Contributed by: Ann Scriptures
Mosiah 26:1-4
1 Now it came to pass that
there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king
Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not
believe the tradition of their fathers.
2 They did not believe what
had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning
the coming of Christ.
3 And now because of their
unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.
4 And they would not be
baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their
faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would
not call upon the Lord their God.
D&C 90:24
24 Search diligently, pray
always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk
uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.
Stories
Story 1
How President Spencer W. Kimball established a righteous
tradition when he was young:
When President Spencer W. Kimball was fifteen years old, he
heard a speaker at stake conference ask how many people had read the Bible from cover to
cover. Only five or six hands went up, so the speaker urged the people to go home and
begin. "The meeting over, Spencer walked the block home, took down the family Bible,
climbed the stairs to his attic room, lit the coal-oil lamp with a match, and began at
Genesis. Night after night, by the flickering light of a kerosene lamp in the unfinished
attic where he slept, … he plowed through the pages. At some points Spencer had only
half an idea what he was reading, but he had made up his mind. It did not matter if long
stretches were boring; he plodded on. He was sure it was a worthwhile project. At least he
would have some idea what the Bible contained. He kept at it for about a year until he
could shut the book with great pride, finished. The experience built his confidence. He
had learned he could count on his own resolution" (Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E.
Kimball, Jr., Spencer W. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977], p. 56).
Story 2
Marta is a young mother who decided as a teenage girl that
she wanted her children to know the blessing of giving to others. Each Christmas she and
her family find a family who is in need. Together they decide what gifts to give and
present them with concern and love.
Story 3
Jenny’s father established a tradition of taking a
basket of fruit, a box of baked goods, or a meal at least once a year to each widow living
in the ward. Now, as an adult, Jenny recalls that tradition fondly and says, "My
father has passed away, but the widows in the ward still have a special place in my heart.
My own family continues my father’s tradition, not only at Christmas, but
periodically throughout the year."
Story 4
The Martin family chooses a scripture as their family motto
each year. This year they chose Doctrine and CovenantsD&C 90:24. Whenever family members
need a spiritual lift, the scripture encourages them.
Story 5
People of any age can make a list of goals for the new year.
One family does this each New Year’s Day. The father writes down the goals each
family member has named and reads the goals each one made the previous year. Then they
evaluate whether the goals have been reached.
Story 6
Sister Camilla Kimball told the following story: "On
Christmas Eve we have a special family gathering. It is my pleasure to read the Christmas
story as found in Luke, and then the children and grandchildren dramatize the story. The
children love to act the parts. Last Christmas President Kimball dressed in a costume we
had brought from Palestine, representing Joseph, while I dressed in the typical native
dress of a Jewish woman, which we had also brought from Jerusalem, and represented Mary. I
am sure our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will long remember the story which they
then acted out of the first Christmas Eve" (in Conference Report, Denmark, Finland,
Norway, and Sweden Area Conference 1974, p. 58).
Quotations
Quote 1
"Family patterns
and traditions are sacred. However, regardless of how well-established and beloved they
may be, they are not indestructible. Often selfishness, an unkind word, an altered
circumstance can cause them to collapse, never to be rebuilt or reclaimed. So we aim not
only to build, but to preserve" (Belle S. Spafford, Women in Today’s World [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1971], p. 232).
Quote 2
"The challenge to each one of us, a challenge we came
to the earth to experience, is to choose between good and evil. Many traditions in our
society lead us to sin, while others lead us to righteous conduct. If we place ourselves
on the side of righteous traditions and if we allow them to have an influence in our
lives, we can be strengthened in our testimonies and in our receptivity to the Spirit. If,
however, we give ourselves over to the wicked influence of evil traditions, we make it
more difficult for the Spirit to find a place in our hearts" (James T. Duke,
"The Traditions of Their Fathers," Ensign, Nov. 1972, p. 41).
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