Discuss First Jobs 

     When our youth reach the age to work they are faced with a rush of choices.  The guidance they receive from their parents could solidify or destroy teachings they have received over the years.  The biggest challenge facing them is to work on Sunday or to keep the Sabbath holy.  The most common jobs available for the youth require their working on Sunday.  We have taken this for granted in our society.  It is regretted but what can we do?  Our young men need to earn money for their missions and besides, working develops responsibility, doesn't it?

     When it comes to our precious young man or priceless daughter breaking an important commandment do we have the stewardship to insist that they be true to the Lord regardless of the financial inconvenience or the difficulty of finding a Commandment Compatible job? 

     We need to have a long term view of the working life and what habits or rationalizations we are establishing.  We have taught that we make covenants so that we can be together forever as a family because we love the Lord and each other.   We teach that as we keep those covenants, Christ will bring us back into the Father's presence as a family.  Our youth know that those covenants include Sacrament attendance.  They know what it means to keep the commandments and follow the council of the Prophet.  They know to follow that council in everything except work because work is often the first exception they encounter in life.  It also is an exception that brings awesome rewards, tangible rewards of money in comparison to the intangible ones of obedience and sacrifice. 

     This is the real teaching moment, the pivotal point for many saints.  Not only does Satan make it appealing through the easy availability of these Sabbath Breaking, Money Creating jobs but the parents support his enticing through rationalizing the importance of the work, earning for a mission and their own inability to insist that their children keeping the commandments.

     There are times when the Lord will whisper to work on Sunday, short times, critical times, service times.  It should be a soul-searching struggle to be sure that such a whisper is truly the Lord's.  What about working on Sundays so a young man can save money for a mission?  Surely a mission is worth a year or two of Sabbath inactivity...or is it?  As parents we need to take careful stock of our attitudes and faith concerning jobs and commandments.  If we are not clear on where we stand then we will be ineffective in guiding our youth in this matter. 

      Service often gets crowded out once money is earned.  That is because there are only so many hours to a person's life and a good chunk is taken up with the financial needs of life.  Yet, it does not matter to the Lord what righteous job an individual has, it matters that he serves his fellow man and blesses the lives of others. 

     Service is the job that will never end.  Parents give service every day to their children.  Children should give service every day to their siblings.  Teaching them to be quick to offer assistance to those around them is very important. 

     We have tremendous opportunity to serve because of homeschooling.  One day the wind was blowing and knocking over the trash cans.  My boys ran out to gather our cans back to the carport and I saw them run around the cul-de-sac and pull in all the neighbors' trash cans.  My girls have baby-sat for funerals, for temple visits and for visit teaching.  Meals have been made for those in need, errands ran for others.  My boys have mowed lawns and helped find an occasional lost toddler for a neighbor.  They have kept people company, helped repair things, and even helped clean homes as a service. 

     While the first service is in the home, and that is the hardest to give, we want to help our children develop eyes to see the needs of those around them.  Especially when it comes to teen boys.  Girls are always ready to lend an listening ear, dry a tear, help wash a friend's dishes or fix a dinner for mother.  Our teen sons have a harder time with finding service.  They need to be taught that fulfilling their priesthood responsibilities is an important service.  Helping with eagle projects, befriending new or shy young men, and helping with move ins and Elders' Quorum repair projects are good ways to service. 

     Paying jobs have immediate rewards but service jobs need enlightened eyes and sensitive hearts to feel the blessings and motivate the youth to do more.