My son was three when he was diagnosed with autism. The evaluation process seemed like a long one. It took months of testing everything from his hearing to testing his blood for lead poisoning and everything in between. There were what seemed like hours of watching him through a one way mirror, just hoping that he would interact even a little bit with the specialist. He didn't. We suspected that autism would be the diagnosis, but when it was actually given, we were still shell-shocked. We had no idea where to begin, but we knew that we had to start right then. The therapist told us that as far as autism diagnoses go, we were a little behind schedule. And with children, every moment matters. There are certain windows of opportunity that, once closed, are very very hard to reopen.
So we started. With help from my parents and other family members, we were able to enroll him in a wonderful program about an hour and a half away from home at the University of Utah. We began by taking him a few times a week, and then once a week and then finally the therapist came to our home to transition us from her care. That was a scary day. Knowing that I'd be solely responsible for his growth was very daunting. With much prayer and many opportunities that have been placed in our paths, though, he has really excelled. He's still not what most people would consider "normal", but he has come so far from that silent, circle-spinning boy he was twelve years ago. He struggles with many things that other kids his age don't have to, but he is happy. And I can't imagine him any other way. I truly believe that he has come this far because we were able to take advantage of those windows of opportunity that the therapist impressed upon us.
In thinking about it, I know that all children - not just special needs kids - have those windows. There are windows of time where potty training is most effective. There are windows where they learn certain things like reading and math. Each child's windows may open at a different age, but they all have them.
I was thinking about this as I read about Mormon this morning. He was just ten years old when he was given the charge to abridge the records of the Nephites into the Book of Mormon. Ammaron had hidden the plates due to the increasing wickedness of the people. He told Mormon that he perceived him to be "a sober child" and "quick to observe"(Mormon 1:2). He instructed him that he needed to observe the happenings of the people and that when he was twenty-four years old, he should go to the place where the plates were hidden and engrave everything he had seen onto the plates of Nephi.
When Mormon was eleven, his father moved him south into the land of Zarahemla. It was very populated, and war had broken out among the Lamanites and the Nephites. Mormon described the wickedness of both groups of people:
But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.
And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief. (Mormon 1:13-14)
Everyone around Mormon was incredibly wicked, yet he, as a fifteen year old boy, was able to withstand this wicked influence. He was so righteous in fact, that he received a visit from the Lord. He "knew the goodness of Jesus" (Mormon 1:15).
I thought about this a lot. At Mormon's young age, he probably had an increased susceptibility to be influenced by those around him. How was he able to shield himself from that influence? Mormon doesn't talk a lot about his father (also named Mormon), but he must have been a good man. He taught his son in the ways of his ancestors to be be true to the teachings of Christ and his disciples (Mormon 1:5). He surely used those windows of opportunity to impress upon his young son the importance of living righteously. Ammaron also, even if unknowingly, played an important role in Mormon's development into a stalwart young man and adult. By letting a young boy know of his divine nature and responsibility, Ammaron helped mold Mormon's future.
It was in this same way that my son's therapists and we as parents were able to shape him into the person that he is today. It is the reason that we have Primary at church, instead of just a glorified day care. It is most important to teach children while they are young. While their divine roles and responsibilities can be impressed upon their eager minds. While their windows are open.
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