TRADITIONS
OF THE FATHERS
SELECTED TEACHINGS
Elder Marion D. Hanks
“The first definition of ‘tradition’ in a modern
dictionary is: ‘The knowledge, doctrines, customs,
practices, etc., transmitted from generation to
generation... .’” (in Conference Report, Oct.
1968, 116).
Maintaining Righteous Traditions
Exodus 20:12
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God
giveth thee.”
1 Nephi 1:1
“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents,
therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning
of my father.”
1 Nephi 3:19
“And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should
obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our
children the language of our fathers.”
1 Nephi 5:21
“And we had obtained the records which the Lord
had commanded us, and searched them and found
that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth
unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the
commandments of the Lord unto our children.”2 Nephi 25:26
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we
preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we
write according to our prophecies, that our children
may know to what source they may look for a
remission of their sins.”Enos 1:1, 3
“Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my
father that he was a just man—for he taught me in
his language, and also in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God
for it....
“Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and
the words which I had often heard my father speak
concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints,
sunk deep into my heart.”Doctrine and Covenants 68:25
“And again, inasmuch as parents have children in
Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized,
that teach them not to understand the doctrine of
repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living
God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost
by the laying on of the hands, when eight years
old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”Doctrine and Covenants 93:40
“But I have commanded you to bring up your
children in light and truth.”Examples of False Traditions
1 Peter 1:18
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from
your vain conversation received by tradition from
your fathers.”Mosiah 10:12
“They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty
people, believing in the tradition of their fathers.”God teaches us that children
are to honor their parents....
What in us is noble, responsible,
faithful, gracious, considerate?
What is worthy of their respect
and their emulation?
—Elder Marion D. Hanks337