My car had what we thought was a simple problem: A warning light came on; the mechanic determined a sensor needed to be replaced; this was done. Simple, right? Well, no. The warning light came back on. The mechanic determined that the computer wasn’t recognizing the new sensor and needed to be rebooted or updated.
So, the car was sent to the dealership, and while they had it somehow the entire computer was utterly and completely wiped out.
Now, as far as we understand, this is the kind of thing that suggests technician error; but even if that is not certain, an interesting statement has come up a few times when we talked about this problem with others. They say that the dealer ought to take responsibility* because “this happened on their watch”.
When you are told that something has happened “on your watch,” you know that you are the one responsible. It means you are the one that had carriage of the issue, the one who should have been taking care, paying attention and doing what is right.
The scriptures use a similar type of expression at times. In various places, they speak of the watchmen set to overlook Zion’s walls, or, in other words, those who are given the responsibility to watch over and protect the children of God.
Each of us, at certain times and in certain ways, is expected to be a watchman.
Jesus tells us to watch for him and the time of his coming –
to “take heed…watch and pray”.[1]
The Apostle Paul uses this language often, warning us to “watch…in all things”[2] in order to avoid being fooled by false doctrines and selfish desires.
In 1 Thessalonians, he uses this expression in a very moving context, when he writes,[3]
Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night…But let us that are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. |
The message is straightforward: As Christians, we are expected to walk in the daylight of Christ's love, and not be lulled into the sleepy-minded errors and temptations of Satan’s deceptive night.
We are called to be on the watch.
In the latter days, this language has been repeated often and is implied in almost every talk of every authority at every conference of the Church.
We are called to watch and to warn and to help one another.
We are called to watch and be a warning voice to our neighbours.
We are called to watch ourselves and our conduct.
We are called to watch for the Lord, to acknowledge His hand in all things now, and to look forward to the day when He will come to reign personally upon the earth.
I like the relationship between the words “to watch” and “to look forward”. The connection between them helps to demonstrate that watching is not always a negative thing. As suggested by Paul in 1 Thessalonians, watching can be another way of describing the quality of keeping an eye single to God’s glory and looking forward with hope to the blessings that await those who are faithful. We therefore not only watch to be careful to avoid sin and error, but we watch in order to recognize and receive the Lord’s blessings for righteousness and righteous effort.
A particular responsibility to be watchmen and watchwomen in the latter days rests on the shoulders of all parents and other adults who have the opportunity to warn and teach and take care of our children and youth. This, at times, can seem to be our most difficult responsibility. It can also be one of our most rewarding.
In the October 2010 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Larry R. Lawrence spoke very directly about this responsibility when he invited all parents to
be “courageous…[and] to speak up and take a stand.”[4]
In speaking about parenting with people, both in and out of the Church, I have noted that most recognize the extraordinary new challenges facing children and parents of this generation. They recognize an increase in unrighteous influences that undermine the very fabric of the family and all other righteous teachings of the Lord. They recognize that these influences are rampant in our schools and in the media in particular.
They also recognize that under such influences many children are increasingly disorderly and significantly disrespectful; and, worse than this, that many parents and other adults seem to believe that they are powerless, or even not responsible, to do anything about it; in some cases, the parents themselves are the key influences leading the way to unrighteous attitudes and activities.
I don’t want to share any personal stories about this topic; the ones I know best are far too personal. That is to say, that in my own home I have struggled with the responsibility to be a courageous parent, and I have failed and I have felt like giving up many times. But Elder Lawrence shared with us the feelings of our Heavenly Father, when he said,
We are the watchmen over our children.
When, at last, this life is done, I would like to be able to report to the Lord that although my children were tempted and buffeted by Satan, that if they were to fall, if they were to fail, it was not “on my watch,” not because I failed them, but that I did everything I could to lead and guide and warn and help them so that they could recognize and follow the path through life most likely to bring them lasting happiness and success.
In this regard, Elder Lawrence identifies what he calls “five fundamental practices that have the power to fortify our youth,” which he lists as follows: [8]
- prayer, including family prayer;
- family scripture study;
- family home evening;
- family dinner ; and
- regular one on one interviews with each child.
When I delivered the talk on which this entry is based, I had only a short time to speak and was, in effect, "preaching to the choir". None of those five practices needed explanation at that time. I am aware that some people reading this blog might not be as familiar with them. So I would encourage those readers (and the others) to take a few minutes now to read each of the links I've added for each of those practices. The balance of this short testimonial will make a great deal more sense, and you will more readily know what I mean when I say...
For those who are parents, these five practices are vital.
(Having said that, as an aside, I note that these five practices, if adapted to our personal circumstances, will fortify all of us, whether or not we have children or youth at home. Whether we are old or young, married or single, have children or grandchildren or none at all, these five practices, modified according to our actual conditions, and built upon the basics of love, hope and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, help to form the foundation of a righteous and happy life for anybody.)
I received a compliment once from an unexpected source, a person who is usually critical of us because of our faith and values. On this occasion, however, he shared that he had been impressed that, despite the challenges we faced as parents, which often seemed very extreme to us, our family remained able to do things together. He was referring in part to the fact that we would still, as much as possible, read scriptures daily and pray together, that our children then still attended Church with us, and would attend, participate in, and seem to enjoy family activities. I appreciated those reflections - the reality often seemed more harsh and tumultuous to us - but I do believe that seeking to stay as close as possible to the kind of fundamental practices Elder Lawrence listed has helped to fortify our children for their futures (where they are engaged today, as I prepare this to be published) in which we cannot be there to watch over them in all things.
That is the purpose of those five practices: to build a foundation on which our children can stand more securely, more capable of facing their futures and achieving their goals when no parent or guardian is there to guide them.
I believe that if you will ensure that in your homes you continue in the practices that Elder Lawrence emphasized – family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, family dinner and ensuring there are regular opportunities to speak personally with and listen personally to your children – you will have greater power to lead your children in righteousness.
And, if I may, I will share one additional principle in closing.
My wife and I were reminded in an excellent talk given by Latter-day Saint counselor, John L. Lund, that we are not alone in this responsibility.[9] Parents, teachers and community members share responsibilities to raise, teach and warn children; but most importantly, we share this responsibility with Him whose children they truly are, and with Him who is their elder brother and Saviour.
Consistent with this principle, Elder Lawrence concluded his talk this way, "I know that God hears and will answer your prayers. I testify that the Lord supports and blesses courageous parents." [10]
I share my confident testimony that this is true. I can say this not only because I have seen the Lord’s hand from time to time in my family circumstances, but in all aspects of my life where I have seen, and continue to see, the effects of His loving intervention and assistance, His grace which both inspires and responds to whatever sincere efforts I make to live and act in accordance with principles of righteousness.
I further testify that as we seek to love our children, and the children and youth around us, enough to speak up and to take a stand for those things that are right, that are, as the scriptures say, virtuous, lovely and of good report,[11] the Lord will support us and them and, if they are willing, He will help them to deal with the challenges they must face when we are not standing beside them.
[1] Mark 13:33.
[2] 2 Timothy 4:5.
[3] 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8.
[4] Lawrence, Elder Larry R., “Courageous Parenting,” October 2010 General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See Ensign, November 2010, p. 98 [pp. 98-100].
[5] Ibid., Ensign, November 2010, p. 98.
[6] Ibid., Ensign, November 2010, p. 99.
[7] Ibid., Ensign, November 2010, p. 100.
[8] Ibid., Ensign, November 2010, p. 100.
[9] See Lund, John L., How to Hug a Teenage Porcupine, audio CD, (Covenant, Utah, 2004).
[10] Ob.cit., Lawrence, Ensign, November 2010, p. 100.
[11] Cf. Articles of Faith 13.
Adapted from a talk delivered March 27, 2011, in the Walkerton Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
*FYI, the dealer did.