FAMILY

1. "The measure of our success as parents, however, will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible . . . those wicked influences one day will be overruled."

"We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them.

"President Brigham Young said:
     'Let the father and mother, who are members of this Church and Kingdom, take a righteous course, and  strive with all their might never to do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; if they have one child or one hundred children, if they conduct themselves towards them as they should, binding them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I care not where those children go, they are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang.' (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., 2:90–91.)

     PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER,
     President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
    “Our Moral Environment,”
     162nd Annual General Conference, 
     Sunday morning, April 1992

2.“We live in a time when much of this world has lost its way, particularly with regard to values and priorities within our homes. . . . It is our homes and families that need reforming . . . . The Church is . . . an anchor in the churning waters of change and division, and a beacon to those who value and seek righteousness . . . as an example of heart turning and as a catalyst for good . . . . [I] testify that life is better (and much happier) as hearts turn toward family and as families live in the light of the gospel of Christ."

“What can we do to not become lost?
First, . . . prioritize. Put everything you do outside the home in subjection to and in support of what happens inside your home.
Second, we need to do things in the right order! . . . 
Third, husbands and wives, you should be equal partners in your marriage. . . . God is the Father of us all and has extended to us the privilege of our own family,  . . . to help us become more like Him."

     ELDER M. RUSSELLBALLARD
     of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
     "That the Lost May Be Found",
     182nd Annual  General Conference, 
     Sunday afternoon,1 April 2012, May Ensign, pages 97-99

3. “Family time is sacred time and should be protected and respected. We urge our members to show devotion to their families.”

     PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER,
     President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 
     "And a Little Child Shall Lead Them,"
     182nd Annual  General Conference, 
     Saturday morning, 31 March 2012 Ensign, May 2012, 9.

4. “Many of you have loved ones who are wandering ... You wonder what more you can do .... You can depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve Him in faith ... Your prayers and the prayers of those who exercise their faith will bring the Lord’s servants to help your family members. They will help them choose the way home to God.”

“Remember the Lord’s promise to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon when they were away from their families on His errands: “My friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power (D&C 100:1).”

“My promise [about loved ones] ... cannot be that you will have every blessing you may wish ... But I can promise you that the Savior will draw close to you and bless you and your family with what is best. You will have the comfort of His love and feel the answer of His drawing closer as you reach out your arms in giving service to others. As you bind up the wounds of those in need and offer the cleansing of His Atonement to those who sorrow in sin, the Lord’s power will sustain you. His arms are outstretched with yours to succor and bless the children of our Heavenly Father, including those in your family.”

     ELDER HENRY B EYRING
     First Counselor in the First Presidency,
     “Come Unto Me,”
     183rd Annual  General Conference,
     Saturday Morning, 6 April 2013

5.“ My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service .... Some degree of sacrifice has ever been associated with temple building and with temple attendance. ... Those who understand ... know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings....

Each [temple] stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations. ... My beloved brothers and sisters, may we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes.” (My emphasis.)

     PRESIDENT THOMAS S MONSON
     President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,  
     “Welcome to Conference,
     183rd Annual  General Conference,
     Saturday morning April 6, 2013

6. “My beloved brothers and sisters, may we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes . . . No Church-built facility is more important than a temple.”

     PRESIDENT THOMAS S MONSON,
     President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
     “As We Meet Again,”
     181st Annual  General Conference, 
     Saturday Morning October 1, 2011

7. “There is no substitute for love,”   Doctrine and Covenants 4:2, 5-6, [ & 7] “Well might each of you ... [ask yourself]“Today, have I increased in faith, in virtue, in knowledge, in godliness, in love?Through your dedicated devotion at home or abroad, those souls whom you help to save may well be those whom you love the most.”

     PRESIDENT THOMAS S MONSON,
     President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
     “Come, All Ye Sons of God
     183rd Annual  General Conference,
     Priesthood Session Saturday evening April 6, 2013

8. “We will not always be safe from the adversary’s influence, even within our own homes. We need to protect our nestlings.

"We live in a very dangerous world . . . under attack from forces seen and unseen. The adversary is about. His objective is to cause injury . . . and destroy the family . . . We find safety and security . . .  in honoring the covenants we have made and living up to the ordinary acts of obedience . . .

"The consummate power of the priesthood has been given to protect the home and its inhabitants. The father has the authority and responsibility to teach his children and to bless and to provide for them the ordinances of the gospel and every other priesthood protection necessary. He is to demonstrate love and fidelity and honor to the mother so that their children can see that love.

"I have come to know that faith is a real power, not just an expression of belief. There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother.”

     PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER,
     President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
     “TheseThings I Know,”
     183rd Annual  General Conference, 
     Sunday morning, 7 April 2013

9.“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught a more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”

     Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report,
     Apr. 1929, p. 110.

10. “In our own time, we have been warned with counsel of where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in these general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third. Each of us who has listened has heard President Kimball give counsel on the importance of a mother in the home and then heard President Benson quote him, and we have heard President Hinckley quote them both. The Apostle Paul wrote that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Cor. 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time. . . The Lord said, ‘Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers’ (D&C 112:10).”

“Sometimes we will receive counsel that we cannot understand or that seems not to apply to us, even after careful prayer and thought. Don’t discard the counsel, but hold it close. If someone you trusted handed you what appeared to be nothing more than sand with the promise that it contained gold, you might wisely hold it in your hand awhile, shaking it gently. Every time I have done that with counsel from a prophet, after a time the gold flakes have begun to appear and I have been grateful."

      ELDER HENRY B EYRING,
     First Counselor in the First Presidency,
     “Finding Safery in Counsel
     167th Annual  General Conference,
      Saturday afternoon, April 1997, Ensign, May 1997 page 26

11.“The power by which the heavens and earth were and are created is the priesthood . . .  [and] the source of this priesthood power is God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ . . . It is also the power the Savior used in His mortal ministry to perform miracles . . . The primary purpose of this priesthood power is to bless, sanctify, and purify us so we can live together with our families in the presence of our heavenly parents, bound by priesthood sealings, participating in the marvelous work of God and Jesus Christ in forever expanding Their light and glory.”

 “Men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. In other words, in the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife . . .  The Christian virtues of love, humility, and patience should be their focus as they seek the blessings of the priesthood in their lives and for their family. . . . It is crucial for us to understand that Heavenly Father has provided a way for all . . . to have access to the blessings of and be strengthened by the power of the priesthood.   (Moses 1:39). The same priesthood power that created worlds, galaxies, and the universe can and should be part of our lives to succor, strengthen, and bless our families, our friends, and our neighbors—in other words, to do the things that the Savior would do if He were ministering among us today.

     ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD
     of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
     “This Is My Work and Glory,” 
     183rd Annual  General Conference,  
     Saturday Morning, 7 April 2013

12. “A good marriage and good family relationships can be maintained through gentle, loving, thoughtful communication. Remember that often a glance, a wink, a nod, or a touch will say more than words. A sense of humor and good listening are also vital parts of good communication.”

     ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD
     of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 
     157th Annual  General Conference, April 1987

13. “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. . . It will naturally become a refuge not only to your own family but also [others]. . . . Be a true friend. This kind of enduring friendship is like asphalt that fills the potholes of life and makes the journey smoother and more pleasant.”

 “Inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and reenergize to prepare for future pressures. The ideal place for that peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece. . . . When He 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.”

 “It is important for parents to teach children to recognize how their actions affect each individual who lives in the home. Children who are made to feel accountable for their actions, whether righteous or otherwise, grow to become trustworthy citizens in the kingdom of God.”

“The fundamental principles that center [our] home on the Savior [are] . . . daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family home evening [They] 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 RICHARD G. SCOTT
     of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 
      “For Peace at Home
      183rd Annual  General Conference,  
      Saturday afternoon, 6 April 2013

14. “There is an imperative need for each of us to strengthen our understanding of the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ so that it will become an unshakable foundation upon which to build our lives. As the world becomes more devoid of foundational standards and as honor, virtue, and purity are increasingly cast aside in the pursuit of appetite, our understanding of and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ will provide strength and capacity needed for a successful life. It will also bring confidence in times of trial and peace in moments of turmoil.”

“Resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living center of your home. Be sure that every decision you make, whether it be of a spiritual or physical nature, be guided by the thought ‘What would the Lord Jesus Christ have me do?’ When the Savior is the center of your home, it is filled with peace and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that pervades the home that is felt by the children and adults alike.”

 “Each of us [must] renew our determination to teach true principles within the sanctity of our homes. As we do that, we will provide the greatest opportunity for happiness for the spirits entrusted to our care. Use the Church as a righteous tool to strengthen the home, but recognize that as parents we have the fundamental responsibility and privilege to be guided by the Lord in the upbringing of the spirit children He has entrusted to our care.”

“The vital importance of teaching truth in the home is fundamental. The Church is important, but it is in the home where parents provide the required understanding and direction for children. It is truly said that the most important callings in time and eternity are those of father and mother. In time we will be released from all other assignments we receive but not from that of father and mother.” 

     ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT
     of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 
     “He Lives! All Glory to His Name!”
     180th  Annual  General Conference, 
     Sunday Morning, April 2010 

15.Remember that marriage, in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither person exercising dominion over the other, but with each encouraging, comforting, and helping the other. "True to the Faith"

16. “How we treat those closest to us is of fundamental importance. Violence, abuse, lack of civility, and disrespect in the home are not acceptable—not acceptable for adults and not acceptable for the rising generation. . . . Regardless of the culture in which we are raised, and whether our parents did or did not abuse us, we must not physically, emotionally, or verbally abuse anyone else.

“The need for civility in society has never been more important. The foundation of kindness and civility begins in our homes.”

     ELDER QUENTIN L COOK,
     of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
     “Can Ye Feel So Now?”
     182nd Semi-annual General Conference
      Saturday Morning, 6 October 2012    

17.  “[T]he greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring” extended to others in our lives. “True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us. We all yearn to experience love like this. Even when we make mistakes, we hope others will love us in spite of our shortcomings—even if we don’t deserve it”

 Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, 
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 2007

18. “Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women … . Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes. Kind words not only lift our spirits in the moment they are given, but they can linger with us over the years. … The things you say, the tone of your voice, the anger or calm of your words—these things are noticed …. Nothing exposes our true selves more than how we treat one another in the home. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.” 

Elder Joseph B Wirthlin,
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 2005

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