Higher standards for missionaries means higher standards for their parents as well, said Elder M. Russell Ballard in a speech Friday morning at the BYU Women's Conference.

"I am deeply grateful for members who are doing great things," said Elder Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "but I must honestly tell you that it is still not enough."

Sister Anne C. Pingree, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Elder Ballard both spoke on the important role women play in preparing the youth of the church for leadership and service.

"We need young men and young women who are ready and willing to serve in defense of the kingdom of God," Elder Ballard said. "I am convinced that the women of the Church are the single most significant key to bringing this to pass."

He said the general Relief Society presidency had requested that he give an address similar to a speech he gave in the October 2002 priesthood session of general conference entitled, "The Greatest Generation of Missionaries."

In his 2002 speech, Elder Ballard said the church was going to require a higher standard of righteousness for missionaries and fathers needed to be an example for their sons by also living the gospel more faithfully.

He told attendants of Women's Conference that the higher standard of righteousness also applied to them.

"If we are 'raising the bar' for your sons and daughters to serve as missionaries, that means we are also 'raising the bar' for you," Elder Ballard said. "These are high standards and great requests, but I do not apologize for them. They are the Lord's standards."

Elder Ballard gave a list of 10 lessons parents must teach their children to prepare them for effective missionary service, including how to study their scriptures well and how to repent.

Children need to learn not to waste time, he said, especially on computer and video games, movies and television.

"How many kills or baskets or scores you can make playing a computer game will have zero effect on your ability be a good missionary and may dull sensitivity to the spirit," Elder Ballard said. "Be fully aware of what your youth are watching on all media."

Some parents do not think they have a right to ask their children questions about worthiness, he said, but that is not true.

Parents not only have a right to ask about their children's worthiness, but they have a responsibility, he said.

"Ask specific questions and refuse to accept anything less than specific answers," Elder Ballard said. "Do not slip into the mistaken idea that you need to be a best friend or a pal. You need to be a church leader and a mother."

Elder Ballard concluded his address by expressing his admiration for the women of the Church and encouraging them to continue to serve.

He said much of the future growth of the Church will be the result of the happy, righteous lives of the women.

"Few things are as powerful as the influence of a righteous women," he said. "Never make the mistake of underestimating the influence you have in the Church and the world."

Sister Pingree used stories from the scriptures and of church members to illustrate how parents can encourage righteousness in their children.

She said parents needed to be and to teach their children to be three things to raise the greatest generation of missionaries.

Parents must be meticulously obedient and faithful, committed to the principles of hard work and sacrifice and dedicated to making and keeping covenants, she said.

"What we teach may come together in a moment that defines a life," Pingree said. "We are given increased capacities and blessings as we commit to teach our children high standards."

At the beginning of the meeting, Sandra Rogers, chair of the Women's Conference committee, summarized the accomplishments of Thursday night's service projects with the following figures: 4,952 newborn kits, 44,555 hygiene kits, 14,942 school kits, 70,000 non-profit mailings, 1,500 bib kits, 600 activity kits, 2,050 greeting cards, 1,080 happy factory toys.



Copyright Brigham Young University 5 May 2003