus Christ was filled with unfathomable love as He endured incomprehensible pain, cruelty, and injustice for us. Through His love for us, He rose above otherwise insurmountable barriers. His love knows no barriers. He invites us to follow Him and partake of His unlimited love so we too may rise above the pain and cruelty and injustice of this world and help and forgive and bless.

I learned I need to be an example. I need to teach them to work by working along side them instead of just giving out chores. I need to be teaching them what they need to make it as adults.
Elder M Russell Ballard said:
Consequently, if we are “raising the bar” for your sons to serve as missionaries, that means we are also “raising the bar” for you. If we expect more of them, that means we expect more of you and your wife as well. Remember, Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors were faithful because “they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:21)—and that instruction came in their homes.


I learned I need to bare my testimony. I need to let them know where I stand and what I believe. I need to let them know when they feel the spirit. I need to teach them how to be safe.

President Spencer W Kimball said:
The devil knows how to destroy our young girls and boys. he may not be able to tempt a person to murder or to commit adultery immediately, but he knows that if he can get a boy and a girl to sit in the car late enough after the dance, or to park long enough in the dark at the end of the lane, the best boy and the best girl will finally succumb and fall. He knows that all have a limit to their resistance.

I am so glad I was able to go to this conference. I was so uplifted when I left. I think we all need to go to things like this where we can get ideas to improve, and also feel that we are doing a great job, and find joy in our journey.


Pin It

2 comments:

Julie83402 said...

I came upon your post from a link and I'm so glad I clicked on it. Thank you for this post, you have inspired me!

Handsfullmom said...

Thanks for sharing this. I was touched by Elder Groberg's message and I loved the ideas about raising teens. My oldest turns ten next month and I feel the same way about the teenage years; I had a rough time feeling valuable and want to make things a little easier for my kids.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails