Fostering Conversion in Children - Lili Andersen Fireside

In the past, many people have stayed in the church for duty, or family, or culture. However, the rising generation will have far fewer people stay in the church out of duty. Societal pressures are changing and the voice of the world is deafening. Our children must be converted, on their own, to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are some ways to encourage that process.

1)Build a positive relationship with God.

•  Teach them the meaning of TRUE PRAYER. First by example. When you pray in front of your children let them hear your pleading, fears, joys, gratitude, as if you were praying alone. Teach them how you REALLY pray. Teach them that when we feel hurt, or not getting the answer/help we thought we would it's OK. It's okay to be hurt, just tell God about it. Don't shut him out. One woman said, "I didn't want to have a bad attitude in my prayers so I kept my pain to myself. Then I realized, God can handle it! That's one reason he gave us prayer." 
• Give your children every opportunity to pray over all of life's troubles and joys. Heavenly Father wants to answer them! "Maybe we should pray about this..."
• Heavenly Father is helping us all the time. We need to point it out so our children can see it. 
• Don't be in a hurry. Remove that word from your life. Plan so that putting on shoes and getting ready is a happy and loving pace. It will be better for your children and you! When you are in a hurry it's very difficult to feel the spirit. This pace of life will allow them to feel the spirit more. If you take the time you need to be listening always you will be directed to things and experiences to help your children's faith grow. 
• Learn to recognize and feel God's love. When you learn something by the spirit, sunsets, hugs from your kids. When does it come to you? See it and enjoy it. Then teach your kids to do the same. 

2)Understand the plan of Salvation. 

• Don't just lay out the whole plan and move on. Spend time on each individual phase of the plan. Why did we have a war over agency in the pre-existence? What is the true test of life? 
• After death paradise requires covenants kept. Prison 1 is like a school for learning for those with no covenants. Prison 2 is hell, where you pay the price of your own sins, those who rebelled against the light. 
• Hymn 240 - God will force no man to heaven. Agency is the power to lead us all to our greatest desires. Not everyone wants the celestial kingdom. 
• If you have questions then find the answers! They are out there for those with eyes to see. It was never about proof. If it were the gold plates would be on display down at temple square! It's about a test of faith. 

3)Learn to harness the natural man, then DO IT.  

• Earth life is the chance to exercise spirit over flesh.  The successful practice of this allows God to endow us with power. God will not give power to people who can't control themselves. If we can't master the flesh then amen to our power. 
• Can we master the flesh? Will it master us? Eating, yelling, temper, money, callings, home and visiting teaching, time management, lust... are you in control, or is the flesh? I
• Invite your children to understand the POWER of mastering the flesh. Teach them how to repent, how to process negative emotions. 
• The old adage of "follow your heart" is given as the reason for many stupid choices. Don't follow your heart! Follow the spirit! Don't pray for permission to do things against the counsel of prophets. She used the example of a girl in college praying to know if she should room with a girl who occasionally does drugs and sleeps with guys. "Why are you praying about that? You know the standards of the church!" Pray to know if it's true then follow it.
• If you do what's right you'll never be alone. You'll be unworried about what's fair. Life is unfair so we can prove that we are Christians.