Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “We learn above all else [from the experience of Alma the Younger] that Christ is the power behind all repentance. . . . Alma had been touched by the teaching of his father, but it is particularly important that the prophecy he remembered was one regarding ‘the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.’ (Alma 36:17.) That is the name and that is the message that every person must hear. . . . Whatever other prayers we offer, whatever other needs we have, all somehow depends on that plea: ‘O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.’ He is prepared to provide that mercy. He paid with his very life in order to give it.”
“Our will quite literally changes to receive His will. We may have avoided church attendance, the sacrament, the bishop, our parents, our worthy companions – avoided anyone we had sinned against, including God himself – but now that repentant heart longs to be with them. That is part of the joy and light of the Atonement – the “at-one-ment” – which not only binds us back to God but also brings us back to a special unity with our best natural self and our most beloved human associates.” (However Long and Hard the Road [1985], 85).
President Russell M. Nelson: "No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!" ( “The Sabbath Is a Delight”).
Alma’s advice on Parenting
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Satan will try to make us believe that our sins are not forgiven because we can remember them. Satan is a liar; he tries to blur our vision and lead us away from the path of repentance and forgiveness. God did not promise that we would not remember our sins. Remembering will help us avoid making the same mistakes again. But if we stay true and faithful, the memory of our sins will be softened over time. This will be part of the needed healing and sanctification process. Alma testified that after he cried out to Jesus for mercy, he could still remember his sins, but the memory of his sins no longer distressed and tortured him, because he knew he had been forgiven (see Alma 36:17–19). (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 101)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 33)
Elder Kent D. Watson: “Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.
“Likewise, a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today’s world.” (“Being Temperate in All Things,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 38)
Middle Children (Shiblon)
Ideas for teaching:
“Our will quite literally changes to receive His will. We may have avoided church attendance, the sacrament, the bishop, our parents, our worthy companions – avoided anyone we had sinned against, including God himself – but now that repentant heart longs to be with them. That is part of the joy and light of the Atonement – the “at-one-ment” – which not only binds us back to God but also brings us back to a special unity with our best natural self and our most beloved human associates.” (However Long and Hard the Road [1985], 85).
President Russell M. Nelson: "No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!" ( “The Sabbath Is a Delight”).
Alma’s advice on Parenting
- “One on One” time – Alma 35:16
- Testify – Alma 36:3, 4, 5, 26, 28, 30
- Example – Alma 36:2, 3, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 37:2
- Don’t let your past cripple you.
- Share your love for the scriptures – Alma 37:8, 9
- Enlarge your memory (37:8).
- Convince us of ‘the error of our ways” (37:8, 9).
- Bring you to the knowledge of God (37:8, 9).
- Influences you to turn back to God (37:9).
- Bring you to rejoice in Jesus Christ (37:9).
- Begin when children are young – Alma 37:35
- Reprove with love and truth – Alma 40-42
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Satan will try to make us believe that our sins are not forgiven because we can remember them. Satan is a liar; he tries to blur our vision and lead us away from the path of repentance and forgiveness. God did not promise that we would not remember our sins. Remembering will help us avoid making the same mistakes again. But if we stay true and faithful, the memory of our sins will be softened over time. This will be part of the needed healing and sanctification process. Alma testified that after he cried out to Jesus for mercy, he could still remember his sins, but the memory of his sins no longer distressed and tortured him, because he knew he had been forgiven (see Alma 36:17–19). (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 101)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 33)
Elder Kent D. Watson: “Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.
“Likewise, a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today’s world.” (“Being Temperate in All Things,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 38)
Middle Children (Shiblon)
- “I shall have great joy in you because …” (Alma 38:3).
- “I have had great joy in you” because … (Alma 38:3).
- “I know” some of your strengths are … (Alma 38:4).
- “Remember” that I have taken time to teach you … (Alma 38:5).
- I testify … (Alma 38:6-9).
- I want to teach you … (Alma 38:10-15).
Ideas for teaching:
- Share your parenting advice with your family / class. The seasoned advice of grandparents blesses generations.
- Share scriptures that have blessed your life (see Alma 37:8-9).
- Look for ideas on how to better center your life on Christ as you study Alma’s words to his sons.
- Identify the “small and simple things” in your life that you are doing well.
- Tell your middle children why they bring you joy.
- Weekly “Special Time” with children.