Parents, this story is for you. Not long ago, I was helping my children get off to school, and I noticed they weren’t listening to me. Several times I reminded them of various family rules, only to have to turn around and remind them again just a few minutes later. Is there some sort of teenage disorder called ‘parentally induced selective deafness’ or something that makes them unable to hear me? I know I wasn’t like that as a kid. Well, if this sounds at all familiar to you, I would like to share a story that gives me hope, that maybe – just maybe I’m not wasting my breath.

There was a young man that grew up in a good home. His parents were faithful people who made a conscientious effort to see to the proper teaching and training of their children. This young man heard what his parents said; he listened. But as is so typical of youth, he heard with his ears but not with his heart. He didn’t fully understanding the importance of what he heard, and like so many youth, he made mistakes in his life that left him with that acute pain of guilt.

Well one day, while he was out on a hunting trip, his mind, probably sparked by the beautiful surroundings he was in, turned from the hunting of animals to the hunting of something else: peace and self-respect. It was as though he looked at himself in the mirror, soul and all, and didn’t like what he saw. Guilt and self-loathing swept over him. There had to be more to life than this. And at that point, a powerful sense of yearning, a hungering many times more painful than a missed breakfast gnawed at his soul.

And then, it came into his mind what his father had so often taught him about the happiness and the peace that comes to the faithful both in this world, and in the world to come. And suddenly, more than anything else in the world, he wanted that happiness. He wanted to know for himself what his dad had taught. He wanted to change, to be a better person, to be forgiven of his sins and have this terrible burden of guilt lifted from him. And I love this: What he did next is what he had seen his parents do hundreds of times. He dropped to his knees and he began to pray – not that routine kind of prayer so common at bedtimes and mealtimes, no – no, it was real prayer; it was mighty prayer, that kind that so filled with reaching and sincerity that its power lifts the heart and mind of the offerer from this fallen world to a perfect one. His whole soul was reaching to God.

And the voice of the Lord came into his mind and spoke peace to his soul. His sins were forgiven, and by the miracle of Christ his guilt was swept away. And once more, the cycle of the ages was complete where the child discovers for himself the wisdom, the power, and the rightness of his parents’ oft-repeated words.

My friends, this young man’s name was Enos. Enos became a prophet and gave the rest of his life to the service of God, thanks to his parents.

Now parents, I plead with you: With all the love and power of your heart, teach truth, over and over again if that is what it takes, and some day – some day when that hungering moment comes for your children, they will know where to turn for nourishment, and what to do.

God bless you.