"For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:"
Psalms 78:5-7
Good reminders that we need to keep the hope alive for upcoming generations. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own journey of faith and testimony that we forget how the next generation is watching us, and taking their example from our actions.
It of course isn't bad to have questions and fears that we are working through with God, but let's work to make sure that those things don't bleed through in our actions to bias others against the gospel, or encourage disobedience. I mean, it's one thing if we are intentionally trying to get people to walk away from God. That's a choice... Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah did that for a while, and still were able to repent and change with a lot of effort.
Worse though I think would be to find out that we are tearing down other people's faith inadvertently, not meaning to, but just because they see the fallout of our lives and our less than faithful reactions, and wonder where God is in all of that. I think that is part of what God was trying to prevent when he let the Children of Israel wander in the wilderness before being allowed to enter the promised land. Today, let's make sure that we're living as we actually believe and setting the example we intend to set. If we love God and want to serve him, let's be sure to show that committment and faith by our actions, and "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us]" (1 Peter 3:15).
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