Or, On Fathers and Sons...
Zeniff certainly was not the ultimate in the way of a father. Who is? He was a man who tried to do the best he could with what he was given (or the path he took). He was a man who had passion and was an effective leader, inspiring many to abandon their homes and follow him into a hostile land. At some level, though, his home life obviously suffered. His son did not follow in his footsteps.
This is a difficult thing for parents. I have known many people whose children struggled from time to time. Some of them struggled with things that could easily have been avoided, while others became victims of circumstance, bad luck, or disease. I don' t think there's a parent in the world who would willingly allow these kinds of things to happen. But it seems there's a general pattern that is followed, involving parents who are usually either too permissive or too strict. There needs to be a careful balance of these things, a focus on what is right and why. A balance on discipline and allowing consequences. And overall, there needs to be a careful, tender, loving, and respectful guidance for children. Children are all different, so the dynamic of each child is very different. Parents should adjust parenting styles accordingly.
Ultimately, children must make their own decisions. Our Father in Heaven Himself could not remove our agency and remain who He is. But there is solace for parents who keep covenants and who remain faithful. We are promised that the sealing power binds our children to us for eternity. It is unclear how this all works - at least to me - but it is clear that those covenants are powerful things, things that should give us hope and light in dark times.
And parents are not to be held accountable for the agency of their children. It may be difficult, but children should be allowed to experience the full measure of life and the results of their decisions. I have known many prominent members of the Church whose children have struggled. This does not reflect on their parents - their parents just did the best they could. If anything, it makes the condemnation of the children that much more just, because they had been taught and new the right way, yet willfully chose another path.
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