David D. Brosnahan
Talk in Steven's Creek Ward
Church of Jesus Christ
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Creating Gospel Traditions:
As the summer approaches, Bishop Hinds asked if I would speak on family traditions and using the summer as an opportunity for us and our families to create gospel- and Christ-centered traditions or at least not lose the traditions we have worked hard to develop over this past school year.
When I attended BYU, I was a Y-group leader for incoming college freshman. The job of a Y-group leaders was to introduce a group of 20 kids to the campus. To create a sense of belonging and identity, our group was to come up with a name, slogan, and cheer. Just for fun, I went to the grocery store and bought 20 limes which I threaded with string and had the students wear around their necks in a very successful attempt to be weird and different. I was surprised to find that not only did all the students wear their limes all through orientation week, a few of these freshman dried and kept their limes all year and kept them as a silly memento of their college experience.
What is a tradition? According to the google dictionary, tradition is: the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
It is said, “Watch your thought; they become actions; what your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” This pattern of thought and behavior may be exactly why the scriptures admonish us to love God with all of our “heart, might, mind and strength.” In our covenant path leading to a celestial destiny, we can cultivate a Christ-like character only by having Christ-centered thoughts, actions, and habits. Habits are another word for traditions.
Paul in the New Testament encourages us in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
In Mosiah 5:15 it states, “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.”
How do we determine what is a good tradition and how do we learn to stand fast in those traditions? 3 Nephi 6:14. speaks of Lamanites who had given up their false traditions and “who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.”
We learn that the Lamanites conversion to the “true faith” preceded their ability to remain firm, steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments. This conversion is a firm belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, and a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We can gain this witness of the “true faith” through studying and praying to God for a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ. Together with the Bible, by having a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we can know that know that Joseph Smith, who was called by God to translate the Book of Mormon, was also called by God to be a prophet and restore the fullness of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in these the latter days. By cultivating a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and being converted to the “true faith” we can then know which traditions and standards we are called to adopt. There is only one way to become personally converted. It is through a witness of the Spirit as we study these very scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ. It comes as we pray, search the scriptures, and as we fast.
Alma 17:2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. 3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
With an understanding of what a tradition is, what kinds of traditions are we to develop?As we build gospel and Christ-centered homes, we are called like Nephi who was called to build a ship, to build them not after the manner of men, but after the manner the Lord has shown him.
1 Nephi 18:1-3 “And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. 2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. 3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.”
In the Church, the traditions of our pioneer ancestors inspire us to be hard working, industrious, frugal, and to persevere through any adversity. Others gospel-centered traditions are based on doctrine and standards which may seem peculiar or strange to the world but are consistent with God’s pattern. These include chastity, modest dress, clean language, Sabbath observance, adherence to the Word of Wisdom, and the payment of tithes.
Traditions are formed over time as we repeat the same actions over and over again. As we are steady and unchanging in doing that which is good, our traditions become firmly rooted in righteousness. Scientific studies suggest that new habits can be developed in as little as 3 weeks and become automatic after 2 months. While 2 months represents a modest investment of time, I have found that falling out of a good habit can also happen in that same short period of time.
My neighbor just had their roof replaced this last week. The company did it all in a single day. The other morning I was getting home from work after a night-shift in the ER and my neighbor was puttering around her front yard. She waved me over and wanted to congratulate me on learning that Nanci and I were expecting. I told her I was impressed by the quality and speed at which the company she hired was able to finish her new roof. Having talked to people in the roofing business. One of the toughest parts of the job is manually carrying shingles up the ladder. I was impressed that her company used a hydraulic lift to do all the heavy lifting. Working smarter and not harder is definitely a great tradition to follow. My neighbor told me how she was impressed how new workers are able to come and learn the skills and traditions of the trade. She was impressed that only after a few months and years, workers become so accustomed to their work they walk confidently and fearlessly along the very edges of the roof, trusting their balance, skill, and safety harnesses among other equipment.
I started working in medicine as a volunteer in an emergency room over 20 years ago. I remember thinking about the physicians at that time and the process required to learn all the skills and traditions necessary to one day work in this career. Amazingly, through medical school and residency, I learned all the necessary skills, habits, and traditions that taught me how to work as an ER doctor. The suppose the ER can be as scary a place as walking along the roof of a 3-story building. But probably not as scary as sending our teenagers to public school.
Cheryl C. Lant, Primary General President invited us to take a moment to reflect on the traditions in our lives and how they might be affecting our families. Our traditions of Sabbath day observance, family prayer, family scripture study, service and activity in the Church, as well as patterns of respect and loyalty in the home, will have a great effect on our children and on their future. Is our parenting is based on the teachings of the scriptures and of the latter-day prophets?”
In thinking about developing gospel-centered traditions, we can develop family traditions around the standards of the Church regarding gospel standards such as, modest dress, clean language, word of wisdom, and sabbath-day observance. There are certain words and language we do not say. There are certain things on Sunday we do and not do. And there are certain things we do not eat or drink. Every family needs to decide individually the specifics.
When it comes to family night and family scripture study. The variable summer schedule can make daily habits a challenge. I face this same challenge with my chaotic work schedule. It can be very difficult to get into a daily routine with a variable work schedule. So, what I have tried to do is tie prayer and scripture study to family activities that are regular. We do try to have a sit-down dinner every night with my kids. So, it's easy to begin dinner with a prayer, and end with scripture study. Because I am usually the first one done eating. I can open the scriptures and start a gospel-centered conversation. Bedtime is another regular routine in my house. As part of our bedtime routine Vivian and Joy each read from their children's Bible, we sing a primary song together we each pray individually.
As we establish good gospel- and Christ-centered traditions we can become “steadfast and immovable” in keeping the commandments of the Lord, and we will secure the blessings of heaven for ourselves and for our families. I pray that we will feel this deep in our hearts and in our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
