because if we teach them young....

ok, so last night i was feeling really sick and thought for a moment that i'd skip reading the scriptures for just this one night. as i was mentally weighing the decision out in my head, my oldest son reached for the book of mormon (the book we are studying) plops it in my lap and says "ready mom?" i hesitated nearly half a moment and replied "of course!"
We read in the book of Alma. As our routine goes, at the end of each chapter we discuss what the lesson is, or rather, why the prophets of old felt it needful for us to read it. Chapter 4 was about when the Nephites were growing prideful and felt they were better than the others. because of the pride in their hearts, they lost sight of the things of God and started to hunger for the things of the world. i asked my two boys, ages nine and ten,

"If someone offered you all the things in the world that you want right now, would you trade your testimony and membership in the church for it?"

the reply was instant.

"NO! NEVER!"

Collier shouted, followed by his younger brother Austin,

"Not on your life!"

Collier tells me then that he hopes he is never that foolish where he would trade his testimony or membership for anything that would only make him happy for a little while on earth!!

Now the truth of it is, that this little conversation was music to my ears. Will they ever falter? yes, probably at some point, but they will have had a strong rememberence of a foundation of their Savior, Jesus Christ to fall back on. And they are learning at such an early age that that is the safest foundation to build on and fall on.

Because if we teach them young, they will learn to build their own relationships with their Heavenly Father, they will love their Savior, Jesus Christ and they will stand tall and confident in a crumbling world where happiness is forgotten. but if we teach them young...they will know what true happiness is and how to get and make it last, and share it with others!!!

thank you boys for the reminder!!!