Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Ms 64, 1911

Parents to Be Teachers

1911

Previously unpublished.

I have a decided message for fathers and mothers. We have a most solemn message to give to all places where we shall meet our people. In the night season I am speaking to fathers and mothers. I have carried a heavy burden the past night, I could not sleep, and was deeply burdened. I tried to compose myself to sleep, but could not. I concluded to leave my bed and sleeping rooms to use my pen. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 1

The parents of children have a large responsibility. If fathers and mothers understood their accountability to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, there would be altogether a different atmosphere revealed in the church. Fathers and mothers neglect government at home and do not bring the injunction into practice to educate their children to obey the requirements of God religiously. This is the result of a wrong course. Members of the family are not educated in habits of order and in obedience to all the Lord’s commandments. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 2

Fathers and mothers should teach that respect is essential in order to love one another. They should educate, educate, educate. Discipline your children. Teach them that they are preparing for the heavenly courts above. Fathers and mothers unitedly are to do this work. I am instructed in the night season to give the message to all church members to do strong, thorough work to perfect righteousness in the home, in the fear of the Lord. You do not make thorough work in educating your children to respect the teachings of the Lord. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 3

I now present to all fathers and mothers, God has given you your work to educate and train your children, keeping before them that this is the work the Lord has enjoined upon all. Fathers and mothers unitedly are to instruct their children not to disregard the words of the Lord. Visitors may interrupt your work, but never neglect the solemn work to prepare yourselves and to talk with your children and pray with them. If possible, avoid using the rod; but do not neglect this line of your duty. The Lord has placed upon fathers and mothers the responsibility to teach their children. They are the Lord’s property, and you are to bring them up in the nurture and in the admonition of the Lord. Respect should always be required by the father and the mother as a religious duty. This is neglected by many families, but it ought not to be, for it proves to be to the loss of the souls of their children. This is their duty. The bodies and souls of their children are a serious matter. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 4

Consider the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Take it in, fathers and mothers, do not neglect to do this enjoined work which you must understand is a daily responsibility, requiring diligence and wisdom from the Lord Jesus. In many families this work is not done, and the children they have brought into the world are strangely neglected. Whole families are neglected. God is greatly dishonored. One family in a neighborhood may create much unhappiness, which will dishonor God. I am charged with a message to parents, that the Lord is greatly dishonored by the neglect of fathers and mothers to do their work—neglect which means the loss of their souls and the souls of their children. The neglect of religious training of sons and daughters is doing great injustice to the children. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 5

If correctly managed, the home is in one sense a sanctified school. Fathers and mothers have to harmonize their work in order to do their duty. Never allow disorderly actions in your children. Never overlook ungainly conduct; ungainly words and actions dishonor God. Your children are the Lord’s property, never to be corrected with scolding and passionate blows. The Lord requires that you, their parents, shall prepare them for usefulness and duty. Be reasonable; never correct them in anger; never punish them in a passionate way. Never strike a child an angry blow. They are the Lord’s property, to be molded and fashioned in character after the similitude of a palace, after the divine similitude. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 6

When they do wrong, do not strike them hastily or give an angry blow, but let them understand they have grieved the Spirit of the Lord. There must be a consideration of their actions; they cannot be passed by without correction. Give them time to consider. When they are calm, all is to be talked over and they are never to be punished in anger. And mothers, humble your hearts before God if they acknowledge their faults. If you wish them to repent of their wrong, pray with them, and you may not have to punish their flesh. You have gained a victory which the Lord has been pleased to acknowledge. And the penitence of the child has gained for you the trust and confidence of the child. A hasty, violent action on the part of the parent might have left its influence to the destruction of the soul. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 7

Again I say, Never correct a child in anger. Your prayer alone with the child, your grief and sorrow, your tears, will accomplish more than a severe correction. Always treat the child as the Lord’s property, and realize that you are responsible for the impression left on the mind of your child. Always pray with your children before causing them bodily suffering. You are, as your duty, bound to correct your children. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 8

I have pursued this course of action concerning the children I have taken into my family. After this, treat them kindly, affectionately. Fathers and mothers need to be converted themselves as to the proper course to pursue to correct their children and, in their correction, bring them to repentance. Pray for them. This will succeed, and the Lord is not dishonored; and the children are brought to repentance through the moving of the Holy Spirit. Always remember that you are dealing with the Lord’s property and must render up your account to God as to the influence you have exercised. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 9

We see so much need of wisdom in training children that I hardly know where to stop. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 10

Fathers and mothers, it is your duty ever to exercise the law of kindness as you correct the course of your children. Not one word of unkindness should pass your lips, for you are acting in the place of God to your children. In dealing with your erring children you can make the case one of love and forgiveness. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 11

Often much time is spent in selfish enjoyment, in doing as you choose—time which does not count in giving any one any special help that the Lord accepts. A great change must take place in families who claim to be Sabbathkeepers. Many fathers and mothers have confused ideas, and they will not, unless reconverted, act as a saviour to their households. Many have lost their bearings and must begin to learn anew. 25LtMs, Ms 64, 1911, par. 12