The Most Important Things: A Letter to My Children

Quite a few years ago during church, a speaker asked a question similar to this: "What do you think is the most important thing for your children to learn?" I have thought a lot about that question. What are the most important things to me? If I were to die, what are the things that I would have wanted to have passed on to my children? This post is an attempt to answer that question. I have limited myself to 5 principles. I feel like if my children know and understand these 5 things that I will have done a good job and I would be confident in their ability to face any challenge that they may encounter in life.

God loves you

Implicit in that statement is the knowledge that God exists. He is your Heavenly Father, the father of your spirit. He knows you personally and loves you individually. He listens to your prayers and answers them.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
(1 John 4:8)

I consider this the most important thing to know in life. A knowledge of God and His relationship to you provides you with perspective on life and its challenges. You can get through any trial if you know that God is on your side.

22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
(1 Ne 11:22)

Jesus Christ is your Savior

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. His atonement can bless your life by giving you strength to overcome your weaknesses and by washing away the guilt of your mistakes.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
(Isa 1:18)

If you are struggling with some temptation, pray for strength and it will be given to you. If you are struggling with sadness or despair, turn towards the Savior and He will bring you peace.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
(Alma 7:11-12)

Faith in Jesus Christ is what will give you the hope to keep going when it seems like you are doomed to fail.

16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.
(Alma 22:16)

Obedience is the first law of heaven

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
(D&C 130:20-21)

God will keep His promises to you. You can rely on Him. If you will keep the commandments He has given you, He will bless you. God may bless any of His children regardless of their righteousness or wickedness, but if you want to be able to call upon God in confidence that He will hear you, you must be living according to the commandments that He has given you.

9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
(Isa 58:9)

It is from doing the small things every day that great spiritual strength is developed.

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. (Alma 37:6)

By studying the scriptures every day, by saying prayers morning and night, by attending church every week with an attitude of worship, and by serving in the temple regularly, you will have a firm foundation of faith built on the bedrock of Jesus Christ that will help you to weather any storm.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
(Hel 5:12)

Kindness is the first law of the gospel

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(Matt 22:37-39)

To love your neighbors means to treat them with kindness and respect.

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
(Matt 7:12)

I am convinced that the essence of the gospel is to be kind. If you want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, be kind to everyone you meet.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
(James 1:27)

I love you and our family

I consider myself to be blessed beyond measure to have been given such a wonderful family. Mom is my best friend and the love of my life. I believe that I have been blessed with my very own happily ever after. Mom and I have been blessed with amazingly talented and beautiful children.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
(3 John 1:4)

I am proud of how each of you have worked to develop your many talents. Always remember that God has blessed you with talents so you can bless the lives of others.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matt 5:14-16)

You are the light of my world. You bring me great joy and happiness. After this life is over, I look forward to reuniting with all of you in the Kingdom of God.

Love,
Dad