One of my favorite chapters of scripture is 3 Nephi 3. I love Lachoneus and the way he led the Nephites against the Gadianton robbers. He also provides a powerful model for us as we lead our children against the evils they face daily.
Verse 12-"this Lachoneus...was a just man and could not be frightened"
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 If we put our faith in God, we can concentrate on doing those things that will bring power, love and sound minds to our homes. Conversely, when our faith wavers, fear enters and we may become paralyzed by that fear-just what Satan desires.
Verse 12-"he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength"
"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship." Bible Dictionary, p. 752.
Verse 13-"he sent a proclamation among all the people"
In 1995, the First Presidency issued "The Family: A Proclamation." When was the last time you read the proclamation seeking for inspiration for your family? The General Conference edition of the Ensign is arriving now. As you read and study it, which of our latter-day prophets' "proclamations" stand out to you?
Several years ago, family mission statements were a popular thing to write. How about your own family's proclamation? What does your family believe, know and strive to do? You could use several Family Home Evening nights to write your family's proclamation to yourself, your family, neighbors, city, world and make copies of it for each family member to place with their scriptures.
Verse 13-"gather together, unto one place"
How often is your family gathered together in one place? With work, school, church responsibilities, and extracurricular activities, there is not much time when families are all together so creative adaptations are required.
My daughter takes dance and tumbling on Thursdays with a half-hour break between the two classes. We've begun taking a picnic to eat during the break and in a matter of a few short weeks, it has become a tradition with serious consequences for mom if she doesn't follow through!
Another important consideration: What do you do when you are together? Family togetherness does not look like the kids playing the Wii, dad watching baseball on television and mom working on the computer. True togetherness is more than just proximity-simply being in the same house-but "warm fellowship" as defined by Webster's Dictionary. How can we foster that "warm fellowship"?
Elder Oaks teaches, "One of the great influences that unified families in prior times was the experience of struggling together in pursuit of a common goal—such as taming the wilderness or establishing a business. This principle is so important that one commentator suggested, “If the family lacks a common crisis, hire a wolf to howl at the door.” (Time, Dec. 15, 1967, p. 31.) Most parents have enough crises without hiring any more. But they may need to identify them and organize their families in unified efforts to resolve them." Dallin H. Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family", Ensign, June 1985.
Verse 14-"fortifications should be built round about them"
What fortifications are you building around your family? Are you doing the basics of Family Home Evening, family prayer and family scripture study?
Sometimes we search for answers to our problems beyond those answers. In a recent Saturday evening session of Stake Conference, the visiting General Authority asked for questions from the audience and a friend asked about how to keep her 14 year-old son from experimenting with the things of the world.
Elder Johnson gave some very insightful instruction using Helaman 5:12 and 13. Leslie later told me that she and her husband appreciated that instruction and had received inspiration about specific things to do in their family. She also told me that she was prepared to ask a follow-up question if his only suggestions were Family Home Evening, family prayer and family scripture study.
As I pondered what she had told me, I had an epiphany! If we are continually receiving "the basics" as our answer, it must be that we are either not doing them or not doing them sufficiently to receive more light and knowledge. I believe that Leslie and her husband received additional specific inspiration to fortify their family because they earnestly do "the basics".
Verse 14-"armies should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard them"
We have an entire army at our disposal. Are we enlisting our extended family to watch and guard our family?
I continued to work for two years after the birth of my daughter and our family was so blessed that my sister was willing and able to tend her. My daughter has a special bond with my sister and I plan to call upon that bond when the teen years come and Chloe thinks that I am less than smart and cool. I know that Aunt Suzi will be a confidant and sounding board who will lead her to truth.
The Search Institute http://www.search-institute.org/assets/forty.htm has identified 40 "Development Assets" or positive things that all young people need to grow up healthy and responsible. Number three on the list is "Other Adult Relationships-Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults."
Isn't that just what the Lord has provided us in the youth programs? In Primary, children have two primary teachers, activity day leaders, Scout leaders and presidencies. In Young Men and Young Women, youth have a presidency member, an advisor, a secretary, sports leaders, camp directors and a bishop! How blessed we are when we support and sustain the members of the army of the Lord.
Verse 15-"repent of all your iniquities and cry unto the Lord"
My favorite lines from "Repentance" in For the Strength of Youth are, "When you do what is necessary to receive forgiveness, you will know for yourself the power of the Atonement and the love God has for you. You will feel the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will bring you great strength." If our children have that strength and understand the power of the Atonement, they will be able conquer the Gadianton robbers of our day.
Verse 16-"they did exert themselves in their might"
Where do you measure today on the "Might-o-Meter"? If we plotted our might on a graph, would it show peaks and valleys or rolling hills? Sometimes when I hear "might", I become very tired. Then I remember the key "that it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again it is expedient that he should be diligent." (Mosiah 4:27)
The Nephites were blessed because they heeded the words of Lachoneus. "For the Nephites did not fear them (the robbers); but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them." (3 Nephi 4:10)
As we follow the example of Lachoneus and his people, may we blessed and not fear the modern day robbers, but be prepared to meet them and fight them in the strength of the Lord.
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