Ye Shall Have My Words

In the Pearl of Great Price, we read these details about our first parents: “And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled” (Moses 6:5-6). From Adam down to today, the Lord has always been concerned with books and records, and this passage highlights the need for us to teach our children to read and write. Why? They need to read so they can understand the word of God in sacred books, and they need to write so they can record through inspiration the doings of the Lord in their own lives. Of course, there are many other important reasons our children will need to read and write, but surely none are more important than these. It is interesting that in the very first verse of the Book of Mormon we learn that Lehi passed to his son Nephi a knowledge of language: “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge” (1 Nephi 1:1-3). The “learning” of his father surely included a knowledge of “the language of [his] father” that enabled Nephi to both read the sacred records on the brass plates and to write his own. We too must teach our children how to read and write in our language so they can come to know the Lord through the word of God and eventually make their own record.

                King Benjamin similarly taught his children language so they could understand the things of God. We read, “And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.” Like Lehi, he taught his sons their language so that they could understand the scriptures and prophecies of the Lord. The account continues, “And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.” Without records and the ability to read, we would suffer in ignorance. He urged his sons, “And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby” (Mosiah 1:2-3, 7). We can likewise teach our children language and encourage them to search the scriptures so they are not ignorant of the doings of the Lord.

                The Church has shown its commitment to reading through the work of the Relief Society. The 4^th Saints book records, “As the Church grew in developing nations during the 1970s and ’80s, teaching people to read had become part of its mission. In 1992, Relief Society general president Elaine L. Jack had made literacy a major focus of her presidency, leading to the creation of the Gospel Literacy Effort to teach reading and encourage Church members to study the scriptures, instruct their families, and improve themselves…. Under President Parkin, the Relief Society board continued to emphasize the Gospel Literacy Effort. They also encouraged the Saints to use Ye Shall Have My Words, a literacy manual first developed by the Church Educational System.” That title presumably comes from these words of Moroni: “Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words” (Mormon 9:30). We do have his words, and all are blessed who learn to read them.