Keep Your Family Strong and Close

I love President Benson.  He was the prophet of my youth and is the prophet who signed my mission call.  So I have a special place in my heart for him.  In April 1986 President Benson gave a talk directed at the young men.  I was 15 at the time, so his talk was directed to my generation.  It was a talk entitled, To the “Youth of the Noble Birthright”, By President Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Church, April 1986 General Conference Priesthood Session.

I'm only going to post an excerpt from the first part of the talk.  But if you want to read the entire talk, click on the link.  It's well worth your time to read the entire talk.

I wish the leadership of the Church would be more direct now, like they were decades ago.  President Benson did not mince words.  The part of the talk I'm posting talks about families, but the rest of the talk goes on to emphasize the importance of young men serving missions and keeping the law of chastity.  The importance of daily prayer, scripture study, and weekly family home evenings were also touched upon.  Obviously President Benson's counsel applies to young women as well as young men and all members of the Church.

Here is the excerpt I chose to post:

"Young men of the Aaronic Priesthood, you have been born at this time for a sacred and glorious purpose. It is not by chance that you have been reserved to come to earth in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. Your birth at this particular time was foreordained in the eternities.

You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days. You are “youth of the noble birthright.” (Hymns, 1985, no. 255.)

In the spiritual battles you are waging, I see you as today’s sons of Helaman. Remember well the Book of Mormon account of Helaman’s two thousand stripling warriors and how the teachings of their mothers gave them strength and faith. These marvelous mothers taught them to put on the whole armor of God, to place their trust in the Lord, and to doubt not. By so doing, not one of these young men was lost. (See Alma 53:10–23; Alma 56:41–56.)

My young brethren, I counsel each of you to draw close to your own mother. Respect her. Honor her. Receive your mother’s counsel as she loves and instructs you in righteousness. And honor and obey your father as he stands as the head of the home, emulating his manly qualities.

Young men, the family unit is forever, and you should do everything in your power to strengthen that unit. In your own family, encourage family home evenings and be an active participant. Encourage family prayer and be on your knees with your family in that sacred circle. Do your part to develop real family unity and solidarity. In such homes, there is no generation gap. 

Your most important friendships should be with your own brothers and sisters and with your father and mother. Love your family. Be loyal to them. Have a genuine concern for your brothers and sisters. Help carry their load so you can say, like the lyrics of that song, “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.”

Remember, the family is one of God’s greatest fortresses against the evils of our day. Help keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings. As you do, you will receive faith and strength which will bless your lives forever." – President Ezra Taft Benson, April 1986

As it is Satan's goal to destroy the family, it is not uncommon nowadays for people to dismiss their families as unimportant.  Or just blatantly leave their families behind to embark on a new adventure.  Many people see families as disposable.  Countless spouses and children have been selfishly tossed away for a new fun relationship.  

But I love how President Benson reminds us how important it is to love and strengthen our families.  And not just spouses and children.  But also our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters.  He reminds us that our most important friendships should be with our siblings and parents.  

I love President Benson using the story of the Stripling Warriors to remind us of the importance of honoring and obeying our mothers in righteousness.  And reminding us that because the Stripling Warriors obeyed their mothers that none of them were lost.  And he also reminded the young men to honor and obey their fathers in righteousness and to emulate their father's manly qualities. Certainly timeless advice, especially nowadays!

President Benson promised us that if we love, cherish and have genuine concern for, care for and help carry their load, help develop unity and solidarity, and strengthen our families that it will be a fortress against the evils of our day.  What a beautiful promise!

Even more so now, than 37 years ago when this talk was given, is this message relevant and important to us.  Satan's attacks on the family have increased logarithmically, therefore so does our need to resist his attacks. 

May we all strengthen our relationships with our families by showing love and genuine concern for them.  By helping to lighten their burdens and carry their loads.  By praying for them and encouraging them in their journey towards God and covenant keeping.  In so doing, we are promised faith and strength to resist the evils of our day.

That's my two cents.