Many years after the Great Flood, the descendants of Noah had multiplied and prospered greatly. They built cities, tilled the land, and became very wealthy. Most of them became wicked and idolatrous and forgot that it was the Lord who had spared their fathers. Some of them decided to build a high tower, which they believed would reach the heavens.
The Lord was angry with their behavior, and He confused their language. Because they could no longer understand each other, the work on the tower ceased, and the people moved to other parts of the land.
One righteous man, Jared, who had lived with his family near the tower when the language was confounded, had a brother whom the Lord loved because of his faithfulness. Jared asked his brother to pray to the Lord that the language of their families might not be confounded. The brother of Jared did so, and the Lord answered his prayer. Then the brother of Jared prayed to ask the Lord whether they should leave that country.
The Lord told him that He would send them to a land that was “choice above all the lands of the earth” and that they would receive for their inheritance. This land is now called America. He instructed the brother of Jared to assemble his family, Jared’s family, and their friends’ families.
After they had gathered their flocks and birds, fish, deseret (honeybees), and seeds of all kinds, the brother of Jared led his people into a valley called Nimrod, which was named after a mighty hunter.
There the Lord told the brother of Jared to take his people deep into the wilderness. Covered by a cloud, the Lord led them, giving directions for their journey. The travelers settled near a seashore, where they lived for four years.
The Lord continued to talk with the brother of Jared, promising him that the promised land would always be one of freedom if the people lived righteously. If they became wicked, however, He would destroy them.
During their four years near the seashore, the people began to forget the Lord. Even the brother of Jared did not pray as he once had. The Lord came down from heaven in a cloud and chastised him for three hours, and the brother of Jared repented of his sins and prayed for forgiveness for himself and his people.
The Lord forgave the people, then instructed them how to build barges so that they could cross the ocean. The barges were small, light, and sealed as tightly as a dish, except for holes in their tops and bottoms for letting in fresh air whenever they were not underwater.
When the barges were finished, the brother of Jared talked with the Lord about how they would have to cross the ocean in darkness. The Lord wanted the brother of Jared to tell Him how to light the barges. So he went up into the hills and smelted sixteen stones until they were as clear as glass. Carrying them to the top of a mountain, he asked the Lord to touch the stones with His finger so that they might shine in the darkness.
When the brother of Jared had finished praying, the Lord did as he had asked and touched the stones with His finger. The veil was removed from the brother of Jared’s eyes, and he saw the finger of the Lord. Then, because of the brother of Jared’s great faith, the Lord showed him the rest of Himself, teaching him that all men are created in the Lord’s image.
This wonderful experience—seeing the spirit body of the Lord—affected the brother of Jared deeply. The Lord instructed him to record it in a journal and hide the record where it would not be found until He appeared in the flesh.
Two of the especially prepared stones were placed in each barge, one at either end, and the people loaded their possessions and animals into the barges and set sail. The Lord caused a strong wind to blow the small vessels toward the promised land. For 344 days the people traveled across the ocean.
When they reached the promised land, they immediately knelt and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. They began to build homes for their families and to till the earth, growing crops from the seeds that they had brought with them. Children were born, and as long as they were righteous, they prospered.
Talk Source:
The heavens and the earth were created by Jesus Christ under the direction of Heavenly Father. Everywhere you look you can see all that They created for you. The sun, stars, seas, animals, trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and all else show that you have a Heavenly Father and a Savior who love you (see Moses 6:63). It pleased Them to create the earth and all the things upon it to bless you and help you be happy (see D&C 59:18–20).
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman on earth, and placed them in a beautiful garden called Eden. Adam was commanded to take care of the garden (see Moses 3:15) and to name “every living creature” (see Moses 3:19).
You are part of Adam’s family, and you, too, can help care for the earth. You can plant a flower, a tree, or a garden to make the earth more beautiful. Plants also provide oxygen, food, and shelter. You can help save water and food by not using more than you need. You can help to keep the earth clean and beautiful by picking up litter wherever you see it.
You can care for the animals by being kind to them and providing food and shelter for them. They are our friends and helpers, given to us for our benefit and use and to gladden our hearts (see D&C 59:16–18). Some help us work, some give us food and fiber for clothing, and many give us affection and companionship as pets.
You can thank Heavenly Father for these blessings when you pray. When you care for the plants and animals of the earth, you are showing your gratitude and reverence for these wonderful creations.
Talk Source:
Father plopped a stack of books on the table and announced, “Tonight for family home evening we are going to write our testimonies in a Book of Mormon. Practice first on a piece of paper. Then, using your best penmanship, write your testimony on the inside cover, and sign your name. We’ll glue one of your school pictures underneath it, and tomorrow I’ll give the books to the bishop to donate to the missionaries.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Mother. “Maybe what we write will spark somebody’s interest in the Church and help to convert them. Let’s put our address under the pictures, too, and maybe someone will write back to us.”
Tyler and Christi eagerly grabbed a piece of paper.
“I’m going to explain about the priesthood and how I was ordained a deacon,” Tyler said.
“I’m going to write about our family and how we can be together forever,” said Christi.
Kevin just sat and stared at his paper.
Soon everyone except Kevin was busily writing. Several minutes later Mother stopped and said, “What’s wrong, Kevin?”
“Nothing,” he mumbled.
“Can’t you decide what to say?” Father asked.
Kevin shook his head.
“Maybe you could write how the Church has a living prophet,” Mother suggested, “or how we read the Book of Mormon every day as a family and how that helps you to make right choices.”
“Yeah, I guess I could,” Kevin said. He stared at his paper some more. What could I say that would help anybody? he wondered. Who would ever believe what a seven-year-old had to say?
Kevin thought about his next birthday. It was four months away, and he would be baptized then. An idea began to form in his mind, and he started to write. Several times he wadded up his paper and threw it away, but he kept at it.
Everyone else had finished writing and was eating cookies when Kevin finally started copying his testimony on the inside cover of his Book of Mormon. When he finished, he reread it one last time. It said:
“My name is Kevin Richards. I am seven years old. Soon I will be eight. When I turn eight, I will be baptized by immersion as Jesus was. My father will baptize me and confirm me a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe that this is the true church of Christ. If you read this book and pray about it, Heavenly Father will tell you that the teachings in it are true. Then you can get baptized too. Please write and tell me how you feel when you read this book.
Sincerely,
Kevin Richards”
Satisfied, Kevin carefully glued his picture underneath it, wrote his address, and added his book to the stack.
“All finished?” Father asked.
“Yes,” answered Kevin. “Boy, that sure was hard!”
“Sometimes trying to express your feelings is hard,” agreed Father. “But sharing your testimony will not only help someone else learn about the Church. It will also help your testimony grow stronger.”
“Is that why I feel good now?” Kevin asked.
“I’m sure it is. And when someone gets your book and reads what you wrote, maybe he will get that good feeling too.”
Each day after school Kevin eagerly raced to the mailbox, hoping to find an answer from the person who received his Book of Mormon.
But it was Christi who squealed one day, “An answer! An answer! I got an answer!” And three days later both Father and Tyler got a letter.
“My letter came all the way from Mexico,” Tyler bragged.
Tears welled up in Kevin’s eyes. He crept upstairs to his bedroom and lay on his bed.
There was a knock on the door. “May I come in?” asked Mother. When Kevin choked out an OK, Mother went in and sat down beside him. She sat in silence for a few minutes, then said, “You’re really disappointed to not get an answer from somebody, aren’t you? Do you want to talk about it?”
Kevin hesitated, then sat up and wiped his tears away with the back of his hand. “What if the person who gets my book laughs at what I said? What if he thinks that I’m stupid? What if he thinks that a kid doesn’t know anything, and he decides not to read my book?”
Mother gently put her arms around Kevin. “No one would laugh. He’d know that you’re very sincere and that you care about him. And children can often touch people’s hearts in a way that grown-ups can’t.”
“Then why haven’t I gotten an answer?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure that there is a good reason. Maybe the missionaries just haven’t found the right family to give your Book of Mormon to yet. And whether we like it or not, just because we bear our testimonies doesn’t mean that the people who receive them will accept them. No one has written to me yet, either, so let’s just hope that we’ll still get letters. Sometimes it just takes a while.”
That night when he went to bed, Kevin prayed, “Dear Heavenly Father, please help the missionaries to find the right person for my Book of Mormon. Bless him not to laugh at what I wrote. Bless him to read the Book of Mormon and get a testimony. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Days melted into weeks. Finally it was Kevin’s baptismal day. Just before lunch, Christi came running into the house, yelling, “Kevin! Kevin! Look what the mailman just brought.”
Kevin took the envelope Christi was waving and quickly tore it open. It read,
“Dear Kevin Richards,
Please forgive that I take so long to write. My name is Tuilolo Tuiaaga. I live with my wife and four children in Pago Pago on Samoan island called Tutuila. One day your missionaries came. I was busy in my bakery and had no time to listen. But my wife listen and keep your book and read it.
Then bad time came to my family. My bakery burn down. Our sick baby got sicker. Doctors try hard, but poor baby Sina die.
My wife say God loves Sina. God loves us. She say He cares. I get very angry. I yell, ‘If He love us, why bakery burn? Why Sina die?’
One night I hurt bad inside. I not sleep. I sit in darkness. By chair was your book. I want to burn book. I pick it up. I see your picture. I read what you write. Then I read and read and read in book. Is hard to read in English for me, but I read till morning. I read again what you write. The Spirit tells me what I read is true. I believe. I wake my wife. We cry and pray. I pray that God forgive my anger. Peace comes to my soul.
Soon will be our family baptism on 30 August. We are very happy. I thank you for sending Book of Mormon.
Peace to you, my brother,
Tuilolo Tuiaaga”
That evening, on August 30, as Kevin came out of the waters of baptism, he whispered, “Peace to you, Tuilolo. Peace to you.”
Talk Source:
The Lord gave me a temple
to live within on earth.
Once in Heaven I was spirit, but
I left my home at birth.
I’ll make my temple brighter;
I’ll keep my spirit free.
My body is the temple my Father
gave to me.
(Children’s Songbook, page 153.)
This Primary song tells us that our bodies are temples that Heavenly Father has given us. The scriptures tell us this, too: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).
How do we make our temples brighter? How do we keep our spirits free? How do we keep ourselves clean and pure so that the Spirit of God can be with us? We can begin by thinking, saying, and doing good and uplifting things.
When President Spencer W. Kimball was nine years old, his job on the family farm was milking from two to nine cows every day. Milking cows can become boring, so he thought of things to do while he milked that were interesting and good and fun. He practiced squirting a stream of milk into the mouths of the cats that gathered around at milking time. He memorized every word of the Articles of Faith and the Ten Commandments to the beat of milk squirts hitting the pail. He copied most of the songs in the hymnbook on sheets of paper and memorized them. On a one-legged stool, his head pressed against a cow’s side, he sang them to the cows.
President Kimball made his inner temple brighter and kept his spirit free by filling his mind with worthwhile things while he worked. Can you do the same?
Talk Source:
Great things are happening these days, both on Earth and out in space. They seem to be the fulfillment of prophecies made long ago as recorded in the Bible. The Lord said through the prophet Joel that in the latter days He would pour out His spirit upon all flesh with the result that there would be wonders both in heaven and on earth. (See Joel 2:28–31.)
Many miraculous things have taken place in recent times. Among them are the medical discoveries that have eliminated some of the diseases and plagues that killed thousands of people years ago.
The development of computers has been another achievement that is making great changes in the lives of all of us.
Among the marvels we have seen in the skies are the rockets that have been sent to the moon and to the planets far away in our solar system. Think what a marvelous thing it is to send a mechanical device out to the planet Jupiter 391 million miles away where it takes pictures and sends them back to Earth! The same procedure was used in exploring Saturn, and through those photographs sent back to Earth over 794 million miles away, astronomers have learned for the first time what constitutes the rings about that mysterious planet.
Another miracle of modern research happened when a rocket was sent to the planet Mars, where a robot dug up soil samples, ran them through chemical tests, and then reported back to Earth the contents of those samples. The advance of modern science has truly gone beyond the imaginations of men who lived only a few years ago.
Efforts were made to see if there were microscopic life on Mars, not whether little men were walking about there. Actually the scientists were trying to find out how life began. They wondered if it could have developed from an unusual combination of certain acids, proteins, and other ingredients in the soil. However, it was determined that no such life exists on Mars, nor was there any evidence showing how life began.
When scientists made similar studies on Earth, the result was the same. And why? Because life only comes from already existing life! But where does life really come from? It can only come from God. He is the Creator, and He alone can make life. And this He did—all life!
When we study astronomy and see the countless stars and planets in the heavens, and when we discover the precision and complete order that abides there, we know that only God could make such a plan possible.
All the experiments of men seeking to create life in any form have failed, because God has reserved to Himself the right and power to make life.
He created all things in spirit form before he placed them on Earth in mortal form. All life had a preexistence. We humans did also, and we truly lived with God our Heavenly Father. We are actually His spirit children.
Since we are His spiritual offspring, as the apostle Paul said, He did not create us in the same way He did other life forms. We came into being by birth and are in the image and likeness of God. And God is our Heavenly Father. It is natural for children to grow up in the likeness of their parents.
When the earth was created for us to live upon—and that is why it was organized in the first place—God provided physical bodies for all the spirits He had made during the preexistence. He then sent those spirits who did not follow Satan to earth to occupy mortal bodies according to the form and shape of each particular spirit.
The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith about the creation of man and beasts and birds and creeping things, saying that “that which is spiritual [is] in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal [is] in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man [is] in the likeness of his person, as [is] also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created.” (D&C 77:2.)
That is why cows are always cows, horses are always horses, birds are always birds, trees are always trees, and human beings are always human beings. The Creator made all living things that way in the preexistence and designed physical bodies to fit the spirits as He sent them here to Earth.
And who is this great Creator? The scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ, our Savior, was the Creator under the direction of Heavenly Father: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Talk Source:
“Cassie,” her father called, “will you please see if the morning newspaper is here yet?”
Cassie got slowly off the couch and dragged her feet to the front door. She stopped a moment, closed her eyes, and whispered, “Please, please let there be a story about a circus or a baseball game on the front page.”
She opened the door and glanced at the paper resting on the doormat. “War Escalates” shouted the big, black headline. She quickly rolled up the paper with the headline on the inside and ran to give it to Dad.
That morning was current events day at school. Jason brought the front-page story about the war. Miranda brought an article about a hurricane in the Caribbean. Cassie’s clipping was about a dog who could water ski. Her teacher reminded her that a story about a dog was not important news, but she didn’t care. The entire current events bulletin board was covered with stories about wars, disasters, and crime. She pinned her cute picture of the dog where she could easily see it.
Cassie was glad to get home after school. She did her homework and helped Mom with the dinner dishes. Dad invited her to come sit beside him in the family room and tell about her day while he watched the news. She had just started talking about the funny article she had taken for current events, when the news showed pictures of children who had been hurt when a bomb exploded.
Cassie ran to her room and closed the door. She threw herself on the bed and covered her head with pillows. Her throat was tight, and her stomach felt like it did on the roller coaster at the fair. Tears rolled down her cheeks and onto her comforter.
After a long time, Cassie heard a soft knock on the door, “May I come in, Cassie?” her mother asked quietly.
“I guess so.” Cassie’s voice was muffled by her pillows.
“Honey, what’s wrong? Did you have a bad day at school?”
“Not exactly,” Cassie mumbled through the pillows.
“Would you like to talk about whatever is bothering you? I can come back later if you want to be alone for now.” Mom sat down on the edge of the bed.
Cassie rolled over onto her back, and the pillows slid onto the floor. She lay staring at the ceiling for a moment, then finally said, “Mom, does Heavenly Father love everyone the same?”
“Yes, He does.”
“Then why are there wars where people get hurt and die? Why are so many people in the world unhappy? If Heavenly Father loves us, why doesn’t He stop the fighting?”
Mom thought for a moment. “Those are good questions. Let’s see if we can find some answers. Do you remember a few months ago in family home evening when we talked about our life before we came to earth? We learned about an important meeting at which Heavenly Father presented His plan for us.”
“I remember. Satan wanted to make everyone choose the right way so we would all return to Heavenly Father.”
“That’s right,” Mom replied. “Why wasn’t his idea a good one?”
“Because we would lose the right to choose for ourselves.”
“That’s right—Heavenly Father knew that it was better to let us choose to follow His commandments, even though He knew that some of us would choose to disobey and that many would not be able to return to live with Him.
“He also knew that some people would choose to hurt other people, even good people and children. He knew that Satan would work very hard to get us to hurt each other, because Satan doesn’t want us to live with Heavenly Father again. He wants us to be unhappy, like he is.”
Cassie rolled onto her side and looked at her mother. She had an important question to ask, but she was afraid to hear the answer. “What if a war starts here? I’m afraid someone in our family will be hurt or killed.”
Mom gathered Cassie into her arms and rocked her gently. “Oh, honey, I wish I could promise you that nothing bad will ever happen to any of us. There may never be a war here in our town, but as the world turns more and more to wickedness, there will be more dangers and more trials that we will have to deal with as best we can.”
Cassie began to cry again. “I just can’t stand it, Mom. Everywhere I look there is sadness and pain. I wish I had been born some other time.”
“There has always been suffering in the world, Cassie, but I think I know how you feel—sometimes it’s a little bit overwhelming. But did you know that Heavenly Father saved you to come to earth now? You were strong in the premortal existence, and you had just the qualities that Heavenly Father knew you would need to be able to handle temptations and hardship.”
“Really?” Cassie thought for a moment. “Then why am I so afraid?”
“Because the world is a scary place for an eleven-year-old. I have several ideas that I think will help you, though. First, when you say your prayers every day, ask for peace to come to your heart. The Holy Ghost is a comforter, and He can make you feel better. He can’t take away the wars and fighting, but He can make it easier for you to deal with such problems. Second, I think you should ask Dad for a father’s blessing.”
Cassie remembered how she had felt better after her father’s blessing just before school started. “That’s a good idea. I always feel good after Dad blesses me.”
“Me, too,” said Mom. “Another thing that I think will help is to try to look for good things. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. Even though we live in a wicked time when many things are happening that cause us pain, we can still find joy. You can enjoy a beautiful sunset, or playing with your brother and sister. Let Dad and me do some of your worrying for you, at least until you’re older.”
“OK,” Cassie sighed happily. “It’s a deal.”
“I know one other thing that I hope will help you, but it’s a surprise.”
“When will I find out what it is?” Cassie loved surprises.
“Give me a few days,” Mom answered, smiling mysteriously.
All that week Cassie tried hard to do as her mother had suggested. She did feel better after her father’s beautiful blessing, and she tried hard to enjoy every day. A few days later, she walked into her room after school, and there on her wall, hung where she would see it first thing every morning, was a beautiful cross-stitch picture in a large golden hoop. There were birds and flowers and butterflies on it, and right in the middle was the scripture in John 14:27—“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Talk Source:
I love my Book of Mormon. It is Holy Scripture given to us by God. I love to read it and hear stories from it. Many prophets have asked us to read the Book of Mormon. Here are some examples of what they have said.
Ezra Taft Benson
““There is a book [that] we need to study daily, … namely the Book of Mormon. I love that book. …
“I bless you with increased understanding of the Book of Mormon. I promise you that. … if we will daily sup from its pages and abide by its precepts, God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church a blessing hitherto unknown.”
Ezra Taft Benson
(Ensign, May 1986, page 78.)
Prophet Joseph Smith
“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
Joseph Smith
(History of the Church 4:461)
“And so, I counsel you, my beloved brothers and sisters and friends everywhere, to make reading in the Book of Mormon a few minutes each day a lifelong practice.”
Marion G. Romney, as quoted by President Ezra Taft Benson
(Ensign, May 1986, page 6.)
Gordon B Hinkley
“It was by faith that this marvelous record of ancient peoples, this testament which we call the Book of Mormon, was brought forth by the gift and power of God.”
Gordon B. Hinckley
(Ensign, November 1983, page 52.)
“The holy scriptures are for children, to fill their eager minds with sacred truth.”
Thomas S. Monson
(Ensign, Dec. 1985, page 48.)
Howard W Hunter
“[The Book of Mormon] will give you a greater desire to live in harmony with … gospel teachings.”
Howard W. Hunter
(Ensign, May 1983, page 16.)
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Moroni 10:4
“Like all books of profound value, [the Book of Mormon] is not casual reading. But if you persist, I assure you that it will be the most rewarding book you have ever set your mind to read.”
Boyd K. Packer
(Ensign, May 1986, page 59.”
I know that the more we read and study the Book of Mormon, the more we will understand and learn from it’s pages.
Talk Source:
I am a child of God. I know that he created me, and that he created me to look like Him. I’d like to share with you part of a conference talk by Elder M. Russel Ballard.
To truly reverence the Creator, we must appreciate His creations. We need to take time with our families to share the miracle of buds changing into fragrant blossoms, to sit on a hillside and feel the tranquility of the sun casting its last golden glow over the horizon, to smell the roses.
When we look at the evidence of creation all around us, from a grain of sand to the majestic planets, we begin to realize that we are the greatest of all God’s creations; we are created in His image.
God expresses His love for us by helping us to progress and reach our potential. Perhaps a simple story will illustrate this point. A young man could not get his computer to work properly. Soon he became discouraged. His temper grew short, and he threatened to destroy the computer. His wise father intervened and took his son to a local vendor to get an instruction manual. After all, who would know more about a computer than the person or company that created it? By working within the guidelines given in the instruction book, the boy soon enjoyed the full potential of his computer.
Likewise in our lives, He who knows most about us, about our potential and our eternal possibilities, has given us divine counsel and commandments in His instruction manuals—the holy scriptures. When we understand and follow these instructions, our lives have purpose and meaning. We learn that our Maker loves us and desires our happiness.
I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus live and love us. I know they want us to be our best, so we can return and live with Him again.
Talk Source: LDS.org – God’s Love for His Children
One day Lincoln’s friends told him that they had pretended to put money into the school’s pencil machine. They told the secretary that they didn’t get a pencil, and she gave them one. Lincoln decided to give it a try.
At recess Lincoln sat on a bench and looked at his free pencil. He felt very sad inside. He wanted to do what was right. He told the secretary what he had done and gave her the pencil. Lincoln felt better.
Have you ever done something wrong and wished you could make it right? Heavenly Father wants us to return to live with Him, but no unclean person can live with Him (see Moses 6:57). Heavenly Father knows that everyone will make mistakes, so He has given us a way to become clean again. We must repent.
Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He suffered so we would not have to suffer if we repent (see D&C 19:16). Because Jesus Christ paid for our sins with His suffering, when we do our part by repenting and not making the same mistake again, we can be clean again.
Talk Source:
I am a child of God. We are all children of our Heavenly Father. He loves us and we love Him. He wants us to learn, and grow, and do what is right, so that we can become like Him. How do we know that we can become like Him?
Here is an example by Elder Boyd K. Packer:
For a number of years we have lived outside of the city. We have horses and other farm animals, including chickens. Some of the chickens are free to roam the barnyard. The children have to be alert to find where these chickens lay their eggs, for sometimes they are found in the haystack or in the woods or under the woodpile.
One spring a little speckled hen hid her nest under the manger in a small place where she could not be seen. None of us knew where she was, but we were sure that she must be sitting on a nest somewhere.
One day when I arrived home, the children came running to tell me that they had found the little hen and her nest. They had found the nest because the chicks had hatched and had begun to make little peeping noises.
They pulled me to the barn, and I carefully reached back under the hen and brought out a handful of little chicks. As the children gathered around, touching the soft little chicks, one of our daughters took a chick and held it carefully.
“That will certainly make a nice watchdog when it grows up, won’t it?” I asked. She looked at me like I didn’t know very much, telling her a chick would grow to be a dog.
I quickly corrected myself and said, “It won’t grow up to be a watchdog. It will be a nice riding horse, won’t it?”
She looked at me again with a puzzled expression, for even though she was only four years old, she knew that the little chicken would not grow up to be a dog or a horse or even a pheasant or turkey. Somehow she knew that the little chick would grow up to be either a hen or a rooster—much like its mother or father.
This is a lesson that is taught to us over and over and over again in nature—all animal life produces after its own kind, and little ones grow up to look and to be like their parents.
That is true of people too. Small boys and girls grow up to be big boys and girls, then young men and women, and finally they become parents of children like they themselves were.
In Primary, Sunday School, and in family home evenings, we learn that God is our Father. In the scriptures He is spoken of many times as our Father, and when we pray to Him, we say, “Our Father who art in heaven.”
I testify to the children of the Church that God is indeed our Father. When we reach our full growth and destiny, we have the promise that we may be like Him. Just as all life follows the pattern of its parents, so can we grow toward the image of our Heavenly Father if we will live righteously and be obedient to His commandments.
The Savior said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
I know that if we work and do what is right we can make good choices and become like our Heavenly Father.
Talk Source: LDS.org – Friend to Friend: That We May Be Like Him
