On Correcting our Children

I love Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It has so many verses that are a wonderful guide and consolation to us in all different facets of our lives. The ones I'm thinking about today are verses 41-45:

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—
43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith,

I think these guidelines can help us in all our interactions with family, especially the relationship of parents to child; but also in all other interpersonal interactions.

The part that I think is most misunderstood in English is "Reproving betimes with sharpness". I've heard many general authorities explain what the "sharpness" means, but its hard to get out of our heads how it sounds to us. Much of my reproving when my children were young was done with my own kind of "sharpness".

In English the word "sharpness" is footnoted to D&C 15:1 which is God saying he speaks with "sharpness and with power", which tells me we should parent the way God does. Wouldn't it be nice if we could always reprove in the same way God would? I think that's why verse 43 also says "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost." The Spanish version of "moved upon" is "induced", which I take to mean influenced.

However, in Spanish that part somewhat clearer:
reprendiendo en el momento oportuno con severidad

So "sharpness" means "in the opportune moment. Then the Spanish uses the word "severity" which in the footnote says means "with clarity and strictness".

So what I get from it is that we should reprove in the opportune moment with clarity and strictness, when induced by the Holy Ghost. We need to be careful first of all that if we reprove someone, we are being induced to do so by the Holy Ghost, not by our own pride or anger. Then we need to do so in an opportune moment, and with clarity and strictness.

I don't have much call any more to reprove anyone but sometimes I sure feel like it anyway; I've always had a problem with saying what's on my mind. But if I can remember the part about being induced by the Holy Ghost and in the opportune moment, I can make a better difference without making someone think I'm their enemy.