Two Way Traffic

Followers of this blag might be surprised to learn that my favorite talk from the recently-adjourned general conference was a talk by Sister Elaine Dalton, the President of the Young Women organization.  In her talk, Sister Dalton discussed how three of her sons had recently had daughters and, at least in some way, looked to Sister Dalton for help and advice in how to raise them.  She said, simply, that the best thing a man can do for his daughter is to love her mother and to show to her what a loving and gospel-centered home is like.

This might be puzzling, based on my tumultuous and often antagonistic relationship with women as a whole.  However, that's just it.  This talk hearkens back to the root of my tumultuous relationship with women, which is that my mother didn't really show her love for my father in a healthy or constructive way.  I'd like to add my testimony to that of Sister Dalton, by saying that the best thing a parent can do for their opposite-gender child is to love their spouse in a way that their child can see what a healthy and celestial marriage is like.  I testify that the counsel that Sister Dalton offered to the men of the church applies equally well to the sisters when seeking counsel in how to raise their sons.  Women are more naturally predisposed to follow this counsel without even thinking about it, but I live as a testament that this is not always the case.  It is important that, regardless of gender, latter-day saints take care to love their spouses, for their own sakes, as well as for the sakes of their children.

I'm sure that, at some point, the Lord will bless me with a daughter, much like the sons of Sister Dalton.  When this happens, I look forward to following the counsel of this general officer and showing to my daughter what a loving, gospel-centered home is like.  To me, there is little more important in my future family life than breaking the cycle of gender-based contention that started generations ago, long before anyone on my mother's side of the family had the gospel.

The gospel of Christ gives us guidance to do things that we never thought we could do, like raising a son or a daughter.  I think that's pretty grand.

[Video of Sister Dalton's talk.]