Be Attitudes

                    Families, communities and nations are strengthened when parents help their children to have good and proper attitudes.  Our attitudes affect how we feel and think about life and our place in it.  Parents with good attitudes can more easily help their children to develop the same.

                    Our Savior, Jesus Christ, taught a sermon about attitudes, which is referred to as the Beatitudes.  He taught this sermon in both the Holy Land (Matthew 5) and on the American continent (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 12).  This morning while I was studying about the Beatitudes taught to ancient Americans, I realized that there are some excellent lessons for parents and leaders contained in them.

                    The Savior began each Beatitude with the "blessed," which means happy.  Whenever you read the word "blessed" in the following scriptures, please substitute the word "happy."  Look for the blessing that comes from each proper attitude.

                    "Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants :  and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; …

                    "And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am.  Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depts. Of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.

                    "Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit [humble] who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

                    "And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

                    "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.

                    "And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

                    "And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

                    "And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

                    "And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

                    "And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;

                    "For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you" (3 Nephi 12:1-12).

                    Our families, communities, and nations would be much happier and successful if all children and youth were taught the teachings Jesus Christ.  We would enjoy peace and security if the rising generations were taught humility, compassion for others, and how to be peacemakers as well as to seek righteousness, mercy, and purity of heart.  The Beatitudes are correct teachings; the Be Attitudes can change our lives, our homes, our communities, and our nations.