Day 3–5 Ideas to Help You Create a Gospel-centered Home
The third day of Randall Wright’s lecture on creating a better/stronger family was probably my favorite. He based his model of a good, successful home on the temple (how it looks and how it functions). Think about it! Even if you’re a member of another faith, these 5 points make so much sense! (Links to the first five, and the second 5 tips)
“To meet the difficulties that are coming it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves; the difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall.”
–Heber C. Kimball, April 1906 General Conference
If the home Environment, Example, and Training were in harmony with the truths of the Gospel, then not one child in 100 would stray.
If you look up “temple” in the Bible dictionary, it says that “only the HOME can compare with the temple in sacredness.”
THIS IS THE DIVINE MODEL (we should be modeling our homes after the temple!)
11) Be at the crossroads
Is anyone at the recommend desk? There is always someone at the temple to greet you as you come in. We should also be there to greet our family members as they come/are home.
75% of first-time sexual encounters occur at the home of one of the partners. Be home!!
President Benson counseled us to “take time to be at the crossroads, when your kids are coming or going, leaving or returning….”
Be there when the kids come home to check COUNTENANCE. Catch the problem with the first link, not when it has been going on a long time.
Knowing that Mom and Dad will be waiting up makes it more motivating for kids to get home on time.
12) Have high expectations!
Be role models and good examples—set high expectations with LOVE, not yelling.
The temple President doesn’t change anything going on within the temple—they do exactly what the prophet has said to do. We should follow exactly what the prophet says to do in our home and family.
13) Have a gospel-centered home environment
Parenting is NOT a popularity contest. Why should we be concerned with our kids’ popularity? For children AND parents, standing up for what’s right may be lonely at times.
Look at your furniture. Find the most used and well-worn, best-loved piece of furniture in your house. Sit in it. What are you looking at?
Funny—there would not be a poster of George Bush in a Kennedy’s home. Why would there be anything hanging on the walls in our home that didn’t completely fit with our values?
“Enter the homes of those who have been born again, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians.”
–President Ezra Taft Benson, October 1985 General Conference
Do a tour of your home. Is everything in harmony with the gospel?
14) Teach the gospel at all times
When a good movie comes out, go and see it—support it!
Look to the example of the Temple President—daily devotionals—Read the scriptures together, pray together. No “class” distinctions, no favorites. No yelling or contention. Homes should be a gathering place.
15) Have the Spirit in the home.
President Romney was sustained as a General Authority at General Conference without being asked first!! Surprise! He asked President Lee for advice on what he could do to be a good apostle. President Lee said, “GO TO BED EARLY and get up early. You will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight.” (I could really use some work in this area!)
Psalms 30:5 Proverbs 20:13 Mark 1:34-35 D&C 88:124
weary=physically/mentally exhausted
invigorated=filled with life and energy
(which one do you want to be?)
What are some things that YOU do at your home to welcome and keep the Spirit there? Please share! :)
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