“Suffer the little children to come unto me..."

I am a little emotional today after re-reading the two accounts of Jesus blessing the children.  More lessons exist in these passages for me than I realized and maybe even more than I am able to explore at this time.

So again..I must ask myself...

What do I want my children to know about
Jesus Christ? 

Another question I find myself asking is...

What lessons from the stories of Jesus do I need to apply better in my life so I am an example of the believers?

“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

Jesus:

• He always has time for you.
• He will never forbid you to come unto him...in other words, no matter how many times you cry, whine, beg, for him to be in your life..he will be there with his arms outstretched.
• People who have the qualities of humility, teachablity, and innocence are those who will be in the kingdom of God. 

Me:

• Only one bullet point I am going to make here. The path to humility seems to be a life long process for me.  I also have a long way to go in order to be an example of the believers when it comes to making time for my children and their needs. I hope they know I love them....

"And he took them up in his arms..."

"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
“Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
“And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:13–16)

Jesus “wept, … and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. …
“And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
“And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven … ; and they came down and encircled those little ones … ; and the angels did minister unto them” (3 Ne. 17:21, 23–24)

These two passages of Scripture are among my favorites.  They paint a picture of a loving and patient Savior.  Can you imagine what it would be like to have the Savior hold you and bless you? As a mother, I would love to have been there to see the Son of God bless my children?!  I really cannot fathom the joy!  But is this the only lesson we can learn from Christ blessing the children?  We have been asked to liken the Scriptures to our own personal lives. 

What else can be gained from these stories?

What other proof can be found of Christ's love? 

How do we know he was patient?

How does this knowledge apply to my children?

I know I won't be able to do justice to these questions in just one post and hold the interest of my children....so I will try to answer one question per post.  Until then, when you say your prayers tonight...ask your Heavenly Father if He loves you....feel the Spirit...and know.

"Didn't you see His face?"

As we pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, it is impossible not to feel their love for us.  The same spirit can be felt from studying the scriptures and learning about the life of Christ.  We will come to know Him, His love, and the pathway for our own lives will be layed out in front of us.  The next thing I want my children to really understand is His love for them and just how well He knows them.  They are not alone.

President Thomas S. Monson shares a story in the June 2002 Ensign. (Don't you just love his stories!)
"Several years ago I received a letter from a woman who had emerged from a long period of Church inactivity. She was ever so anxious for her husband, who as yet was not a member of the Church, to share the joy she felt.
She wrote of a trip which she, her husband, and their three sons made from the family home to Grandmother’s home in Idaho. While driving through Salt Lake City, they were attracted by the message which appeared on a billboard. The message invited them to visit Temple Square. Bob, the nonmember husband, made the suggestion that a visit would be pleasant. The family entered the visitors’ center, and Father took two sons up a ramp that one called “the ramp to heaven.” Mother and three-year-old Tyler were a bit behind the others, they having paused to appreciate the beautiful paintings which adorned the walls. As they walked toward the magnificent sculpture of Thorvaldsen’s Christus, tiny Tyler bolted from his mother and ran to the base of the Christus, while exclaiming, “It’s Jesus! It’s Jesus!” As Mother attempted to restrain her son, Tyler looked back toward her and his father and said, “Don’t worry. He likes children.”
After departing the center and again making their way along the freeway toward Grandmother’s, Dad asked Tyler what he liked best about their adventure on Temple Square. Tyler smiled up at him and said, “Jesus.”
“How do you know that Jesus likes you, Tyler?”
Tyler, with a most serious expression on his face, looked up at his father’s eyes and answered, “Dad, didn’t you see His face?”
Nothing else needed to be said."

Prayer of the Children

I have been struck many times this week of the oxymoron that is our current world.  We have explicit Meth commercials on T.V.  showing the darkest side of the challenges facing our children daily. In contrast, we see innocent children whose biggest concern is their empty bellies. 
My niece has an 11 month old daughter who is exploring her world, those first steps, discovering doors and what lies behind them...experiencing life.  I send my 18 year old daughter out in the world soon, those first "steps", discovering "doors" and what lies behind them...experiencing life.
The melancholy my niece expressed in seeing her little one grow...wanting her to progress, but still wanted to hold onto the innocence of her baby... is little different than I feel seeing my little one step into the next chapter of her life.  I think of how Christ loves the children.  If my children could feel that, if I could feel that, how would our world be different? What would our actions be?

If you have never heard this song or even if you have...please listen to it and read the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTZFIcqnQMg

Can you hear the prayer of the children?

On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room

Empty eyes with no more tears to cry

Turning heavenward toward the light

Crying Jesus, help me

To see the morning light-of one more day

But if I should die before I wake,

I pray my soul to take

Can you feel the hearts of the children?

Aching for home, for something of their very own

Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,

But hope for a better day a better day

Crying Jesus, help me

To feel the love again in my own land

But if unknown roads lead away from home,

Give me loving arms, away from harm

Can you hear the voice of the children?

Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?

Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,

Blood of the innocent on their hands

Crying Jesus, help me

To feel the sun again upon my face,

For when darkness clears I know you're near,

Bringing peace again

Temptation

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:"
Jospeh Smith translated this to “Suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Russell M. Nelson stated, "The clarification on temptation is helpful, for surely we would not be led into temptation by Deity. The Lord said, 'Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.'(Matthew 26:41)"

I am going to focus on the scripture Matthew 26:41 for today's blog. 
Watch - The Topical Guide of the LDS Kings James Version of the Bible tells us to refer also to, Look, Observe, Vigilant...
Look -  Alma 37: 46 The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
Look to God. Learn of Him and discover your divine potential.  Moses asked the Israelites to look at the brass serpent and live, a simple task. In similitude, we are asked to look at Christ and live and our burdens will be made easier to bear.  I think that is why I am even writing this blog. I want my children to look to Christ and live forever in His peace.
Observe - How is observing different than looking? Look is defined as "to turn one's eye toward something", whereas observe is to "regard with attention".  It is not enough to just look...we have to observe, turn not just our eyes to Christ, but our attention. 
Vigilant - means to be ever awake or alert.  We can never let our guard down, we turn our eye toward God, we pay special attention to His life and teaches, then we must be vigilant in keeping His commandments.   The result of our actions is promised in Matthew 26:41 - we enter not into temptation. 
I know it all sounds easy, but I am also very aware that it isn't always as easy as it sounds. Remember Christ is really teaching us for the long term. This life is but a moment in time, the place we want to live is Eternally with Him and He has prepared the way.
I hope as I continue to tell the stories of Jesus that my family may find the peace available to them during their moment in time.

Prayer and Forgiveness

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
Russell M. Nelson tells us, "The Lord’s Prayer is recorded twice in the New Testament and once in the Book of Mormon. It is also included in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, where clarification is provided:
'Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,'
The clarification on forgiveness is supported by other statements of the Master. He said to His servants, 'Inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you.' (Matthew 18) In other words, if one is to be forgiven, one must first forgive."
I am fairly certain this concept can work with our fellowmen, including members of our families, just as it works with our Father in Heaven. 
I have a couple of great friends. Sometimes I do stupid things, and sometimes they do.  In some of my other relationships, I have to worry that I have done something wrong, have possibly hurt them, and that our relationship will change. Not with these dear friends.  We apologize to each other, try not to be stupid another time, and love each other for being imperfect. 
How does this tie in to the Lord's Prayer? 
First of all, we are imperfect.  Without the Atonement, with Christ as our Advocate, we can never hope to attain anything close to perfection.
Second, we have to be active in the relationship with Him.  If we transgress, WHEN we transgress, we must ask for forgiveness and try not to transgress again. We must also being willing to forgive others and be accepting of their imperfections and weaknesses.  If we expect to be treated fairly, we must treat our brothers and sisters fairly.  We will be judged according to how we judge others.  (Yes, my dear children....we have work to to do in this department!!)
Third, our Father loves each of His children, unconditionally.  Just like I know my friends love me unconditionally, just as I love my children unconditionally.  The relationship with Him will never change due to Him.  He is always there.
We could almost see it as an equation....
Love + Forgiveness = The Atonement
Unlike regular math though...all of the factors can be rearranged and the equation still makes sense. 
Atonement + Love = Forgiveness
Atonement + Forgiveness = Love 
There is no negative factor unless we choose not to do the math.

Prayer (cont.)

Remember, this is a work in progress.  My kids thought yesterday's post was too lengthy, so I will try to keep it a little shorter since this is for them. Yesterday I touched on the "Thy" portions of the Lord's Prayer....Thy Name...Thy Kingdom...Thy Will.  The second half is more of our plea to our Heavenly Father. 
“Give us this day our daily bread."
While God knows our need for food to nourish our bodies, He also knows the need for our spirits to be nourished.  We could say, "Give us this day our daily..." portion of thy Holy Spirit. 
Jesus tells his disciples prior to the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:6-8
6 ...when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
We have all seen the picture of Christ standing at the door, waiting to be let in. Christ is teaching us that through praying to the Father the door will be opened. We will then be openly rewarded with what we pray for as long as are asking in accordance with God's will. It is comforting to know that our Father knows what we need before we ask him.  Prayer is not a time just to hear our own voice, it is an opportunity to learn what our needs are, ask for help in attaining those needs, and express our thanks for the many blessings we are given daily. 
I guess some might say, "If God knows what I need, why doesn't He just give it to me?"  While in theory that may seem like an easier way, it isn't God's way.  By giving us everything we need without each of us participating in the process would kind of be like a mother laying her child's clothes out for them each day.  The child doesn't get a choice in the matter, they learn no decision making skills, and they are left only as a doll to be dressed and played with.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to learn the skills of making good decisions. He wants us to partake of this life, not just be his doll to manipulate. 
I just had a picture of the computer generated world of the "Sims" flash through my mind.  While each character in that game may appear to its creator to have the "perfect" life....would you really like to live in a world where all your choices are made for you?
So...to my children...Pray to your Heavenly Father to have His Spirit... the "bread of life"...with you to guide your choices, to ease your heart aches, to bring you peace.  He truly is there, ready with abundant blessings to bestow upon you.  In those prayers, don't just rapidly and thoughtlessly repeat a "form" prayer.  Take the time to ponder what you really want, listen once you have asked, and choose those things that will bring you home to Him.

Prayer

I am still developing a plan on how to accomplish my goals with this blog. For now I will be spring boarding off the information found in Elder Andersen's conference address, searching the Scriptures and studying the words of Latter-Day prophets to gain insight into specific topics from Christ's life. This Sunday I will be teaching a lesson on Praying to our Heavenly Father. I might as well multi-task and so my first blog topic I will explore is PRAYER...

Quoting Neil L. Andersen speaking of our children,

"Do they know that Jesus often taught, 'Ask, and ye shall receive'? Do His prayers of thankfulness and His pleadings to His Father flow through our children's minds as they kneel in prayer with their own concerns?"

Prayer is the communication we have with our Heavenly Father. Jesus himself prayed to the Father and gave us an example of how we should pray in the Lord's Prayer.

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13

We can learn much from this simple prayer by breaking it down...

"Our Father," is a term of endearment to me. If I were speaking with my sisters about our earthly father, a smile would creep into my eyes, my heart would warm, and a feeling of safety and love would envelop me. I know if I need anything, no matter what time of day or night, my Dad is there for me. Isn't this the same relationship we should form with Our Heavenly Father? He is there 24/7 waiting for word from His children, including word from me and my children! I know my Dad doesn't care what I tell him, he loves me anyway and always. Surely "Our Father" feels the same.

"Hallowed be thy name." Although He is our Father, he is holy...omnipotent...Elohim. We should speak to Him as if we know Him for he certainly knows us! But we must give Him the respect he deserves, remembering we are nothing without Him.

"Thy Kingdom come." You know, it wasn't until I started breaking it down myself that I realized this is it's own statement. I have always thought of a comma between "Thy Kingdom come." and "Thy will be done." like they were married to each other. For some reason it changes the focus for me. Why would Christ ask us to pray for God's Kingdom to come? Before, I guess I thought of it being God's will and it would happen regardless of me. Separating them allows us to see that we should pray for God's Kingdom to be present in our lives. In praying for this presence, we are opening up our hearts to the will of God. We can then build His Kingdom on earth, in our homes, in our families. I know this is just one step in God's Kingdom coming. The fullness of this promise occuring when Christ comes again and the earth receiving its paradisiacal glory, but my goal in this blog is to apply Christ's life for the benefit of my children. So what do I want my children to learn from this? There is a song, "Home can be a Heaven on Earth..." The building blocks to God's Kingdom can start in our home, but we have to invite the builder into our hearts and homes in order for the work to begin.

"Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven." This is the last portion of the Lord's Prayer I am going to explore today. I don't want anyone getting bored and if I expect my kids to read this, then I can't make it too lengthy...I know how much they LOVE to read! How do I liken this portion of the prayer to my family. Well, it is my will that my children learn of God, His Son, and the blessing available for them. We are told in 2 Nephi 2:25, "...men are, that they might have joy." I believe it is God's will that my children are happy. I believe they were happy in their premortal state. I know they were happy babies, and I know they bring me joy. Granted..not all the time, but our journey here on earth will not always be easy either. It is also God's will that we learn and progress and grow so that we may be ready and worthy to receive all He has to give us. True joy and happiness comes not from the world with the toys and technology available. It doesn't come from cars and clothes, or from trips to exotic places. It comes from the peace of knowing the Lord knows us; He knows what is best for us; His will is for us to have joy in this life and in the next life; His will is incapable of leading us astray.

My prayer for my children is that they will desire to learn of Christ's life and his love for his Father. I hope they can develop a lasting relationship with the Father and his Son, knowing they will never lead them astray.


Sources:
John 17, Matthew 6, Luke 11 from the King James Version of the Bible
3 Nephi 13 in the Book of Mormon
"Guided by His Exemplary Life",Joseph B. Wirthlin, Liahona 1999 February
"Lessons from the Lord's Prayers" Russell M. Nelson, Ensign 2009 May

Tell me the stories of Jesus.....

I am creating this blog for my children. I feel I am failing to teach them all they must know in order to navigate these turbulent times. In a recent LDS Conference, Neil L. Andersen spoke on the importance of teaching our children about Jesus Christ, his life...ministry....atoning sacrifice...resurrection. He asked, "Are the life and teachings of Jesus imbedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior's life when they wonder what to do in their own lives?
I know I am slacking on my personal scripture study and I am positive it influences my children. So in a last ditch effort to teach my children before they go out into the world, find spouses, and have their own children to teach, I plan to join the world of blog and explore my own feelings about Christ and hopefully teach my children along the way. Wish me luck?