Toby's Testimony

This last weekend, Toby and Nate attended our stake's Youth Conference. They both had a really good time. But the highlight of this youth conference for me, was the testimony Toby shared in Sacrament Meeting today at church.

In typical Toby style:
"There is a species of carnivorous plant in the rain forest that lures insects to it's flower with a sweet aroma. But once the insect comes to the flower, it slips into the flower and is devoured by the plant. Satan works the same way. He makes wrong things seem fun and exciting. But then you are trapped by sin. However we have the atonement of Christ to get us out of Satan's trap."

I am constantly amazed by my children. That Toby could compare carnivorous plants to the gospel of Christ is something only he could think up. That he does listen to us when we teach, he learns something from studying the scriptures, or from his lessons in Sunday School and Seminary is comforting to me. So often he seems lost in his own imagination, and I fear that the things we are trying to teach aren't getting into his heart. But the Lord truly watches over our children. Even though there is so much sin and temptation and distraction in the world for us and especially for our children, the Lord provides opportunities for them to gain and strengthen their, and my, testimonies.

Our ward has some tremendous youth. I am so grateful that Toby has good friends to help teach him and give him a good example to follow. As my children get older, and I realize that Nate and I are no longer the most important people in their lives, I pray every day that they will surround themselves with good friends, ones who will help them to stand strong against the adversary. I am grateful for the good parents of those friends; like the stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon, who's mothers taught them to be faithful, I know that my children's friends have parents who have taught them.

I am grateful for the programs of the church that provide opportunites for the youth to have spiritual experiences, to have opportunites to share their testimonies with one another, to have fun in ways that are still righteous and will build them up.

The Lord expects so much of us and of our children. He has saved them for this day. They are the strongest spirits. They also have the most difficult and treacherous of times in which to live and prove themselves. But on days like today, when I feel the sweet spirit of my son through his own testimony, I am grateful that the Lord has entrusted me with my four beautiful children. And I am renewed in my efforts to bring them up in the ways of truth and righteousness. I am strengthened in my efforts as a parent to teach them. And I know that the Lord will help me in this. Last week, our lesson in Relief Society was on the talk given by Dallin H. Oaks in the last general conference. He gave this message of hope to parents,

"There is no area of parental action that is more needful of heavenly guidance or more likely to receive it than the decisions of parents in raising their children and governing their families. This is the work of eternity."

I am ever grateful for my children. But more grateful that our loving Heavenly Father did not leave us without aid in the rearing of our families. He will help us in all ways and in all things. We just need to ask.

And I'll leave you with a little video from youth conference. Each group of kids had to make up some cheer or song or something. This is Toby's group: