Listen to Learn by Russell M. Nelson

by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Several years ago, I was invited to give an important lecture at a medical school in New York City. The night before the lecture, Sister Nelson and I were invited to dinner at the home of our host professor. There he proudly introduced us to an honor medical student--his beautiful daughter.

Some weeks alter, that professor telephoned me in an obvious state of grief. I asked "What is the matter?"

"Remember our daughter, whom you met at our home?'

"Of course," I replied. "I'll never forget such a stunning young lady."

Then her father sobbed and said, "Last night, she was killed in an automobile accident!" Trying to gain composure, he continued. "She asked permission to go to a dance with a certain young man. I didn't have a good feeling about it. I told her so and asked her not to go. She asked "Why?" I told her that I simply was uneasy. She had always been an obedient daughter, but she said that if I could not give her a good reason to decline, she wanted to go. And so she did. At the dance, alcoholic beverages were served. Her escort drank a bit--we don't know how much. While returning home, he was driving too fast, missed a turn, and careened through a guardrail into a reservoir below. They were both submerged and taken to their death."

As I shared my feeling of sadness, he concluded: "My grief is made worse because I had the distinct feeling that trouble lay ahead Why couldn't I have been more persuasive?"

This experience will not have been in vain if others can listen and learn from it. Children, honor your parents, even when they cannot give a satisfactory explanation for their feelings. Please have faith in this scripture, which applies to all age groups: "Hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother." (Proverbs 1:8)

Parents have a divine duty to teach their children to love the Lord. Children have an equal obligation to "obey (their) parents in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:1).

Wise children, listen to learn from parents.