--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Taylor, Joseph E. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 13 number: 12 published: 1910-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Taylor, Joseph E., “What Shall We Do with Our Boys?,” *Improvement Era* 13, no. 12 (October 1910): 1118–1120." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera13012unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera13012unse start_page: 1118 end_page: 1120 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1910-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera13012unse publication_year: 1910 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1910, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # What Shall We Do with Our Boys? "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." 1117 "Yes; and listen — " She looked at him across the table a? he talked. His eyes glowed and his earnest words rang true. He spoke of God's love for all mankind in providing a Redeemer who had atoned for the sins of the world; how this atoning grace was given to all unaccountable beings freely and without conditions on their part; how repentance and baptism applied only to those capable of discerning between right and wrong; how that infants, although born into a world of sin, were yet innocent, and, therefore, mem- bers of God's great heavenly kingdom. The young woman asked Paul many questions, all of which he answered fully and carefully, quoting passages from the Bible to prove his statements. As he talked, the shadows which seemed always to lurk in her face, began to disappear. Darkness vanished before the rising sun, and her soul arose from a region of gloom and despair into one of light and gladness. Time sped, and it was midnight before they were aware of it. "You are quite a preacher," she remarked, when the subject seemed exhausted. "Where did you learn all that?" "From my books and the inspiration of the Lord to me. I have had both with me on my sailing around the world -but you don't like preachers, and here I have been—" "Oh, but I'll acknowledge that there is a difference in preach- ers. Is what you have been telling me 'Mor monism?"' "Yes; but that is just one of the precious pearls from its endless chain of truth." "Well," said she, with more genuine happiness expressed in her words than he had heard for a long time, "If that's true, I— I — with you for the preacher— wouldn't mind being a 'Mormon' myself." And then he went around once more to her side of the table. What Shall We Do With Our Boys? BY ELDER JOSEPH E. TAYLOR. Why is this question so often asked, and by whom? Is it by the parents of the youth of Zion? If so, they are the ones who should be prepared to answer the question in its entirety — being, in the main, if not solely, responsible as far as a proper teaching and training of their sons is concerned. I was asked the question, the other day, "Is there any revela- tion giving instructions that are particularly applicable to our youth during the adolescent period?" I answered: Special instructions have been given to parents in regard to their children. No age has been specified, except that which relates to their baptism. The other revelations apply to all individuals who are accountable, in their separate and distinct spheres. The relation of parents and children, those who have been born in the new and everlasting covenant, is an eternal one; and no son thus born must ever consider himself as freed from the responsibility of paying that respect and reverence, as well as per- forming that filial duty which is demanded of him in that rela- tionship. To illustrate: The burden of the Savior's utterances while in mortality was the name, "My Father," honoring and recognizing him along every line, extolling him at every point, declaring, "I come not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me." And although, as Isaiah and John the Revelator said of him, he had "trod- den the wine press alone," in accordance with the Father's will, and secured a victory so complete as to be able to present to the Father a redeemed and glorified earth and people — yet that Son took no honor t) himself. On the contrary, as Paul says, "Then WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR BOYS? 1119 shall the Son, also, himself be subject unto him, [the Father] that God may be all in all." Therein is exhibited the very acme of filiation, setting thereby such a noble example, that, if followed, will redound to the honor of every son of a noble sire. The Father in return, after having received a redeemed earth and people from his obedient Son, now gives them back to him and crowns him "King of kings and Lord of lords." In treating upon the responsibility of parents, it may be well to commence with the mother; for to her belongs the duty of teaching and instructing the babe — the child. President Brigham Young covered the ground in a discourse delivered by him in April, 1852. He said: Education commences with the mother and child in connection — before it is born. It depends mainly upon the mother as to what children receive in early age, of principle of every description. I will tell you the truth, as you will find it in eternity. If your children do not receive impressions of true piety, virtue, and every principle of the holy gospel, you may be assured that their sins will not be required at the hands of the father — but the mother.* What is imbibed in infancy is the most lasting upon the mind through life. The early impressions that she gives the child, will be the char- acteristic points in his character through every avenue of his mortal exist- ence. If mothers will take proper pains, they can instil into the hearts of their children what they please. The pride which a mother takes in clothing her children prop- erly is a pardonable one. But this is merely outward adornment, and too often viewed as all-sufficient. But what about the spirits that inhabit their bodies, the training of which she has been entrusted with? These came from God, and will go back to him with a history of their treatment while in mortality. A father has a separate responsibility, as well as that in com- mi n with the mother. Hp should, to the extent of his ability, provide them with an education, associated with an influence of a * We think the intent of this remark would be better expressed, perhaps, in these words: "Their sins will not be required at the hands of the father alone, but of the mother also, and it may be mainly." — Editor.