12 Sep 2010 Frankfurt Conference-Apostle Nelson

Today we left an hour earlier to get a seat for the conference. The Stake Center was too small to hold it in so they held it at a huge center called the StadtHalle in Offenbach. The place was filled. It was great to see Frankfurt is growing. They are really trying to get the members involved in Missionary work. President Nelson and his wife came over with Pres. Monson who dedicated the Ukraine Temple last week. They have been on a two week tour of all the areas in Europe. He said some of the areas had but a few people and they didn't know what a Mission President or a Temple President was, but he was inspired to tell them that it was only the beginning for them. Frankfurt is privileged to have both a Mission President and a Temple President. He said some very poignant statements but I will let Elder Walters tell you about some of those things since they had quite an impact on him personally.

He said that he couldn't see the children. Would you parents have your children stand up on their seats so that I can see them? All the children stood up. He waved to them. They didn't do the same so he ask them to wave back to him. They all obediently waved back. He then said " Ich liebe Sie." ( I love you ). He knowing that they didn't speak English at that age knew them well. I was emotionally touched by his words and concern for these little ones. The parallel to Christ"s address to the Nephite children in 3rd. Nephi 17:21-25. Where Christ blessed the little children and then He wept. Angels came down and minister to the children. Encircling them about as with fire. Oh , what a marvelous site. I witnessed it. I heard an apostle of the Lord speak to the children before he addressed us adults. How I wished that all my children and brothers and sisters in Vista 8th ward could have witnessed today's scene. It was one that shall always stay in my heart.

The rest of the talk was focused on parents teaching their children while they are young. The first thing it talked about was when he was a father of 10 small children and they did something wrong. He talked to them calmly in private and used the scriptures as a teaching moment to show them why it was wrong to do what they did. I thought to myself, I wish I had done that with my children. then he talked about the things that parents should be teaching their children.

1. Teach them how to pray. Let them know they have a Heavenly Father that loves them and wants to hear from them on a daily basis. They should know that when no one else will listen he is there to hear them and help them in their lives.

2 Teach them to obey the commandments, to love virture and to not put anything in their bodies that would be harmful as it says in D&C 89:18-21 " And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones, and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures, and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint, and a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them as the children of Israel, and not slay them."

3. Teach them to pay their tithing. Even when they are young, have them keep a jar to put their money in. Teach them to pay an honest 10% on everything that they earn and let them go to tithing settlement with you as adults at the end of the year. As it says in D&C 65:23, "Behold,, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming."

4. Teach them to obey their parents, to obey the law of the land and be a good citizen. Support your local government, get involved with the schools where your children attend and be a good example to others.

5. Teach them to serve others. Teach them by your example, taking food into someone who is ill, cleaning their houses if needed. Visit those that might be lonely or hurt. Be a friend and never exclude another from your circle of friends.

6. Very important is to get an education, both girls and boys. Teach them how important their schooling is and will be in their lives. He said to get as much as you can and never stop learning. As we read in D&C 93:36, "The glory of God is intelligence." and D&C 130:18-19 " Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection, and if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."

7. Teach your children the Plan of Salvation, they should know where they came from before they were born, about the war in heaven and how we came to be sent down to this earth. Tell them how important it is for us to follow Christ's example and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. Tell them what happens after death, that they will be resurrected and live with their Heavenly Father some day. Make sure they know they are children of God.

8. Teach them to be worthy to serve a mission when the time comes. Encourage them to go to seminary and to honor and magnify their priesthood.

9. Last but not least teach them what it is to be loved so that they can in turn be loving parents to their children. Teach them love, tolerance, gratitude, obedience, to be of service, trustworthy, charitable, patient and slow to anger. See D&C 121: 43 "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."

After he was through, Nancy and I both felt we had really fallen down in the teaching of our children and felt very humbled by that fact. We hope by serving a mission our children will feel that we are doing this for us as well as for them, knowing that the Lord will bless our family as we try to serve faithfully here in Germany. It was a wonderful faith promoting day for us. We love feeling the spirit. Love to all of you in Vista land. Auf Wiedersehen