Often people talk about children growing up being dependent on their parents' testimonies. Lately I have found my thoughts lingering each time someone makes that sort of a reference... I might be misunderstanding their meaning, but it kind of seems that they are discrediting youthful testimonies.

Sometimes almost sounds as if when we grow up we have to stop believing our parents in order to gain a real testimony. I guess that could be true if we simply accept what our parents say and never recognize the spiritual confirmations...or if we don't believe, and we simply go through the motions of membership because of our parents.

As our parents teach us correct principles, the spirit will confirm the truth of what they teach. That will create a real, if simple testimony that has just as much power to direct our lives as a more 'mature' testimony.

For instance, as a young child, I'm sure I didn't understand the principle of tithing. But my parents taught me to set aside a tenth (I'm sure they helped me with the math as well) and I still remember bringing my tithing ($2.87 or whatever it was) to annual tithing settlement with my family. Before I could possibly understand the etymology of the words, I knew that paying my tithing to the bishop made me happy. From that fundamental base, very little has changed.

At some point, I payed my tithing simply because my parents told me to. Eventually I paid my tithing as an expression of gratitude for the blessings I have received and as a contribution toward building and maintaining the physical facilities etc. of the church. Always however I have paid my tithing because I thought it was right and I felt joy in obedience.

I don't believe that we have to abandon, or even question the faith and testimonies of our parents, the Sons of Helaman said, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it" and they demonstrated enormous faith. However, there does have to be a shift--not of faith, but of the source of truth. Initially gospel instruction will come primarily from our parents (as will most information) but as we mature, it will move to scriptures, prophets, inspiration from the spirit and regardless of the source we should come to realize when their teachings stand on their own merit.

Maybe it has been in my head so much because I have become a parent and now for someone I am that first source of truth.

What I now think is important is not just to teach truth--we should be doing that anyway, but we need to help those we teach develop their own testimony early on and recognize the manifestations of the spirit in their lives, so that they don't end up having a spiritual crisis later in their life.