"All Thy Children Shall be Taught of the Lord"

Isaiah, who lived approximately 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, reminded parents and others of their responsibility toward children in these words: "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13).

When I was growing up, my family lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA. Several times a year we visited my grandmother, Johannah Johnson Koyle. She was a widow, living in a small house on a farm south of Burley, Idaho, about 130 miles away. The only source of heat in her home was a stove in the middle of her living room. My brother and I took turns filling a coal bucket with cantaloupe-size chunks of coal, that were used to keep the fire burning . On cold winter nights, the temperature often dipped well below zero degrees Fahrenheit, so the warmth of the stove was welcome relief from the cold.


There were two bedrooms next to the living room, that were kept warm by the fire. However, my brother and I had to sleep in the far corner of the house, separated from the stove by the kitchen and walled-in porch. Unfortunately, the heat was unable to find its way to that part of the house. So my grandmother went to the room early to climb into the bed and warm it before my brother and I climbed in--one on each side of her. Three or four quilts made by my grandmother were piled on top of us--so heavy that breathing was a bit labored. Before we fell asleep, Grandma Koyle shared some faith-promoting stories--stories that told us how much she loved the Savior--stories that helped us to love Him also. I can't remember the stories she shared, but I will never forget how they made me feel. I felt loved, and warm, and safe and peaceful. That happened over 65 years ago, and even now I can remember the feelings.

Moses gave us the pattern for teaching in our homes:

 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Moses' charge to the parents of his day is a charge to parents of our day.

• We must show our love for the Lord by keeping His commandments (see John 14:15).
• We must treasure up His word, found in the scriptures, in our hearts and minds.
• We must teach them to our children at every opportunity, with love and testimony.
• We are invited to be living scriptures from which our children can draw peace and strength in a troubled world.

As we do so, the promise will be fulfilled. "Great shall be the peace of [our] children." Our children will find that peace as they draw ever closer to the Prince of Peace. Doing so will help them navigate the troubled waters of our time, secure in the knowledge that a loving Savior stands ready to lead them securely back to their heavenly home.