Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

(The words used in this video come from Elder Robert D. Hales general conference talk, "Our Duty to God:  The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation," April 2010. 

I remember when I was a mother of young children and my daughter, Rebecca, was talking to me. I was doing something else as she chatted and I nodded my head at all the right places through the conversation. At least I think they were the right places.  I thought I was listening to her, but she too (as in the video) grabbed my head and gently turned my face toward her and said, "Mommy, you need to look at me when I talk to you."

In contrast, when Becky was even younger, I had a moment with just the two of us.  Reading was an evening ritual with the whole family on our king size bed, but for some reason Becky and I were alone, just the two of us.  We sat there together on the bed.  It was a long time with me just reading book after book, after book and in one sweet moment she crawled up even closer to me and she quietly whispered, "I love you Mommy." I think I said, "I love you too."  But what I do remember is being so overcome by the Spirit.  I felt her words so strongly when she said - I love you.  In that moment, I knew that simply reading to her and being with her, meant something to her. It meant something to me. It takes time to have such moments - moments that really last forever. Becky and me, together, reading together all snuggled on the bed. I just kept reading.

"Family time is sacred time

and should be

protected and respected.

We urge our members to show

devotion to their families.”

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them,” Ensign, May 2012, 9.