D&C 68: Teaching Children Faith and the Duty of Parents and Bishops
My youngest daughter asked me a question at breakfast last week. She wanted to know why we pray before we eat. I gave her the short answer first, the one about gratitude and asking God to bless the food. She nodded and took a bite of her toast. Then she asked if God would still bless the food if we forgot to pray. I did not have a good answer for that one.
I thought about that conversation when I read D&C 68 this week. The chapter covers a lot of ground. Four men are called to preach the gospel and bishops receive instructions about caring for the poor. But the part that stayed with me is the middle section, the part about teaching children.
And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. (D&C 68:28)
The verse is simple. It does not say to teach children once and be done. It does not say to leave it to the Sunday School teachers. It says parents are supposed to do it. And the chapter makes clear that this is not optional.
What Does D&C 68 Teach About Teaching Children
The chapter gives parents a specific charge. They are to teach their children the doctrine of faith in every needful thing. They are to teach them to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord. And they are to teach them to keep the commandments.
And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. (D&C 68:28)
I have read this verse before. But this time I noticed the phrase "every needful thing." It is not a short list you can finish in a year. It is the whole scope of what a child needs to know to move through life with faith. That is a long conversation. It happens in fragments over many years.
The chapter also says that if parents do not teach their children these things, the sin is upon the heads of the parents. That is a heavy statement. It does not mean parents are responsible for every choice their children make. But it does mean they are responsible for the teaching. The instruction has to happen. Whether the child accepts it is between the child and the Lord.
I wrote about a similar idea in D&C 66: Revelation to William E. McLellin. That chapter is about faithfulness and avoiding temptation, and D&C 68 extends the same principle to the next generation. You cannot keep the commandments yourself and neglect to teach your children to do the same.
How to Teach a Child Faith in Every Needful Thing
The phrase "every needful thing" covers a lot of ground. It includes the big questions, like why we have a Savior and what the Atonement means. It also includes the small ones, like why we pray before meals and what happens when we forget.
I have found that the small questions are harder to answer than the big ones. The big questions have prepared answers. You can find them in the scriptures and in conference talks. The small questions come at unpredictable moments. You are pouring cereal and your child asks why God lets bad things happen. While driving to school they ask if Heavenly Father has a body. At bedtime they ask if the Holy Ghost is a person or a feeling.
The answer to "every needful thing" is not a single lesson. It is a thousand small conversations spread across childhood, answering the question even when you are tired, admitting when you do not know and looking it up together and living in a way that makes the answers believable.
I keep a piece of walnut in my shop that I have been working on for about two years. It started as a rough slab. I flattened it, jointed the edges and let it sit. Every few months I take it down and do a little more. Sand a section, carve a detail, apply another coat of oil. It is not finished and I am not sure what it will become. But the work happens in layers over time. Teaching faith is the same way.
Responsibilities of Bishops in Doctrine and Covenants 68
The second half of the chapter turns to the role of bishops. The Lord gives specific instructions about how the storehouse should be managed and how the poor should be cared for.
And the bishop shall appoint every man a steward over his own property, or that which he has received, inasmuch as is sufficient for himself and family. (D&C 68:30)
The bishop is an administrator, but more than that he is a steward over the resources of the church. He is responsible for making sure that no one goes without the necessities of life. The chapter describes a system where the bishop gathers what the saints can spare and distributes it to those who lack.
I think about the bishops I have known over the years. They carry a weight that most people do not see. They know which families are struggling and which cupboards are bare. They sit in meetings about budgets and then go home and wonder if they did enough. The chapter gives them a framework, but the framework only works if the members participate.
The bishop cannot fill the storehouse alone. He needs the saints to bring their offerings. He needs the members to be honest about what they have and what they can spare. The system depends on trust.
Who Were the Men Called to Preach in D&C 68
The chapter opens with a specific call. Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson and William E. McLellin are called to preach the gospel. The Lord tells them to go forth and declare the truth according to the revelations and commandments they have received.
And I have sent forth the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph to the Gentiles. (D&C 68:1)
These were not men who had been preparing for this call their whole lives. They were ordinary members who were asked to do an extraordinary thing. Orson Hyde would later serve a mission to dedicate the Holy Land for the return of the Jews. But at this moment he was just a man being told to go.
I think about this when I see someone in my ward get a new calling. They usually look surprised and usually feel unprepared. That is the pattern. The Lord calls people who are not ready and then makes them ready through the work itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does it mean to teach children faith in every needful thing?
It means more than telling children that God exists. It means guiding them through the practical application of faith in their daily lives and helping them trust in God's promises. Explaining the principles of the gospel as they relate to their specific struggles and questions is part of that work. The teaching happens in fragments over many years, not in a single lesson.
Why does D&C 68 emphasize the bishop's role in caring for the poor?
The bishop is the common judge in Israel and is tasked with ensuring the equitable distribution of resources. His role is to act as a steward over the storehouse, making sure that the physical needs of the members are met so that they can focus on their spiritual progress without the distraction of extreme want.
Is the command to teach children in D&C 68 only for parents?
The primary command is directed at parents, but the principle extends to all those in positions of spiritual leadership and mentorship. The overarching theme is that children should be nurtured in a gospel-centered environment, which includes the support of the broader church community. But the primary responsibility rests with the parents.
What happens if parents do not teach their children the gospel?
The chapter states that the sin is upon the heads of the parents. This does not mean parents are responsible for every choice their children make. It means they are responsible for providing the instruction. The teaching must happen. Whether the child accepts it is between the child and the Lord.
How does the call of Orson Hyde and the others apply to modern members?
It shows that the Lord calls ordinary people to do His work. These men were not professional clergy. They were members who were asked to serve, and the same pattern continues today. When someone receives a calling, they are not expected to be ready. They are expected to be willing.
I never did give my daughter a good answer about whether God would bless the food if we forgot to pray. I told her I think He does, because He is merciful and He knows we are trying. But I also told her that the prayer is not really about the food. It is about remembering who provides it. She thought about that for a minute and then asked if she could have more toast.
-- D.