Does God Help Parents To Protect Their Children?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Matthew 2 and Luke 2. The lesson was titled “We Have Come to Worship Him.” It was introduced in the following paragraph. 

From the day of His birth, it was clear that Jesus was no ordinary child. It wasn’t just the new star in the heavens or the joyous angelic proclamation that made Jesus’s infancy remarkable. It was also the fact that such a variety of faithful people—from different nations, professions, and backgrounds—felt immediately drawn to Him. Even before He uttered His invitation to “come, follow me,” they came (Luke 18:22). Not everyone came to Him, of course. There were many who paid Him no notice, and a jealous ruler even sought His life. But the humble, pure, devoted seekers of righteousness saw Him for who He was—their promised Messiah. Their devotion inspires our own, for the “good tidings of great joy” brought to the shepherds were for “all people,” and the “Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” was born that day unto all of us (see Luke 2:10–11).

This lesson taught about the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ. It also gave the testimonies of numerous witnesses of the Savior of the world. Last week, we learned about Zacharias and Elisabeth. This week we learned of the shepherds, wisemen, and two disciples who worked in the temple (Simeon and Anna). The principle that I will discuss in this post can be found in Matthew 2:13-23 “Parents can receive revelation to protect their families.”

Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus Christ, but he played the role of His mortal father. As such, Joseph received several revelations pertaining to his role. The first revelation told him that she should marry Mary and care for the infant. Other revelations are given in the following verses (Matthew 2:13-23).

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 ¶ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. 

Joseph carried a heavy burden as being the protector for the Son of God in His childhood, but he was not left alone to do it. With heaven’s help, he took Mary and the Child to Egypt to escape the anger of the king. When the danger was past, Joseph was notified that it was safe for him to take his family to Nazareth.

Just as God helped Joseph to keep the Baby Jesus safe, He will also help parents today to keep their children save from physical and spiritual dangers. Parents can receive personal revelation to help their children in individual circumstances. In a recent conference talk, a father described a hike that he took with his young son. The trail went beside a large boulder, and the son started to climb up the rock. The father was inspired to stop his son. Later, the trail looked down upon the rock, and the father and son saw a rattlesnake curled on the top of the rock. The father recognized that he had been inspired to stop his son, and the son was grateful that his father listened to the revelation.

God helps parents to protect their children in general in numerous ways. One of those ways is the Come, Follow Me program where parents are given many helps to assist them in teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to their children. Those families who take advantage of the Come, Follow Me materials are stronger spiritually as they study the gospel together. They are also strengthened in their family relationships as they meet together each evening to study the scriptures and pray together.