In Proverbs 22:6 we read: 'Train up a child in a way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ We also see this in the story of Enos in the Book of Mormon. The teachings of his righteous father had such an impact on his life, spiritually, and stayed with him.
He wrote, 'I went to hunt beast in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.'
Through the words that his father taught him, Enos knew that God our Eternal Father would hear his prayer and that He would answer him. Enos acted in faith fearing nothing. He wanted to be free of the burden of sin and to feel peace.
The answer he received was, ‘Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed'. Enos bore his testimony that, 'And I Enos knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.' Enos was assured by the Lord that, ' Wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole'.
The story of Enos reminded me of my own experience before I became a member of the church. I grew up in a good family and was raised by loving parents. Growing up, I really did not like going to church. I remember one Sunday my father came to me and asked me why I wasn’t going to church. I told him that it was because I prepared lunch for the family so that the food would be ready when they arrived home from church.
My father then taught me a lesson I will never forget - his voice was not harsh nor hard, it was so soft that it penetrated my heart. He told me that it was very important that we all go to church as a family. He taught me that Sunday is a very special day that has been set apart from every other day. He said that God created the Heavens and the earth, and all His creations in six days and that He rested on the seventh day, so the Sabbath is the day where we go to church and worship the only true and living God. The next Sunday I was at church and from that time until now I never miss attending church. My father was able to lay a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in me. I knew from that time that indeed God is real and that He lives.
I began preparing everything I could on the Saturdays so that I could be more reverent on Sundays. I am eternally thankful for the lessons I learned when I was growing up. I am thankful for my parents, for the example that they set for me. Later in my life, I met missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and my husband and I were taught the gospel. It was not difficult to accept the restored message of the gospel of Jesus Christ because the foundation of faith was already laid by my wonderful parents. We immediately felt that we belonged at church.
Our son, Kagiso Mmusi (almost 23 now) grew up in the church and, with the help of my husband, I have tried to do exactly what my parents did for me and taught him to trust in the Lord at all times. He served his mission faithfully for two years in Sierra Leon and the Cape Town mission. In the scriptures we read,' Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him, He shall direct thy path'. Trusting in the Lord means having complete faith in Him. As I strive to do this, I see the hand of the Lord in my Life and I have felt His love in return.