Children in fallen world need help
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No matter how full of faith, and filled with light are children, they face the challenges of a fallen world, said Sister Margaret S. Lifferth.
As pictures of Primary children were projected on the screen behind her, she noted the light in their faces and said: "In today's world, children will need not only a devoted mother and father, they will need each of us to protect, teach and love them."
Speaking Sunday morning, the first counselor in the Primary general presidency said that creating for children an environment the Spirit can enter and validate spiritual truths "automatically eliminates any form of indifference, neglect, abuse, violence or exploitation."
She encouraged parents to protect children from expectations that are too high or too low, and from over-indulgence, over-scheduling and self-centeredness.
"Either extreme dulls a child's ability to identify, trust and be guided by the Holy Ghost," said Sister Lifferth.
She observed that children are open to gospel truths and that during protected childhood "is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to teach and strengthen children to choose the right."
She emphasized that personal obedience and example are the "ultimate gospel lesson" for children.
"We cannot teach principles that we do not know and we do not live."
She said she remembered being loved as a child and how that love made it easy to believe the Savior loved her also. She counseled members to "notice the children around you and learn their names, and then, invite, listen, affirm, guide, build, serve and share testimony."
Recalling the Book of Mormon account of the Savior's ministering to children, she said, "As the darkness of this day surrounds us, we are also commanded to bring our children to the Savior and, as Elder Ballard reminds us, 'We are the ones God has appointed to encircle today's children with love and fire and faith and an understanding of who they are."'
