Mosiah 1:4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
It made me think of my earlier discussion of evolution (which didn't go anywhere - surprise!): the goal of evolutionary fitness is not to reproduce better – it is to produce offspring that can reproduce better.
I like the idea that the goal of the gospel isn't to teach the gospel to our children and help them find testimonies – it is to help our children to teach the gospel to their children and help them help their children find testimonies.
This verse gives a brilliant and succinct illustration of a fundamental principle that applies to multiple parts of our development.
I think you've articulated one of the great challenges of gospel teaching, particularly in parenting. It's not nearly as difficult to create a spiritual "mule" (forgive the bad analogy) as to create a being as capable and desirous of living AND passing on the gospel as yourself. Perhaps we often begin too late to concern ourselves with not only whether our children will survive until tomorrow (both physically and spiritually) but also whether they are prepared to help their own children do the same.
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