Chapter 2 - Jesus Christ Teaches

Ok! Now that the move is over and gone and we're starting to fall back into a sort of normal routine, I'm back to continue my progress through Covenant Motherhood.

This chapter - Jesus Christ Teaches, seemed pretty straight forward; of course our jobs as parents is to teach. And that's pretty much what Ms. Sorensen was saying: teach all things; church is to just supplement what is taught at home.

Yep, I'm in total agreement with that. But she did find some really great quotes supporting that approach to parenting. Like this one from Elder Neil L. Andersen:

Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fires of their premortal faith ... The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony.

Also, I liked this quote from Ms. Sorensen: " Our feeble efforts to teach may seem to go largely unnoticed and unheeded, but many scriptures and prophets and apostles bear witness of the potential for lasting influence." (like Enos, Alma the Younger and the stripling warriors)

And, along the same lines of worthwhile things seemingly having no effect, part of this chapter talks about how even Jesus Christ was weary at times:

After He learned about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus sought solitude. "When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart." (what mother hasn't felt like she needs a quiet moment but the clamor just follows?) The people still "followed him on foot out of the cities." Jesus "saw the great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, " and He taught them and healed them. After a while, the disciples tried to turn the crowd away, but Jesus said, "They need not depart."  When we make the same concessions with our own children, despite our weariness, the Savior will sustain us and send the Holy Ghost to consecrate our teachings for their good and for our strength.

Then the chapter moves into talking about important things that need to be taught and ways parents can teach them. She quotes some general authorities, and sums it all up by saying:

The Savior is a perfect example of teaching the right things at the right time. The study of His teachings arms us with the most important lessons our children will need to know. I once did a search throughout the New Testament using the phrase "Jesus said." It was fascinating to see what specific teachings came directly from His mouth, and it helped me focus more on communicating those same principles to my children. I also search the phrases "Jesus taught," "Jesus answered," "Jesus spoke," and "Jesus testified." I was really interested to discover that out of those four verbs, the action of answering was mentioned in the New Testament at least five times more frequently than the other three verbs. Than, in itself, teaches an important lesson: the Savior listened to and perceived people's questions and then taught them truth and doctrine through His answers. 

The chapter closes with a quote from Elder Jeffery R. Holland:

"No child in this Church should be left with uncertainty about his or her parents' devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ ... Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the covenants your children know you have made. Give priesthood blessings. And bear your testimony! Don't just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own."