How-To Raise Righteous Children

Disclaimer
-I showed up 15 minutes late
-Wilcox had a ton of material that was a little scattered at times.
-Please add any notes that I missed, or correct any wrong things…and I’ll update the post


Alma the Younger Lessons on How to teach children

Alma 36:15
War,Contention,Hearts Wax Hard,Began to be offended ( very similar to our culture)
For parents in our culture, it feels like everything is working against us to raise children righteously.

4 Lessons on How to Teach Children

1) One on one parenting ( customized parenting to each children)
Earthly parent can exert more influence on child than heavenly parent.

2) Give Testimony ( Alma 36 is all testimony)
-Doesn’t need to be a perfect, BIG testimony but can be small if its real
-If it doesn’t stir them up, nothing probably will
-Help children feel and find testimony ( Stripling Warriors said Mothers “knew it” ( they didn’t say mothers taught it)

(Last weeks lesson on faith preceded this lesson for a reason. You have to have a testimony, experiences, etc.. before you can build one in the life of a child.)

Alma the Younger gives his testimony 1rst in Alma Chap 36
v.1 I swear
v.3 I do know
v. 4 I would not
v.5 By holy angel made known unto me
Story of Conversion ( they probably heard it before) gives a shortened version in chapter 38 as well
v.26 I do know, “of God”
v. 28 I know he will
v. 30 you ought to know

3) Teach by Example Whenever he uses a should, ought, etc.. he uses a “as I have done”
v.2 should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of fathers
v. 3-4 beseech of thee that thou wilt ..., I would not that ye think I know of myself
v.29 ye also ought to retain in remembrance [captivity of fathers] as I have done
v.30 ye ought to know as I do know
Chap 37 v2.keep all these things sacred, event as I have kept them

When you are not a good example, use someone else

4) Teach them Love for Scriptures

Chapter 36

Joseph Smith and Lectures on Faith 2:33-34 ( mentions teaching)
-Parents should Arouse, excite, incite, search for, inquire,Stir up faith of children.

Alma Chapter 37 - Scriptures

4) Teach them Love for Scriptures -Parents should teach children how to read and pull truths out of scriptures

v. 8 ( 4 purposes of scripture)
1) Enlarge memory
2) Convince of error
3) Bring to knowledge
4) Bring salvation to souls

Other reasons ( I don’t know where Wilcox got them)
Bring people to knowledge of Incorrect traditions
Bring people to repentance
Bring people Cause to rejoice

Scriptures were not originally called “scriptures”
Moses 6 calls them a Book of Remembrance-or a book of stories God wants us to remember.
Scriptures give good examples,stories of heroes and great people ( unlike the world)

Examples of how scriptures are used in the scriptures
Iron Rod --- next to a path with rushing creek and a slippery bank
Manna –no spiritual nourishment in the world, how barren it is
Sword – World is a battle
Lamp – symbolizes the world
Liahona(v.37) the world is wilderness

Cicero -- “He who knows only his own generation always remains a child”
C.S. Lewis -- (didn’t provide a reference, and read the quote too fast, please leave a comment if you find the real quote)

“A scholar lives in many different places and ages and is immune to much of the garbage given over the pulpits.”

Shiblon – “The perfect child”
Advice for perfect children
1) Praise/Compliment
2) Let them know how much you love them
(Children don’t know the joy they are to parents)
3) Validate Spiritual Experiences in their life
(needs to feel comfortable sharing spiritual experiences with parent)
(parent needs to affirm and build on spiritual experiences)

Coriantum – “The problem child”

Chapters 36-38 were doctrinal—
-Coriantum used excuses of doctrinal misunderstandings
-Coriantum gave some heed to Fathers counsel, just not all of it.

Pattern for Correcting Truth (can be hard at times)
1) Show where child went wrong
2) Show consequences of behavior ( short term and long term)
3) Teach how to prevent from happening again
4) Show Scripture

Chapter 39 – Immoral, Sexual Sin

Bridle Passions – (Wilcox loves that advice like this wouldn’t have come from a 24 year old Joseph Smith-proving book is true)

World—teaches release of passion = LOVE
God—teaches the control of passion within bounds he has set = LOVE

-God – “Procreative Power is final glory of God”
-Reserved for highest level of Celestial Kingdom
-You can be a Father, if you can’t procreate

5 Gates to prevent sin, specifically sexual sin
(this was a bit confusing because he continued with more "Gates" after the 5” he mentioned)

1) Give Heed to my counsel
2) Don’t think you are strong enough or wise enough
3) Stuff
4) Don’t go to places (Land of Siren) where opportunity presents itself
Story of Caiaphas palace- (Jesus was taken to his palace after he was caught)
Peter said he would never deny jesus( he thought he was strong enough, but he went to the palace and denied Jesus)

5) No excuse
Men are not gas pedals and women brakes.
Men and Women carry equal responsibility in bridling passions.

More gates
v.9 Be Careful what you look at
Cross yourself ( build a blockade between you and sin)
As a parent, you can do what you can (computer in main room, filters, etc)
to limit children from sexual sin (pornography, worldlyinfluences,)
but they can get it if they want it.
v.10 take counsel from Older Brother
v.13 Turn to the Lord and LOOK ( completely)
v.13 No vain or foolish thing.—sometimes the pursuit of FUN or good times can be a trigger for sexual sin.
v.15 Hope.


2 types of people ( he wishes he could split the class into two groups)

1) People who have never had a problem with Sexual sin
Be Pure, Be Clean, Be Chaste,etc… and Don’t, DON”T DON”T!!! give in

2) People who have Sinned
Last thing he wants to do pour gasoline on fire of guilt
Virtue can be restored as though you had never lost it
No pink people in church ( Sins are Scarlet OR White as Snow)
Some people think you can be forgiven, but you are a slightly pink version of white.

Sexual sin is especially sinful because you need two people to both agree, both wills have to give in

Short Term Consequences
v.7, v.11

Long term Consequences
v.8 Will not be nice at Judgment day
v.9 No Kingdom of God



Counsel about being Single --Wilcox recorded a talk entitled, “How will I know?” (Deseret Book)

Wished 25-30 year olds shopped at ToyRUS rather than BEST BUY
bought baby food rather than pizza
in a home, rather than at his institute class/dances.

No legitimate reasons for being single past 26,27,28
Pointed to Apathy, Laziness & the Need for some to learn social skills
Its time to move on and be fathers/husbands so women can be mothers/wives.
Acknowledged frustration/anxiety exists on both sides(male/female)

His Advice
Get on Knees, pray and tell the Lord your ready and want to move on
Learn social skills, if you need to
Nobody is perfect, but he acknowledged we don’t need to settle either.

Court
Decide
Commit
Move Forward

(as one last inspiration for single people to get out of the rat race)

Shakespeare
Spuring the advances of a suitor, Rosalyn the heroine said
“Sell while you may, for you are not for all markets”

Wilcox expressed he was sorry if he offended anyone

Next week—we will Explore IRAQ and the things that make a WAR justifiable based on scriptures.