Raising Youth

My Position on Raising Youth

I remember when my fifteen year old son was a little boy, he spent three and a half long years all by himself with mom and dad. He was my entire life. We spent all day keeping each other busy and loving each other. One day as we were driving home from a mommy and son excursion he said, "Mom I'm gonna live with you forever." As I explained why he couldn't do that and that someday he wouldn't even want to do that he cried. Now that I am at the someday when he doesn't want to live with me anymore and I question whether he even loves me, I am the one with tears. My position on raising youth is that it stinks! What a bad attitude. That is why I chose this topic for my application project. Despite my negativity, I have found peace in many of the conference addresses and quotes I have found while studying this topic. My favorite comes from Elder Wilford W. Anderson who states, “When they are teenagers, we can tune out the cacophony of arguments and threats and, instead, perform the beautiful music of persuasion—and perhaps sing the second verse of the lullaby of long-suffering. Parents can perform in perfect harmony the tandem attributes of gentleness and meekness.” Raising youth is a difficult charge, one that I intend to put my whole heart into for that sweet little boy who loves his mommy and wants to live with her forever.

1.Elder Wilford W. Anderson – April 2015 Conference “The Music of the Gospel” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-music-of-the-gospel?lang=eng

“When they are teenagers, we can tune out the cacophony of arguments and threats and, instead, perform the beautiful music of persuasion—and perhaps sing the second verse of the lullaby of long-suffering. Parents can perform in perfect harmony the tandem attributes of gentleness and meekness.”

2.President Thomas S. Monson- April 2014 Conference “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/be-strong-and-of-a-good-courage?lang=eng

“We are here upon the earth at a remarkable period in its history. Our opportunities are almost limitless, and yet we also face a multitude of challenges, some of them unique to our time.”

3.President Thomas S. Monson- April 2014 Conference “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/be-strong-and-of-a-good-courage?lang=eng

“…decisions are constantly before us which can determine our destiny. In order for us to make the correct decisions, courage is needed—the courage to say no when we should, the courage to say yes when that is appropriate, the courage to do the right thing because it is right.”

4.President Henry B. Eyering- October 2012 Conference “Help Them Aim High” Https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/help-them-aim-high?lang=eng

“The boy may have potential even beyond what the Lord will reveal to you. Help him aim high.”

5. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf- October 2014 “Lord is it I?” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/lord-is-it-i?lang=eng&query=Lord+is+it+i

“This business of beams and motes seems to be closely related to our inability to see ourselves clearly. I’m not sure why we are able to diagnose and recommend remedies for other people’s ills so well, while we often have difficulty seeing our own.”

6. Elder Dallin H. Oaks-April 2015 Conference “The Parable of the Sower” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-parable-of-the-sower?lang=eng

“If the emblems of the sacrament are being passed and you are texting or whispering or playing video games or doing anything else to deny yourself essential spiritual food, you are severing your spiritual roots and moving yourself toward stony ground. You are making yourself vulnerable to withering away when you encounter tribulation like isolation, intimidation, or ridicule.”

7. Elder L. Tom Perry-October 2014 “Finding Lasting Peace and Building Eternal Families” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/finding-lasting-peace-and-building-eternal-families?lang=eng

“A successful parent should never be too busy to capture a moment in a child’s life when an important lesson can be taught.”

8. Elder M. Russell Ballard-April 2015 “The Greatest Generation of Young Adults” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-greatest-generation-of-young-adults?lang=eng

“If you find yourself lacking in any of these simple principles, then I urge you to courageously repent and bring your life back in line with gospel standards of righteous discipleship.”

9. Robert D. Hales- October 2014  Eternal Life—to Know Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/eternal-life-to-know-our-heavenly-father-and-his-son-jesus-christ?lang=eng#watch=video

 “As I exercised faith and obeyed the commandments, the Holy Ghost testified that what I was learning was true. This is how I came to know for myself.”

10. Robert D. Hales- April 2004  With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope to Families https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/with-all-the-feeling-of-a-tender-parent-a-message-of-hope-to-families?lang=eng

 “Every parent faces moments of such fear. However, when we exercise our faith by teaching our children and doing what we can to help them, our fears will diminish.”