Alma 37: 20-35

This netbook is getting harder for me to use. I got to be quick so I could finish something before it freezes. But I'll just do the best I can do.

In verse 35 we read, "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God." I would often hear this back in my younger years...And it did serve as a great reminder for me to chart my course while I am young so I would be heading to the right direction. 

The Institute Manual gave us this explanation to this verse: "President Ezra Taft Benson described the power that comes from learning to keep the commandments early in life while still young: “Give me a young man who has kept himself morally clean and has faithfully attended his Church meetings. Give me a young man who has magnified his priesthood and has earned the Duty to God Award and is an Eagle Scout. Give me a young man who is a seminary graduate and has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me such a young man and I will give you a young man who can perform miracles for the Lord in the mission field and throughout his life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 59; or Ensign, May 1986, 45).
• The scriptures give several examples of the Lord calling those who are still in their youth to be His
leaders: Joseph Smith was 14 years old (see Joseph Smith—History 1:7); Mormon was 15 years old (see
Mormon 1:15); the Old Testament Samuel was still a “child” when called by the Lord (1 Samuel 3:1–10).President Joseph F. Smith testified of the relationship between keeping the commandments early in life and being called to serve the Lord later: “You may look around today, and who are the leaders among the
people but those who early and zealously devoted themselves to the faith? And you may foretell who are
to be the leaders by observing the boys who show self-respect and purity and who are earnest in all good
works. The Lord will not choose men from any other class of his people. . . . The opposite course, waiting
to serve the Lord until the wild oats of youth are sown, is reprehensible. There is always something lacking
in the man who spends his youth in wickedness and sin, and then turns to righteousness in later years. . . .
There are regrets and heartburnings in repenting late in life from the follies and sins of youth, but there are
consolation and rich reward in serving the Lord in the vigorous days of early manhood” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 335).

It's plain to see that one of the reasons my parents accepted and embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ is for them to be able to raise their children in righteousness. I am so grateful for having the kind of parents I have who love their children enough to give up their old ways to make sure their children will be living better lives. That's a sacrifice--giving up something good for something better. My parents were good people being raised by their goodly parents in their religion. But they recognized what potential they and their children have and the privilege to reach such great potential with their new faith that they chose to embrace back in the days.