The Duty of Parents

I pray that I may enjoy the blessings of the spirit of the Lord. After thirty-one years in service with the youth of this Church it has been of great interest to me today to hear so much said about youth. ¶

The Duty of Parents ¶

Recently at one of our stake conferences one of the leaders of the stake said to me, “Brother Kirkham, after the morning meeting I wish you would take the opportunity to walk home with my son. I wish you would have a little talk with him. He is not going to his Sabbath School, and I wish you would have a chat with him.’ So I looked for the opportunity. I took the chap by the arm, and we started down the street towards the home. I thought a very good approach would be for me to say: “You know, you have a great father, a fine man, and so I started out with words like these, and then the boy immediately turned to me and said: “Brother Kirkham, I wish you would talk to my father for me. In all my life he has never been with me to a movie. He has never taken me with him. I haven’t even had a game of checkers with him. I would appreciate it.’ Well, we began to talk about other things. ¶

I handed my own daughter recently, one of our new publications in Church literature and calling her by name I said, “Here's a fine book. Hope you'll read it and enjoy it.” She took the book; then placed it over on the piano and said: “I'll tell you, father, I don't want that book. I want to talk with you,” and I heard something that pierced my heart. ¶

An Aaronic Priesthood Incident

I recently went through the Southern States Mission and on a number of occasions we had banquets given in honor of the Aaronic Priesthood. In one of the very large cities of the southland they invited in the mayor of the city, the judge of the juvenile court, and other dignitaries to the banquet. I shall never forget when I saw the judge of the juvenile court come in. He was smoking a large pipe. He came rather courageously up to the front, a fine southern gentleman, and he came as I suppose he came to many other banquets on other occasions like this. He joined his friends and the city commission, and the mayor of the city up at the front. In a few moments the program began and a boy arose and said: “I have been asked to speak about the Aaronic Priesthood. I am so happy to know that the Lord has favored me to hold the Aaronic Priesthood, this great blessing of my Heavenly Father to me, to hold his holy Priesthood. You know, I can't smoke; I can't drink, for I hold the Priesthood of God,” and then I saw the juvenile judge take his napkin and without much notice, cover his pipe. ¶

Expression of Confidence in the Youth ¶

Brethren, I wonder if we are fair. I wonder if it is fair to say it is juvenile delinquency. Maybe it's juvenile judge and father delinquency. Maybe that's the truth. Of course some are delinquent, but I want to appeal to you to have faith in them. I am thrilled by the faith of the youth of this Church. I feel in my heart definitely it is the greatest generation. They have come to fulfil destiny. They have come to do a work that challenges the greatest of spirits and I feel they are doing it. Oh, yes, some of them falter—there is a fringe. Surely, there always will be. ¶

I went to the university yesterday, after our afternoon meeting, and met four hundred fifty-five youths. A member of the faculty of that university said: “Kirkham, I've had a great time today. My, how thrilling it is to meet the youth of this generation!” Then he told me how they challenged him in his class rooms. ¶

Did you hear of that young man who came home from the South Seas, not long ago, and when Sunday came he said: “Father, Mother, let's go to church today.” And the father turned to him and said, “Say, that is rather new. You've never invited me to go to church before.” “Well,” said the young man, “I had a great experience, Father, down in the South Seas. One day I was trading with a black man. He had a fine piece of carved ivory, and I was giving him a piece of jewelry in exchange, and he handed the ivory over to me and then said, ‘Are you sure you will be happy with this trade?' and I said to him, as I caught the meaning of his deeper thought, ‘What makes you ask me that question?' ‘Oh,' said the black man, ‘A few years ago a missionary came to this island, and he told me the story of Jesus of Nazareth, and he told us if we had real happiness it must come from within.' ” ¶

“Well,” said the young man to his father and mother, “I want some of that. I want what the black man had. I want that in my life.” They went to church. ¶

I sincerely feel that 1944 will probably be one of the greatest years in all recorded history, and I try to say those words very thoughtfully. From what has been said by our commanding officers of the armed forces of the allies and what has been said by thoughtful men, this is to be truly a great year. I do not know when battle shall cease, but the leaders all declare this is the hour of destiny. ¶

We are facing a great election in the United States, and men are going to be tried. We have positive opinions in America. I hope we always will have, and that we will understand each other when we speak freely in the defense of our ideas. We must learn to live together and face truth and speak it as God gives us light. ¶

I appeal to you, my brethren, and I talk most to myself, may God help us that we shall have faith in youth. May we live worthy of their leadership. May we search deeply into our own lives for the troubles about us, and may God give us strength to go to him humbly in prayer and obtain His spirit, for with that spirit we shall be powerful in their sight, to our own satisfaction, to the glory of God and the furtherance of this great work for which I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶