The overwhelming majority of Latter-day Saint youth have something in common with Helaman's 2,000 stripling warriors of the Book of Mormon. Those warriors are perhaps most readily known among members of the Church for their faith in what their mothers had taught them.
Because of this, they were, "men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and walk uprightly before him" (Alma 53:21).
According to a four-year study recently completed by researchers for the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina, young men and women of the Church in the United States are more committed and more knowledgeable about their faith than are other teenagers.
In nearly every category of this study, reported in March, teenage Latter-day Saints gave answers that showed they take their religion seriously, strive to live the commandments and are articulate about their beliefs and standards.
In a world in which teenagers often appear to be following their parents into the abyss of consumerism and selfish pursuits, this is good news, indeed. It shows that Latter-day Saint youth are eager to follow the prophet, and that they are busily engaged in the things that truly matter, gaining their own strong testimonies along the way.
More to the point, however, it shows that the youth of the Church are committed to the commandment, "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).
It also reflects positively on the women of the Church who strive diligently to rear their children in righteousness.
In the United States and some other countries, Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday in May. Other nations have similar holidays at different times of the year. Perhaps there is no greater gift a child could give a mother on Mother's Day than a commitment to abide by all the teachings, counsel and advice she has lovingly provided through the years. That is more beautiful and lasting than any flowers or other token that one day will grow old and fade. It is a gift of everlasting value.
In a talk directed toward mothers, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "To the mothers of this Church, every mother who is here today, I want to say that as the years pass, you will become increasingly grateful for that which you did in molding the lives of your children in the direction of righteousness and goodness, integrity and faith. That is most likely to happen if you can spend adequate time with them" (Ensign, November, 1996).
The survey bears this out. Who could doubt that the young people who demonstrated their faith to researchers will grow up to be men and women of faith, capable of lifting their neighbors and improving their communities and nations?
The researchers who compiled the data said LDS teenagers are not perfect. But a large percentage of them tend to be committed to the gospel. They tend to be free from sexual sins, live the Word of Wisdom and refrain from watching pornographic photos or programs. A whopping 91 percent of them said they have no or few doubts about their religious beliefs, and 68 percent said they engage in fasting regularly.
Perhaps most telling, 73 percent said they hold similar religious beliefs as their parents (Deseret Morning News, March 15, 2005).
In other words, they doubt not that their mothers know it.
There is, of course, room for improvement. Many young people in the Church are drawn by the temptations of the world. Many struggle to choose light over darkness.
But very many also do that which is right, and they understand the truth. With each righteous choice they make, they are honoring their mothers, their fathers and other faithful teachers.
