"Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured."
-1 Nephi 3:6
Words and language are such powerful things. It really is miraculous how, in just a year or two, a sweet little innocent, helpless and dependent baby can learn to use language to express his or her own thoughts, feelings, desires, ideas and even their moods. It's very eye-opening to see (and hear) the things that my "baby" boy picks up in conversation and what words, intonations and expressions he chooses to copycat. At two years old, surely the majority of his speech comes from the things he hears me say and talk about. Sometimes I love what he says, other times, I'm surprized and maybe even a little embarrassed.
I love Lehi's stalwart teachings on language and conversation, particularly because of how they influenced his sons. Lehi recognized that the Lord's commandments were the utmost important truths he could communicate to his children. He learned wisdom from conversing with the Lord. He praised positivity and condemned complaining. Still, through Nephi's righteous declaration: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..." and Laman and Lemuel's ceaseless murmuring and hard words, I can't help but think that maybe Lehi too was challenged to exemplify perfect patterns of speech, although he certainly knew how important it is and how blessed he would be for not murmuring, especially against the Lord.
There is something so gratifying as a mother to hear your child speak kind words, to express tender love, to laugh and to finally repeat truths you've tried to teach over and over again, wondering when, and if, they'd ever really "sink in." Every day I'm amazed at the things Evan expresses; things sometimes I didn't even know he knew how to say. I'm sure when Lehi heard his sons recount their adventures in Jerusalem, he was amazed at the language Nephi used to express his gratitude to the Lord, to exhort his brothers to try again, to stand up to criticism and pressure, to reason with a king, to dispel fear and calm confusion, to persuade and to make promises. Nephi's words were full of power, faith, love and truth. I'm not sure even Lehi knew his son was capable of such language, but I am sure that he was filled with immeasurable joy to hear his son express himself and to use such strength of speech.
It's a challenge sometimes now to always try and say the right thing in just the right way because I know two little ears are listening to every word that comes out of my mouth. It's also very humbling. What I teach my children to say and how I show them to express themselves will be the foundation of what they'll use to form their own thoughts and ideas and what they will choose to say to others, either for good or evil. I'm not perfect, and my kids will hear me say that a million times, I'm sure. But I hope my example, especially in conversation, will teach them acknowledge the Lord and His blessings in all things and never to murmur. When I hear them speak, I hope that they, like Nephi, will be able to say, "When my [mother] had heard these words [she] was exceedingly glad, for [she] knew that I had been blessed of the Lord."
-1 Nephi 3:6
Words and language are such powerful things. It really is miraculous how, in just a year or two, a sweet little innocent, helpless and dependent baby can learn to use language to express his or her own thoughts, feelings, desires, ideas and even their moods. It's very eye-opening to see (and hear) the things that my "baby" boy picks up in conversation and what words, intonations and expressions he chooses to copycat. At two years old, surely the majority of his speech comes from the things he hears me say and talk about. Sometimes I love what he says, other times, I'm surprized and maybe even a little embarrassed.
I love Lehi's stalwart teachings on language and conversation, particularly because of how they influenced his sons. Lehi recognized that the Lord's commandments were the utmost important truths he could communicate to his children. He learned wisdom from conversing with the Lord. He praised positivity and condemned complaining. Still, through Nephi's righteous declaration: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..." and Laman and Lemuel's ceaseless murmuring and hard words, I can't help but think that maybe Lehi too was challenged to exemplify perfect patterns of speech, although he certainly knew how important it is and how blessed he would be for not murmuring, especially against the Lord.
There is something so gratifying as a mother to hear your child speak kind words, to express tender love, to laugh and to finally repeat truths you've tried to teach over and over again, wondering when, and if, they'd ever really "sink in." Every day I'm amazed at the things Evan expresses; things sometimes I didn't even know he knew how to say. I'm sure when Lehi heard his sons recount their adventures in Jerusalem, he was amazed at the language Nephi used to express his gratitude to the Lord, to exhort his brothers to try again, to stand up to criticism and pressure, to reason with a king, to dispel fear and calm confusion, to persuade and to make promises. Nephi's words were full of power, faith, love and truth. I'm not sure even Lehi knew his son was capable of such language, but I am sure that he was filled with immeasurable joy to hear his son express himself and to use such strength of speech.
It's a challenge sometimes now to always try and say the right thing in just the right way because I know two little ears are listening to every word that comes out of my mouth. It's also very humbling. What I teach my children to say and how I show them to express themselves will be the foundation of what they'll use to form their own thoughts and ideas and what they will choose to say to others, either for good or evil. I'm not perfect, and my kids will hear me say that a million times, I'm sure. But I hope my example, especially in conversation, will teach them acknowledge the Lord and His blessings in all things and never to murmur. When I hear them speak, I hope that they, like Nephi, will be able to say, "When my [mother] had heard these words [she] was exceedingly glad, for [she] knew that I had been blessed of the Lord."
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