Brother Jan E. Newman
Brother Jan E. Newman emphasizes the importance of helping children come to know Jesus Christ deeply and specifically. He draws inspiration from the Book of Mormon, highlighting the Savior’s love for the rising generation and the need to build a firm foundation on Christ.
Building a Foundation on the Rock of Christ
Brother Newman underscores the significance of “digging deep” down to bedrock when building a firm foundation, and likens this to our testimonies. He mentions the effort required to remove anything that is sandy or superfluous in our lives and how parents must teach their children to bind themselves to Christ through sacred ordinances and covenants so that they can withstand the storms of life.
“To build our lives on the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we need to dig deep. We remove anything that is sandy or superfluous in our lives. We keep digging until we find Him.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Helaman 5:12: “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…”
- 3 Nephi 11:38-39: “And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.”
Owning Faith in Christ
Brother Newman references the example of King Benjamin’s people, who, despite their deeply converted parents, had some rising generation members who did not believe or make covenants. He emphasizes the need for the rising generation to own their faith in Christ, not merely inherit it from their parents.
“For the rising generation, it’s not enough for faith in Jesus Christ to be ‘the tradition of their fathers.’ They need to own faith in Christ for themselves.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Mosiah 5:2-5: “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts… And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will…”
- 3 Nephi 1:22: “And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings of the devil, the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites did all believe in Christ…”
Teaching Children about Christ
Brother Newman advises parents to follow Nephi’s example by consistently teaching their children about Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the importance of keeping the voice of the covenant people alive in the rising generation and ensuring that discussions about Christ extend beyond Sundays.
“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- 2 Nephi 25:26: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”
- Doctrine and Covenants 68:25: “And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”
Calls to Action:
- “One of our most sacred responsibilities is to help our children come to know deeply and specifically that Jesus is the Christ.”
- “You may feel a bit inadequate in this role, but you should never feel alone.”
- “Let us accept the Savior’s invitation and bring our children to Him.”