Family Values with Christ

This talk was presented for sacrament meeting and I was inspired to share it here.

I hope I can share a few words that will inspire you to do - "more good". I would like to thank the Bishopric for giving me this opportunity to give this talk that I have prepared for you about "family values". What does family values mean? It means "values held to be traditionally learned or reinforced within a family, such as those of high morals standards and discipline."

I think it's interesting that I was given this topic because I have been thinking about this a whole lot lately. I often wonder if I am doing what I am supposed to do for my family. Things like: spending quality time, teaching them the fundamentals of life, truth virtue, love etc.

M. Russell Ballard once said: "As your leaders, we call upon members of the Church everywhere to put family first and identify specific ways to strengthen their individual families."

The key word was identify. How do we "identify" specific ways to strengthen our families? Have you ever wondered - "What can I do to strengthen my family?" I know I have.

Family and friends, this is a very important principle. We need to teach our children from the beginning. Where does it begin? It begins in our homes. Today! Right now. Forget about yesterday - it's in the past. Today prepares us for the future. I know sometimes we get so busy with work, school, church and other things that we often forget what is more important and that is our families. Don't get me wrong - we all have to work, go to school, attend to church every Sunday, along with magnifying our callings, but please don't forget what matters most. I don't think God intended for us to be too busy to keep us away from our families.

The family is central to God's plan. Family values and your family are needed. Being in a family gives you character, it builds you to become a better person and to learn from mistakes. You also learn from their mistakes. Your family not only instills values, but also provides very important and much needed tools for your success in life.

Maybe we are one of the lucky ones who was raised in a happy and secure family with two loving parents. Maybe we weren't, and growing up was tough without the love and support we longed for. Likely, as an adult you want a happy home for your family. Living peacefully in a family isn't always easy, but in God's restored Church, marriage and families are the most important social unit now and in eternity.

People who have lived through a disaster never say, "All I could think about during the earthquake was my bank account." If you did - something is wrong with you! Seek help!! What they almost say, "All I could think about was my wife and children." It shouldn't require a disaster for us to know this truth, but too often, we let earning money, chasing pleasure, or even the need of people outside our families divert our attention. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints families come first.

In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declare that "successful marriage and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

Parents are responsible for teaching their children the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Inasmuch as parents have children... that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost... the sin be upon the heads of the parents... And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord" (D&C 68:25,28).

An environment of love is necessary for rearing children. The spirit of a righteous home is love. The Lord said, "Thou shalt live together in love" (D&C 42:45) - love of heavenly parents, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost; of husband and wife; and of parents for children, children for parents, and siblings for each other.

One day, a year ago or so, there was  parent who screamed at his son during a activity. He used profane language and even threatened to smack him. I was surprised he did that and I was quick to judge him without realizing that, in the past, I have done the same. I went home and felt the need to change the way I speak to my children. If you think about it - parents should be examples to their children, realizing that their children are also their spirit brothers and sisters.

One of the best ways parents can teach their children is by example. Husbands and wives should show love and respect for each other and for their children by both actions and words. It is important to remember that each member of the family is a child of God. Parents should treat their children with love and respect, being firm but kind to them.

Parents should understand that sometimes children will make wrong choices even after they have been taught the truth. When this happens, parents should not give up. They should continue to teach their children, to express love for them, to be good examples to them, and to fast and pray for them.

The Book of Mormon tells us how the prayers of a father helped rebellious son return to the ways of the Lord. Alma the Younger had fallen away from the teachings of his righteous father, Alma, and had gone about seeking to destroy the Church. The father prayed with faith for his son. Alma the Younger was visited by an angel and repented of his evil way of living. He became a great leader of the Church. (see Mosiah 27:8-32.)

Parents can provide an atmosphere of reverence and respect in the home if they teach and guide their children with love. Parents should also provide happy experiences for their children. Making one's hope a place of peace and joy takes effort. The effort that goes into making a peaceful home requires consistent planning, prayer and cooperation. The Church encourages families to hold weekly family home evenings, in which all members of the family study eternal gospel principles and ordinances and to do things together that bring them joy.

Harold B. Lee once stated: "The most important of the Lord's work you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own homes."

I testify that a loving and happy family does not happen by accident. Each person in the family must do his or her part. The Lord has given responsibilities to both parents and children. The scriptures teach that we must be thoughtful, cheerful, and considerate of others. When we speak, pray, sing, or work together, we can enjoy the blessings of harmony in our families.

And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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