The human mind has been referred to as a blank slate, or tabula rasa, upon which all experiences get recorded from childbirth on. The gospel clearly states that the slate is not clean when we come to earth. We are all a product of our pre-mortal experience, temperament, intelligence, and diligence but the importance of receiving correct teaching from parents is indispensable. In Zeniff’s commentary, we find that prejudice is a learned commodity, a hand-me-down of eternal consequence. Have you ever heard a parent ask, “I wonder where my kid gets these ideas?” Yet, it is often the parent who, with subtle reference, degrading language, and insulting innuendo, has taught the child a sense of racial, ethnic, or religious superiority.
The Lamanites are incapable of believing in the God of the Nephites because they have been so consistently taught to hate the Nephites. In the Lamanite tradition, Nephi is no more than an insubordinate, power-hungry thief. Because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct (Mosiah 1:5), the Lord will not hold them completely responsible for their attitude toward the Nephites as Lehi prophesied to the children of Laman and Lemuel, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents (2 Nephi 4:6). Along these same lines the Lord warns the saints of the latter-days, And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion…that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents (DC 68:25).
Joseph Fielding Smith
“No person can begin too early to serve the Lord. Parents are instructed to teach their children from infancy, with the warning that they will be held accountable if they fail to do so. If a child is taught in righteousness from birth, it will most likely be a follower of righteousness always. They who refuse to seek the Lord early are forsaken in the hour of their trouble. Read the history of Israel, of the Nephites. How often when they rebelled were they punished! How slow was the Lord to hear their cries when trouble came upon them because of their sins!” (Conference Report, Apr 1969, p. 122)
David O. McKay
“I believe firmly that parents fail to get obedience from their children during the first five years of childhood. I believe that during that most important period of child life the parents sow the seeds of obedience or disobedience. Some of us fill that period of child life with too many don’ts, failing to make the child realize that a request from father, a request from mother should be complied with. Mother says: ‘Don’t touch that,’ to the little child. The little child toddles along and touches it. What is the result? The seeds of disobedience are sown. You don’t have to punish the little child. Lovingly, kindly, but firmly, teach the child that there are rules in the house which should be obeyed. Mothers, fathers, treasure sacredly and sense keenly your responsibility to the child during those first five plastic years of its life.” (Conference Reports, June 1919, p. 79)