We have learned the value of grieving in faith.  Grief is part of the tender attachments we have with those we love.  When they go, we grieve.  We should feel that loss and long for our reunion with them.  It is when grieving interferes with our relationship with our Lord, when it kills our commitment to our covenants, when it becomes a black cloud collecting around us to destroy the light of the Spirit, that it has changed from grief to despair.  Satan is the Father of Despair.  Instead the Spirit whispers visions of resurrection and eternal companionships with our loved one.

 There was a time when I was getting a nice newsletter on home schooling from a popular Christian group.  I loved the articles and ideas generated by the newsletter.  There was some underlying spirit that made me uncomfortable but I could not put my finger on it.

Then in one newsletter there was in small print the creed of the religion.  In it was stated the belief that man was born in sin and the job of the parent was to bring the child to Christ.

As a Latter-day Saint I believe that our children are born to us innocent before God because of the atonement of Christ.  That means that our job as parents is to help them maintain that pure state and to teach them how to return to it through repentance when they stray.  The difference between the two creeds is subtle but incredibly important and powerful in understanding our children and our roles as parents.  Please remember that this creed was from a private run newsletter and as such represented the editor's personal creed and not creed of any particular Christian church, collectively or individually.

The above scripture tells of how Satan takes away light.  He does it through disobedience and through traditions of the fathers.  Of course we understand the scripture is speaking of wicked traditions.  Then we are told how to cut Satan's influence and power in half, by bringing up our children in light and truth.  By bringing them up under the influence of the Holy Ghost and the doctrine and covenants of Christ, we give our growing children the education and power to recognize the darkness that would destroy them.

Not only is Satan's power thus cut in half but because our children will be used to the light and truth of the gospel in our homes, they will feel uncomfortable when they become disobedient.  This assists the Spirit in bringing about humility and repentance as they try to align themselves with the laws of God.

As a convert I found many young women raised in an active L.D.S. home who did not know that they had a testimony.  I puzzled over this.  As I raise my children in a home where the daily goal is to do the things that will help us return to our Heavenly Father, I am aware of the powerful environment they are experiencing.

My children are comfortable in a Spirit-filled home.  It feels normal to them.  They are more likely to notice when the Spirit is absent then when it is present in daily events.  I do not want them to have to experiment upon the word by doing without those things that will keep them close to Christ, so I must teach them actively to recognize the withdrawal of the Spirit.

Our desire is to live and learn for the kingdom ahead.  We want to prepare ourselves, not for the world of the wicked but for the kingdom of God.  We want our children to move comfortably into living in the presence of Jesus Christ.  It is one thing to prepare for emergencies and quite another to live on emergency rations daily just so you will be used to it come the possible earthquake.

We teach because it is the commandment to parents.  Our children learn so they can recognize and to do as the Lord commands.  The way to accomplish this task is through reliance upon the whisperings of the Holy Ghost in all matters about our stewardships and in the making and keeping of covenants designed to create an eternal family.

Chani's story is told in Chani Elizabeth.

Phrased another way would be to never make eternal decisions based upon temporal conditions.  This means to make important decisions about life only through the direction of the Holy Ghost.  Who to marry and when, having children and how many, where to live, how to school, which doctors to use, and many other decisions appear difficult to make based upon logic, finances, health, inclination, and experience.  The doctor told me that all my children would be premature and probably die.  So far I have had only two premature children even though the others have made it to full term only through tremendous sacrifice and faith.  So far only Marshall has died.  Often we have had to make decisions that appeared foolish by social standards but they have all been great blessings to our family.  Yes, consider the temporal conditions.  Then leave the inspiration to the Holy Ghost.  The Lord knows those very conditions and he will guide you.

 We have learned the importance relaxing and of laughter in the enjoyment of life.  Living in a family encompasses the wide range of experiences, frustrations and emotions found in all hearts.  Sometimes I feel that all I am is the oldest daughter babysitting my siblings and tattling to Heavenly Father when he comes home at the end of the day.  Prayer is a powerful release.

Be able to relax with each trial, enjoy the children with their differences and challenges, and finally, laugh as often as possible. These are the keys to succeeding as that Divinely-appointed babysitter.