Elder Lynn G. Robbins: 'What manner of men and women ought ye to be?'
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181st Annual General Conference — Church News coverage
The most effective way to teach children how to be more like the Savior is by being an example yourself, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy said during the Sunday afternoon session of general conference.
Drawing from the Savior's question of 'What manner of men and women ought ye to be?' Elder Robbins shared ways individuals can take the Savior's name upon them and become as He is.
"To become as He is, we must also do the things He did," he said. "To-be and to-do are inseparable. As interdependent doctrines they reinforce and promote each other. ...
"Conversely to-be without to-do is void, as in 'faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.' Be without do, really isn't being — it is self-deception, believing oneself to be good, merely because one's intentions are good."
It is through doing the things identified the Savior commanded that individuals are able to change and become more like Him.
"Many of us create to-do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish," he said. "But people rarely have to-be lists. Why? To-do's are activities or events and can be checked off the list when done. To-be, however, is never done. You can't earn check marks with to-be's. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to-do. But being a good husband is not an event, it needs to be part of my nature, my character or who I am."
Although Christlike to-be's cannot always be seen, they are the motivating force behind what individuals do, which can be seen, Elder Robbins said.
"Because be begets do, and is the motive behind do, teaching be will improve behavior more effectively than focusing on do will at improving behavior."
These principles are very important in parenting, Elder Robbins said. One of the ways parents teach Christlike attributes to their children is by the way they discipline them.
"Discipline comes from the same root word as disciple, and implies patience and teaching on our part. It should not be done in anger," he said.
Through discipline the child learns of consequences. In helping children discover who they are and strengthening their self-worth, parents can appropriately compliment their achievement or behavior — the do.
"The most important way to teach to-be is to be the kind of parents to our children that our Father in Heaven is to us. He is the one perfect parent and He has shared with us, His parenting manual — the scriptures. ...
"May your efforts to develop Christlike attributes be successful, so that His image may be engraven in your countenance and His attributes manifest in your behavior. Then, when your children, or others, feel of your love and see your behavior, it will remind them of the Savior and draw them to Him."
