Good parenting, while very challenging at times, offers great potential for happiness. Parents can experience great joy by building a strong, loving home environment and teaching gospel principles, which can help their children lead righteous, happy, and productive lives. (See 3 John 1:4.)

The Lord has commanded parents to "bring up [their] children in light and truth" (D&C 93:40). This includes teaching them to understand the doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 68:25) and to love their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This teaching should take place primarily in the home, with Church classes and programs supplementing and supporting parents' efforts.

Parents can teach their children formally during family home evening and other family gatherings, such as daily family prayer and scripture study or at mealtimes. Teaching opportunities also come in unplanned moments as parents and children spend time working and playing together. Whatever the setting, the Lord will guide parents as they prayerfully seek to rear their children in love and righteousness

 

• "Teach the Children"

  Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Feb. 2000, 10–17
  It is consummately important to teach the gospel and life's lessons to children and youth.

• "Helping Children Hear the Still, Small Voice"

  C. Terry Warner and Susan L. Warner, Ensign, Mar. 1994, 18–22
  Parents can help children recognize and cherish spiritual feelings.

• "The Greatest Challenge in the World—Good Parenting"

  James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1990, 32–35
  The teaching, rearing, and training of children requires more intelligence, intuitive understanding, humility, strength, wisdom, spirituality, perseverance, and hard work than any other challenge we might have in life.

• "To the Fathers in Israel"

  Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1987, 48–51
  Provide for the material needs of your family and, with your eternal companion at your side, . . . fulfill your sacred responsibility to provide the spiritual leadership in your home.

• "Parenting: Everything to Do with the Heart"

  Patricia T. Holland, Ensign, June 1985, 12–14
  For Christmas that year I gave Mary an apron from which I had conspicuously cut the apron strings. In the pocket I tucked a note apologizing for my behavior. A few years later she confided in me that my willingness to say "I'm sorry, I've made a mistake, please forgive me" gave her a great sense of self-worth.

• "Enriching Family Life"

  James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1983, 40–42
  Eight guidelines for parents to practice in building unity and family love.

• "Teaching Our Children to Love the Scriptures"

  Anne G. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 1998, 9–11
  Through the guidance of loving parents and dedicated teachers, small children can become familiar with the scriptures and the spirit that accompanies them.

• "Teach the Children"

  Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 17–20
  Children learn through gentle direction and persuasive teaching. They search for models to imitate, knowledge to acquire, things to do, and teachers to please.

• "Because She Is a Mother"

  Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, May 1997, 35–37
  If you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do.

• "Caring for the Souls of Children"

  Patricia P. Pinegar, Ensign, May 1997, 13–14
  Tell your children that you love them and that you are so happy to have them in your family. Prepare yourselves spiritually to receive the guidance through the Holy Ghost.

• "When Our Children Go Astray"

  John K. Carmack, Ensign, Feb. 1997, 6–13
  When children make choices contrary to gospel teachings, they always suffer the consequences, some of which are serious. . . . The Lord is aware of young people . . . and is watching patiently over them as they learn through their own experience.

• "Once Children Grow Up"

  Garth A. Hanson, Ensign, Feb. 1996, 22–29
  Parents are often perplexed about how much responsibility they have for young adult children, particularly errant children, and about how best to help them.

• "Being a Righteous Husband and Father"

  Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 49–51
  A man who holds the priesthood regards the family as ordained of God. Your leadership of the family is your most important and sacred responsibility.

• "Therefore I Was Taught"

  L. Tom Perry, Ensign, May 1994, 36–38
  In all the family units throughout the Church, evaluate again the progress you are making in holding regular family home evenings.