Rasband - Our Rising Generation - April 2006

Elder Rasband discusses King Benjamin's speech to his people.  He notes that as people set up their tents to hear his speech, they set their tents up with the door of their homes towards the temple.  He then asks us a couple questions that cause us to reflect on how we have set up our homes:

• Figuratively speaking, brethren, are the doors of our homes pitched towards the temples we so love? Do we attend as often as we can, showing our children through our example the importance of these sacred and special places?
  

A lot of Elder Rasband's comments are centered around what we are doing as adults to help the youth of the church.  He quotes President Hinckley:

• “I have said many times that I believe we have the finest generation of young people that this Church has ever known. … They try to do the right thing. They are bright and able, clean and fresh, attractive and smart. … They know what the gospel is about, and they are trying to live it, looking to the Lord for His guidance and help” (“Your Greatest Challenge, Mother,” Liahona, Jan. 2001, 113; Ensign, Nov. 2000, 97–98).
  

Of the adults role in the lives of the youth he said:

• Our rising generation is worthy of our best efforts to support and strengthen them in their journey to adulthood.
  

Since this talk was given during the Priesthood session, he speaks directly to the men of the church and how we can support the parents of these youth:

• We—as members of the Church, leaders of youth, anxious fathers, and concerned grandfathers—all need to respond to the call for “all hands on deck” as it pertains to our youth and young single adults. We must all look for opportunities to bless the youth whether or not we are currently closely associated with them. We must continue to teach and fortify fathers and mothers in their divinely declared roles with their children in the home. We must ask ourselves constantly if that extra sporting event, that extra activity or errand outside of the home is more important than families being together at home.
  

Finally, he gives these two points of advice:

• We need to have an increased awareness of the need for strengthening, nurturing, and being an influence for good in their lives.
• Teach our youth what source they may look to for a remission of their sins, even the Lord Jesus Christ.
  

The youth of the church face many difficulties in their lives.  It is our responsibility as adults and leaders in the church to support parents in their divine roles to lead these youth.  As we interact with the youth of the church, it is vital that we share with them the wonderful blessings that come from living the gospel of Jesus Christ.