"Tell Me the Stories of Jesus"

Welcome to Round 2 of my General Conference review. Today I would like to turn my focus to the talk given by Elder Neil L. Andersen during the Sunday afternoon session. Being the last speaker before President Monson was to close the entire conference, Elder Andersen in jest mentioned he wondered which of his thoughts would already have been expressed before his turn. taking a more serious tone, he said that regardless, each speaker is inspired to speak on what they feel is right; this gave me a renewed faith that we should pay heed to the words of the conference speakers, as they truly were prepared with all of us in mind. If there are repeat messages, it is because we need to hear it more than once!

With that said, Elder Andersen's talk was still richly unique, focusing on teaching out children "the stories of Jesus." He sad that this was important because "in our world today, each child, each young man and young woman needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own 'steadfast and immovable' faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, independent of parents, youth leaders, and supportive friends."

I agree with Elder Andersen when he said that telling the stories of Jesus brings faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I thought it profound the questions he then asked:

Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior’s life when they wonder what to do in their own lives?

...Have our children visualized the premortal council, where Jesus—the greatest of all—declared, “Here am I, send me”? Do they see their own willingness to serve as following His example?Do they think about His humble birth,the Savior of the world lying in a manger?

Do His circumstances help them better understand the proper place of material possessions?Do they know that Jesus often taught, “Ask, and ye shall receive”?

Do His prayers of thankfulness and His pleadings to His Father flow through our children’s minds as they kneel in prayer with their own concerns? Have we told them of the love Jesus has for children, how He held them in His arms, prayed for them, and wept?

Do our children know that Jesus stands ready “with open arms to receive [them]”?

Do they take strength in the stories of Jesus fasting—as we teach them the law of the fast?

...Have our children felt the power of the Savior’s miracles?

...Do our children believe that “it is by faith that miracles are wrought,” and do they pray for miracles in their own lives? Have our children taken courage from the Savior’s words to the ruler of the synagogue: “Be not afraid, only believe”?

Do our children know about His perfect life, His selfless ministry, His betrayal and cruel Crucifixion? Have we testified to them of the certainty of His Resurrection, of His visit to the Nephites in the Americas,of His appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove?

Do they anticipate His majestic return, when all will be made right and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ?

Do our children say, “Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear”?

I love all these questions because they help us as parents and stewards to understand the standard of teaching that the Brethren expect, and in turn, what the Lord expects of us. If we are not seeing these outcomes in our children, how might we improve? Elder Andersen simply states,

To fathers and mothers, to grandfathers and grandmothers, and to those without children of their own who lovingly nurture children and youth, my counsel is to speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name is great spiritual power. “There [is] no other name given nor any other way . . . whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ.”

It is my hope that we may all take this counsel to heart, and have more courage to talk about the Savior, our relationship to Him, and most salient, of the true and living stories of His life, ministry, and miracles. Let us not just here and empathize with these words; let us incorporate them into our lives, making a plan on how to do just a little more! Let us remember that "two men can do anything, as long as one of them is the Lord."

Have a great week!!