2 Nephi 4 - being a good parent and consider the ways God helps us

A couple things stood out to me about 2 Nephi 4:

1) brief line emphasizing the importance of good parents: ability to influence children. Also, note that Lehi didn't take it personally that his own sons didn't end up taking the right path though he presumably did bring them up in the way they should go.

5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a ^ablessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are ^bbrought up in the ^cway ye should go ye will not depart from it.

2) Look at the list of things God did for Nephi that helped Nephi always remember God was helping him. While our list may not be as "impressive", I believe our lists can be this extensive and truly help us remember always that God is with us as we try to come unto him.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have ^atrusted.

20 My God hath been my ^asupport; he hath led me through mine^bafflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his ^alove, even unto the ^bconsuming of my flesh. (i.e., it's been a powerful feeling)

22 He hath confounded mine ^aenemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me^aknowledge by ^bvisions in the night-time.

24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty ^aprayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been ^acarriedaway upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath ^avisited men in so much ^bmercy, ^cwhy should my ^dheart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

I too know God has answered my prayers, filled me with love, giving me knowledge/ideas, been my support, and helped me in my afflictions.

LaDon

Parents' job to teach the gospel and the eternal nature of the Atonement, faith, repentance, and baptism

D.C. 93 has some terrific insights into the eternal nature of the plan of salvation, particularly the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. It might help missionaries and members understand that people have already accepted the first principles and ordinances of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism) once before. In fact, all people on this earth have accepted those principles previously.

Look at D.C. 93:

38Every ^aspirit of man was ^binnocent in the beginning; and God having ^credeemed man from the ^dfall, men became again, in their infant state, ^einnocent before God.

As spirits, in the beginning before coming to earth, men were innocent. And then some chose to exercise more faith than others (which sounds similar to some sinned - see Alma 13) and people needed to become innocent again. God offered a plan in the premortal life that would offer a chance to become clean again and also progress significantly. That was the plan of salvation, which had roughly two parts, a decision to make in the premortal life, and a decision to make in the mortal life. If men would follow Jesus (exercise faith), repent, and be born on earth, they would become, as verse 38 says, "in their infant state, innocent before God". What we tell people on earth is that if they will exercise faith in the Savior, repent, and be baptized (sometimes called a second birth), then they will become clean and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is exactly what we preached and accepted in the premortal life.

Then, on earth, the wicked one attempts to do the following:

39And that ^awicked one cometh and ^btaketh away light and truth, through ^cdisobedience, from the children of men, and because of the ^dtradition of their fathers.

The plan God has put in place to help children not be overcome by the evil one is also through good parents who teach light and truth to their children.

40But I have commanded you to bring up your ^achildren in ^blightand truth.

42You have not ^ataught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your ^baffliction.

Parents have a tremendous responsibility and privilege to teach their children before the evil one diminishes the light and truth in them. Notice verse 42 is to a member of the first presidency. Also know that when my friend's dad was interviewed to be a member of the 70, he was asked by two members of the 12 about each one of his children and what/how they're doing in life (not that great parents can't have children outside the gospel, but it can be, though isn't always, an indicator of things).

Notice these verses and what God says about little children and the great work of parents to teach them (from D.C. 29):

46But behold, I say unto you, that little ^achildren are ^bredeemedfrom the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;

47Wherefore, they cannot ^asin, for power is not given unto Satan to ^btempt little children, until they ^cbegin to become ^daccountablebefore me;

48For it is given unto them even as I will, according to mine own^apleasure, that great things may be required at the hand of their^bfathers.

Once again it mentions that Satan works to get children to sin who were clean upon coming to earth (because they followed Jesus and were born - an ordinance that creates a clean slate). Parents must teach children (a great thing required of them) to help children overcome the evil one who begins tempting them at a young age and stealing away light and truth through disobedience as D.C. 93 explains.

Hopefully this helps show that 1) the principles and ordinances of the gospel are very eternal and all people have accepted them before and 2) parents have a great challenge and duty to teach light and truth before the evil one grasps children with the chains of disobedience (which he did in the premortal life as well).

Have a good day.

LaDon