establishing, nurturing, defending the family

Establishing, Establishing, Nurturing, and Nurturing, and

DefendingDefendingthe familythe family

One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the

gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds. Elder Richard G.

Scott

Elder Russell Ballard Elder Russell Ballard “Daughters of God” April “Daughters of God” April

20082008 As a Church, we have enormous

respect and gratitude to you mothers of young children. We want you to be happy and successful in your families and to have the validation and support you need and deserve.


20082008What can you do, as a young mother, to reduce the pressure and enjoy your

family more?First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.


20082008Second, don’t overschedule yourselves or your children. We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed… Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together


20082008Third, even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them.


20082008Fourth, pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother.

Elder Elder Richard Richard G. ScottG. Scott

When (the Savior) is the center of your home, there is peace and serenity. There is a spirit of assurance that pervades the home, and it is felt by all who dwell there.Doing all we can to invite the gentle, guiding influence of the Holy Ghost into our lives is critical in our attempts to center our homes on the Savior. Acting obediently on those promptings strengthens us even more.

God has established God has established families to:families to:

Bring happiness to His childrenBring happiness to His children Allow them to learn correct Allow them to learn correct

principles in a loving atmosphereprinciples in a loving atmosphere And prepare them for eternal lifeAnd prepare them for eternal life

Preach my gospel p. 32Preach my gospel p. 32

President Henry B. President Henry B. EyringEyring

“The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, “With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?” The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone” (Ensign, April 2009)

Lois and EuniceLois and Eunice

When I call to remembrance When I call to remembrance the the unfeigned faith unfeigned faith that is in that is in thee, which thee, which dwelt first dwelt first in thy in thy grandmother Loisgrandmother Lois, and thy , and thy mother Eunicemother Eunice; and I am ; and I am persuaded is in thee alsopersuaded is in thee also

2 Timothy 1:5, p. 15122 Timothy 1:5, p. 1512

“We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church... (First Presidency Letter, 11 February 1999, emphasis added).

Doctrine and Covenants Doctrine and Covenants 68: 25,2868: 25,28

And again, inasmuch as aparents have children in Zion, or in any of her bstakes which are organized, that cteachthem not to understand the ddoctrine 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, wheneeight years old, the fsin be upon the heads of the parents.

And they shall also ateach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.

Simple ideas for a more Simple ideas for a more gospel-centered homegospel-centered home

Gospel art kit picture (1 x a day)Gospel art kit picture (1 x a day)

Apple a day keeps the doctor away, a Apple a day keeps the doctor away, a scripture story a day keeps satan scripture story a day keeps satan awayaway

Joseph Fielding Smith p. Joseph Fielding Smith p. 210210

The child who is taught in The child who is taught in righteousness from birth will most righteousness from birth will most likely follow righteousness always…likely follow righteousness always…It is the duty of parents to teach It is the duty of parents to teach their children the saving principles their children the saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ….you of the gospel of Jesus Christ….you must begin teaching at the cradle must begin teaching at the cradle side. side.


Gospel art kit picture (1 x a day)Gospel art kit picture (1 x a day) Primary music cds, Primary music cds,

primary.lds.musicprimary.lds.music Memorizing scripturesMemorizing scriptures

I have a vision of thousands of I have a vision of thousands of missionaries going into the missionaries going into the mission field with mission field with hundreds of hundreds of passagespassages memorized from the memorized from the Book of Mormon so that they Book of Mormon so that they might feed the needs of a might feed the needs of a spiritually famished world." spiritually famished world." President Ezra Taft Benson, President Ezra Taft Benson, October 1988 General ConferenceOctober 1988 General Conference

"I suggest that you memorize scriptures "I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. (with understanding. (Elder Richard G. Elder Richard G. Scott, October 1999 General Scott, October 1999 General Conference)Conference)

Great power Great power can come from memorizing can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change. source of motivation for needed change. Elder Scott 2013Elder Scott 2013

"I have discovered that many times "I have discovered that many times you don't fully understand a scripture you don't fully understand a scripture until you memorize it. And sometimes until you memorize it. And sometimes I have memorized a passage because it I have memorized a passage because it seemed important and valuable to me- seemed important and valuable to me- then afterwards I discovered deeper then afterwards I discovered deeper meanings that I hadn't even known meanings that I hadn't even known were there.were there.When you find a passage that When you find a passage that particularly impresses you, consider particularly impresses you, consider taking the time to commit it to taking the time to commit it to memory, word perfect. memory, word perfect.

Then not only will you be able to Then not only will you be able to remember it, but you will probably remember it, but you will probably grow in your understanding as wellgrow in your understanding as wellBut that's not all. By memorizing But that's not all. By memorizing scripture scripture you show the Lord that you you show the Lord that you esteem his words to be of great esteem his words to be of great value- value- and then he will be more and then he will be more likely to speak to you and give you likely to speak to you and give you more."more."Elder Gene R. Cook, "Searching the Elder Gene R. Cook, "Searching the Scriptures", pg. 114Scriptures", pg. 114

Post them on the walls, kitchen Post them on the walls, kitchen cupboards, mirrors, windows, doors, cupboards, mirrors, windows, doors, windows, windows,

Deuteronomy 6:7,9Deuteronomy 6:7,9

And thou shalt ateach them (the commandments of the Lord) diligently unto thy children, and shalt btalk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates.


Gospel art kit picture (1 x a day)Gospel art kit picture (1 x a day) Primary music cds, primary.lds.musicPrimary music cds, primary.lds.music Memorizing scripturesMemorizing scriptures Post scriptures where they will be seenPost scriptures where they will be seen Use Preach my gospelUse Preach my gospel Illustrated scripture books, Friend Illustrated scripture books, Friend

magazine, fhe manual, general magazine, fhe manual, general conference magazine conference magazine

all a few dollars at store.lds.orgall a few dollars at store.lds.org

Family History bingoFamily History bingo What sport did Jay Fitzgerald play? A.

Soccer B. Football C. Football D. Hockey

Grandma Olsen said, “If you do things for 21 days it will become a habit” True or False

How many children did Eleazer John Jones and Mary Elizabeth James Jones have? a. 3 b. 4 c. 6 d. 5

How long did Great Grandpa study? 1. he didn’t because he was texting b. 5 min c. 10 hours d. 1 hour

Directing children to Directing children to spiritually building spiritually building

activitiesactivities Youth.lds.orgYouth.lds.org Scriptures.lds.org (movies with Scriptures.lds.org (movies with

continuous play)continuous play) Mormon messagesMormon messages lds.org/bible-videoslds.org/bible-videos Gospel conversations**Gospel conversations** Gospel solutions for families****Gospel solutions for families**** Mormon channel appMormon channel app

A System for the Holy A System for the Holy SabbathSabbath1st Sunday- missionary guests, field trips, family

history focus, lesson from mom2nd Sunday- bible balderdash, gospel 20 questions, scriptures charades, Pictionary, 3rd Sunday -read and report from church magazines, illustrated scripture stories, church online resources, lesson from dad4th Sunday -individual interviews, faith in God, personal progress, duty to God, Sunday stationsEvery Sunday--Family councils, calendaring, setting goals, concentrated songtime, conference reports (or fhe)

Julie Beck Julie Beck “Doctrine on the “Doctrine on the

family”family” This generation will be

called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before. If they don’t know the doctrine, they can’t defend it.

“… There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence. …“We of all people, brothers and sisters, should not be taken in by the specious arguments that the family unit is somehow tied to a particular phase of development a moral society is going through. We are free to resist those moves which downplay the significance of the family and which play up the significance of selfish individualism. We know the family to be eternal.”5

President Spencer W. Kimball

Elder Ballard August Elder Ballard August 20132013

We need more of the distinctive, influential voices and faith of women. We need you to learn the doctrine and to understand what we believe so that you can bear your testimonies about the truth of all things—whether those testimonies be given around a campfire at girls’ camp, in a testimony meeting, in a blog, or on Facebook. Only you can show the world what women of God who have made covenants look like and believe.

If you keep doing what If you keep doing what you’ve been doing,you’ve been doing,

You will keep getting the You will keep getting the results you have been results you have been

gettinggetting

Alma 37:6,7Alma 37:6,7 Now ye may suppose that this is

foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

Donald Halstrom April Donald Halstrom April 20122012

Some have come to think of activity in the Church as the ultimate goal. Therein lies a danger. It is possible to be active in the Church and less active in the gospel. Let me stress: activity in the Church is a highly desirable goal; however, it is insufficient. Activity in the Church is an outward indication of our spiritual desire. If we attend our meetings, hold and fulfill Church responsibilities, and serve others, it is publicly observed.

By contrast, the things of the gospel are usually less visible and more difficult to measure, but they are of greater eternal importance. For example, how much faith do we really have? How repentant are we? How meaningful are the ordinances in our lives? How focused are we on our covenants?I repeat: we need the gospel and the Church. In fact, the purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel. We often wonder: How can someone be fully active in the Church as a youth and then not be when they are older? …Perhaps the reason is they were not sufficiently converted to the gospel—the things of eternity.

President Eyring taught, “A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.”

Elder Richard G. ScottElder Richard G. Scott

I’m sure you can identify the fundamental principles that center your home on the Savior. The prophetic counsel to have daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family home evening are the essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home. Without these regular practices it will be difficult to find the desired and much-needed peace and refuge from the world.

Elder David A. BednarElder David A. Bednar

“Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the “familiar spirit” described by Isaiah” (Ensign, May 2010)

Elder Henry B. EyringElder Henry B. Eyring““AlwaysAlways””

http://speeches.byu.edu http://speeches.byu.edu I plead with you to return to the scriptures I plead with you to return to the scriptures in some way that opens your mind and in some way that opens your mind and heart to be taught…The Savior gave us the heart to be taught…The Savior gave us the scriptures, at a price paid by prophets we scriptures, at a price paid by prophets we cannot measure, so that we could know cannot measure, so that we could know Him. Lose yourself in them. Decide now to Him. Lose yourself in them. Decide now to read more and more effectively than you read more and more effectively than you have ever done before.have ever done before.

INVITATIONS

establishing, nurturing, defending the family

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