However, the interpretation of these statements by some members of the Church has contributed to a measure of doctrinal misunderstanding. 1The consolation arises from the hope these messages seem to proffer that parents who honor gospel covenants, obey the Lord’s commandments, and serve faithfully can influence the salvation of their sons and daughters who go astray. Statements by General Authorities of the Church describing the influence of faithful parents on wayward children have been and continue to be a source of great familial comfort. ![]() I include Elder Bednar’s (with my own added emphasis as well) remarks here: Elder David A. That being said, we also have to include the truths that consequences, justice, and agency are just as vital to the Plan of our Heavenly Father as his mercy and grace. I admit that I love these quotes about faithful parents. As one Christian theologian pondered, how can God redeem those who insist on their rebellion? How can God redeem those who insist on not being redeemed? How can it be certain that there won’t be, “rebels to the end” with “the doors of hell. The commentary from Elder Bednar in 2014 on this subject is useful to provide balance to these teachings. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them.” 4 “We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. “It is my conviction that those wicked influences one day will be overruled. They are puzzled over why they are so helpless when they have tried so hard to do what they should. They agonize over rebellious sons or daughters. “It is not uncommon for responsible parents to lose one of their children, for a time, to influences over which they have no control. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible. “The measure of our success as parents … will not rest solely on how our children turn out. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.” 1īrigham Young (1801–77) Second President of the Church Pray for your careless and disobedient children hold on to them with your faith. They will have to pay their debt to justice they will suffer for their sins and may tread a thorny path but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. ![]() ![]() The Prophet Joseph Smith declared-and he never taught a more comforting doctrine-that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Joseph Smith, First President of the Church (1805-1844) A scripture which embodies this sentiment is as follows, “How merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God” ( Jacob 6:4). I know that he has reached out to me in my life in my shortcomings. I have shared these quotes with many over the years and have found them to extend hope! I do not understand all of this completely, but I trust in the power of the sealing ordinance and have hope that the Lord will continue to reach out to all those who have strayed. I am so grateful that the Lord is patient with me! The following quotes come the September 2002 Ensign. I like to emphasize that the Lord does not judge us until the Final Judgment, and so it behooves us to love all of Heavenly Father’s children, while petitioning the Lord for those we love who have strayed. Mosiah 27 usually causes young people to ask questions about those that they love who are not on the gospel path.
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