Upon the Rock of Our Redeemer

In this last general conference Elder Cook spoke about bishops and in particular their responsibility to the youth of the ward. He stated, “The bishop has a paramount role in serving as a shepherd to guide the rising generation, including young single adults, to Jesus Christ. President. President Russell M. Nelson has emphasized the seminal role of the bishop and his counselors. He has taught that their ‘first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of [their] ward.’” He gave this as part of his explanation for why bishops are encouraged to spend so much time with the youth of the ward: “The young men who are priests and the young women of the same age are at a very important stage in their lives and development. During a short period of time, they make decisions that have significant lifelong implications. They determine whether they will qualify for the temple, serve a mission, strive to be married in the temple, and prepare for their life’s work. These decisions, once made, have profound spiritual and practical implications for the remainder of their lives. Bishops, please know that a relatively short time spent with a young priest, young woman, or young adult can help them understand the power available to them through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It can provide a vision that will have a profound influence upon their entire life.” Indeed I have sometimes wondered why it is that these most pivotal decisions must normally be made at a time in life when we are young and have so little experience. Whatever the reasons, clearly it is crucial for all of us to aid the young in the church to navigate this challenging time for them and help them make righteous decisions founded in faith in Jesus Christ.

            Elder Cook emphasized that “parents will always have the main responsibility for their families.” Thus all of his encouragement for bishops to shepherd the youth of the church also is a reminder to parents of the crucial role they also play in the development of faith in Jesus Christ in their children. He spoke of one bishop who “assisted [the youth] in building faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the foundation of their lives” and encouraged others to likewise “provide that kind of vision and build faith in Jesus Christ. You can extend powerful invitations to change behavior, prepare them for life, and inspire them to stay on the covenant path.” What matters most is that we help the youth but a foundation centered in Jesus Christ so that they can make righteous decisions motivated by faith in Him. Elder Cook mentioned one instance where a bishop helped to resolve a conflict between a young man and his parents. He described, “The bishop helped the parents understand that striving to be a disciple of Jesus Christ was more important than exactly how and when family chores were accomplished.” He didn’t give other details, but presumably the parents were focused intently on making sure their son participated in his required family chores exactly as they prescribed and putting more value on this then even spiritual development. This brief mention is a crucial reminder for us as parents to make sure that what we emphasize most to our children is indeed what we really want them to understand as being the most important things in their life. If faith in Jesus Christ is indeed what we care most about, then it should be what we focus on most adamantly with them: studying scriptures will be more important than studying for school, personal prayer will be emphasized more than doing their personal chores, and obtaining Christlike attributes will be communicated as more valuable to them than obtaining worldly recognition. Like Helaman in his final teachings to his sons, we will emphasize with them above all that they must come unto the Savior, giving them this message in word and deed: “O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world…. And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:9, 12). Elder Cook said, “Thoughtful leaders have always sacrificed for the rising generation.” And so it surely is for thoughtful parents—we too must learn to sacrifice for the rising generation as we help them focus on that which will bless them the most: developing faith in Jesus Christ and learning to live as He would have them live. Like bishops, as parents we can “help them understand the power available to them through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” which “can provide a vision that will have a profound influence upon their entire life.”