This very famous statement by David O. McKay has kicked up quite a conversation in my circles lately. According to this prophet of God: “Parenthood … should be held as a sacred obligation. There is something in the depths of the human soul which revolts against neglectful parenthood. God has implanted deep in the souls of parents the truth that they cannot with impunity shirk the responsibility to protect childhood and youth.
There seems to be a growing tendency to shift this responsibility from the home to outside influences, such as the school and the church. Important as these outward influences are, they never can take the place of the influence of the mother and the father. Constant training, constant vigilance, companionship, being watchmen of our own children are necessary in order to keep our homes intact.”
And so it seems clear that the ultimate responsibility of parents is to parent their children. Someone asked if success at home compensates for every failure in the world. The answer to that would be “no”. Here’s why – part of our mortal probation is to overcome trial, tragedy and exceedingly long journeys. If everything was a success in life, where would the growth come into play? With these trials come great rewards, far greater than any monetary success.
There is nothing more important than doing our part in helping our Father in Heaven’s children return to His arms. No amount of money can be made; no amount of corporations can be taken over; and no amount of friends, fame and power will compensate if the children within your home are not raised in righteousness. There is protection for the family when things are done right.
When a husband and wife are sealed in the temple they begin on an eternal journey which, if they work hard enough in reaching toward the heavens, will end in their ultimate reward. Part of this process on earth, is the copy of the eternal family in heaven. In other words, our own family circles, mimic the heavenly one.
We have been entrusted with Heavenly Father’s most precious spirits. We have been asked to raise them in righteousness, and a couple does this very thing by being sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. Then as they bring children into the world, their next sacred obligation and protection is to hold family home evening. With this comes another prophetic promise discussed in an earlier blog – but in essence, there is eternal protection for children gone astray when they have been born in the covenant and raised with the gospel being taught in the home, especially during family home evening.
If the parents of these children spend all their time at work, clubs, associations, games and little to no time raising their children then they have gone in direct contradiction of what David O. McKay taught. Again, no success can compensate for failure in the home. For if you have failed at home you have failed eternally.