Family

1 “Family prayer is the greatest deterrent to sin, and hence the most beneficent provider of joy and happiness. The old saying is yet true: “The family that prays together stays together.”

“Trust in the Lord” President Monson, General Conference October 1988 Second Counselor in the First Presidency

2 “Let us determine, whatever our circumstance, make of our houses happy homes. Let us open wide the windows of our hearts, that each family member may feel welcome and “at home.” Let us open also the doors of our very souls, that the dear Christ may enter. Remember His promise: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” (Rev. 3:20.)”

“Trust in the Lord” President Monson, General Conference October 1988 Second Counselor in the First Presidency

3 “Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child’s life to put feet firmly on the path home. Parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles are made more powerful guides and rescuers by the bonds of love that are the very nature of a family.”

APRIL 2010 “Help Them on Their Way Home” Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency

4 “Over the years I have frequently taught an important principle: the end of all activity in the Church is to see that a man and a woman with their children are happy at home, sealed together for time and for all eternity.”

April 2015 “The Plan of Happiness” By President Boyd K. Packer

5 “We should remember that our family relationships—even more than our Church callings—are the setting in which the most important part of that development can occur. The conversion we must achieve requires us to be a good husband and father or a good wife and mother. Being a successful Church leader is not enough. Exaltation is an eternal family experience, and it is our mortal family experiences that are best suited to prepare us for it.”

OCTOBER 2000, “The Challenge to Become” Dallin H. Oaks

6 “The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service. There a husband is to love his wife, a wife is to love her husband, and parents and children are to love one another.

Throughout the world, the family is increasingly under attack. If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail. And if families fail, their glorious eternal potential cannot be realized.”

APRIL 2008, “Salvation and Exaltation” Elder Russell M. Nelson

7 “Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life. You are God’s agents in the care of children He has entrusted to you. Let His divine influence remain in your hearts as you teach and persuade.”

APRIL 2008, “Salvation and Exaltation” Elder Russell M. Nelson

8 “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. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility….No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!”

APRIL 2015, “The Sabbath Is a Delight”, By Elder Russell M. Nelson

9 “Through the restored gospel we learn there is an ideal family. It is a family composed of a righteous Melchizedek Priesthood bearer with a righteous wife sealed to him and children born in the covenant or sealed to them. With a mother in the home in an environment of love and service, the parents teach their children, through example and precept, the ways of the Lord and His truths. They fulfill their divinely appointed roles mentioned in the family proclamation. Their children mature by living teachings instilled from birth. They develop characteristics of obedience, integrity, love of God, and faith in His holy plan. In due course, each of those children seeks a companion with similar ideals and aspirations. They are sealed in the temple, bear children, and the eternal plan continues, with generation strengthening generation.”

APRIL 2001, “First Things First” Richard G. Scott

10 “Nothing is more important to the relationship between family members than open, honest communication. This is particularly true for parents trying to teach gospel principles and standards to their children. The ability to counsel with our youth—and perhaps more importantly, to really listen to their concerns—is the foundation upon which successful relationships are built. Often what we see in the eyes and what we feel in the heart will communicate far more than what we hear or say. A word to you children: Never be disrespectful to your parents. You must also learn to listen, especially to the counsel of your mom and dad and to the promptings of the Spirit. We need to watch for and capture the special teaching moments that constantly occur within our family relationships, and we need to resolve now to hold family home evening every Monday night.”

APRIL 1999, “Like a Flame Unquenchable”, M. Russell Ballard

11 “May I expand this counsel to make it a full family matter. We must be so careful in speaking to a child. What we say or don’t say, how we say it and when is so very, very important in shaping a child’s view of himself or herself. But it is even more important in shaping that child’s faith in us and their faith in God. Be constructive in your comments to a child—always. Never tell them, even in whimsy, that they are fat or dumb or lazy or homely. You would never do that maliciously, but they remember and may struggle for years trying to forget—and to forgive. And try not to compare your children, even if you think you are skillful at it. You may say most positively that “Susan is pretty and Sandra is bright,” but all Susan will remember is that she isn’t bright and Sandra that she isn’t pretty. Praise each child individually for what that child is, and help him or her escape our culture’s obsession with comparing, competing, and never feeling we are “enough.”

APRIL 2007,  “The Tongue of Angels” Jeffrey R. Holland

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-tongue-of-angels?lang=eng&query=charity

12 “Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results.”

OCTOBER 2009 “More Diligent and Concerned at Home”, David A. Bednar

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/more-diligent-and-concerned-at-home?lang=eng

Personal Statement

I found so much joy reading about families. I love my family and am so grateful that I was born into a family and that I have my own family. I also know that family life can be very stressful and hard sometimes, and I was reminded through my readings of the importance of family and why they are so important.

Elder Russell M. Nelson taught us: “Throughout the world, the family is increasingly under attack. If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail. And if families fail, their glorious eternal potential cannot be realized.” This is why Satan is trying so hard to ruin families. He knows their absolute importance to the Plan of Salvation and he will do any and everything he can to try to ruin that plan. We must stand strong against him and stand strong for families. We need to fight to keep our families strong and together.

I am vowing to work harder to keep my family strong through Family Home Evening, family prayer, learning the gospel, finding ways to be together away from the distractions of the world and to teach my children how incredibly important and needed family is.