This weekend we had the opportunity to go down to my hometown to visit my family because my baby brother came home from his mission. It was such an exciting time for our family and I loved every second of it. (Trust me, there will be more on that later this week!) But it seemed fitting to study Elder K. Brett Nattress's talk,
No Greater Joy Than To Know That They Know
. You can read, listen to, or watch it
.
Elder Nattress's talk was all about how wonderful it is for parents to know that their children know, accept, and love the Gospel and the Savior. As I listened to my little brother's talk yesterday, I was so proud of him. He, like many others, had left on his mission as a boy and had returned home as a man. A man that knew the Savior's Atonement applied to everyone-- himself included. I also thought about the rest of my small family and how grateful I am that they know. I looked up and down the pew and felt such joy seeing all of my siblings there. It was one of those, "No empty chairs," moments. A tiny glimpse into what I feel Heaven will be like. And it was so good.
PSA: parker's eyes ARE open. trust me.
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A few of my favorite quotes from Elder Nattress's talk were:
"'If all that your children knew of the gospel came from you-- as their only source-- how much would they know?' ... Is there any greater gift that we can impart to our children than a memory burned deep into their hearts that we know that our Redeemer lives? Do they know that we know? And more important, have they come to know for themselves that He lives?"
"I have tried to conceive of how I would feel to behold our little ones, to personally witness the Savior inviting each child to come unto Him, to witness the Savior’s outstretched arms, to stand by as each child, one by one, gently feels the prints in His hands and in His feet, and then to see each of them stand and bear record that He lives! To have our children turn and say, 'Mom, Dad, it’s Him!'"
I am so grateful for my loving parents, who took the time to: read scriptures with us every night, say family prayer in the morning and at night, hold family home evening, go to church, answer questions, and teach with love and conviction. I knew (and still know) that my parents had a testimony of the gospel and of their Savior. I couldn't deny it and oftentimes I leaned on that testimony until mine was strong enough to stand on its own.
I'm grateful for the hope and possibility of "No Empty Chairs," because of the Savior's Atonement. I know He lives.
don't forget! tomorrow we are starting a Book of Mormon reading challenge! we are reading the Book of Mormon from start to finish by the end of the year! for reading charts and more info, go
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to see other Talk of the Week posts, go
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