I have heard a few parents state that they don’t want to impose
the gospel on their children but want them to make up their own minds about
what they will believe and follow. They think that in this way they are
allowing children to exercise their agency. What they forget is that the
intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of the truth, of things as they
really are (see D&C 93:24). Without that, young
people can hardly be expected to understand and evaluate the alternatives that
come before them. Parents should consider how the adversary approaches their
children. He and his followers are not promoting objectivity but are vigorous,
multimedia advocates of sin and selfishness.
Seeking to be neutral about the gospel is, in reality, to reject
the existence of God and His authority. We must, rather, acknowledge Him and
His omniscience if we want our children to see life’s choices clearly and be
able to think for themselves. They should not have to learn by sad experience
that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10).
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Discipline”, October 2009
General Conference
Read full address here, or watch below.
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