“47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

Such valiant mothers! But we are left to wonder about their fathers.

The Fathers of the Stripling Warriors Provided for Their Sons

When we read in the same chapter verse 27, however, we see the big role the fathers of the stripling warriors played.

“27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.”

We can see that the stripling warriors received great support from their Dads. I can’t  imagine how it must have felt for these fathers to see their teenage sons go into battle. The parents of these young men had made a covenant with God never again to take up weapons of war. So seeing their sons going to war to do their duties in defending their families and their liberty must have been scary, but at the same time something they must have been very proud of. Sending provisions is the next best thing they could have done to support their sons. The fathers of the stripling warriors provided for their sons not just to feed them or give them what material things they needed, but they brought provisions to give their sons moral support and to boost their morale. It must have been their way of saying, “I am here for you, my son. I am rooting for you! Hurrah!”

The Effect of Their Fathers’ Support

Because these young men were provided for, they must have been well fed and in good spirits. However, this was not the only outcome of their fathers’ support.

“29 And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.”

Their enemies, upon seeing that they were getting support, felt rattled. They saw their strength, not just in numbers or physical force, but they also saw their backing and they were shaken. It created a psychological threat that made the Lamanites think they were facing an even more formidable opponent. This may or may not have been a part of Helaman’s strategy, with some sort of a psychological warfare, but it is natural to think that if someone is well provided for, he will not be easily destroyed.

The Essence of the Father’s Role to Provide for His Family

The fathers of the stripling warriors, through their efforts to provide for their boys, proved that the role of fathers as providers goes beyond just taking care of the physical needs of the family. It creates a protective shield. It paints an image of strength for their wife and children. The family is more secure. Children have increased self-confidence because they have a sense of identity belonging to a good family. This, in turn, radiates to the people around them. People more easily see the family as a strong unit because the father is a good provider. Such a family is less susceptible to insecurity, bullying, shaming, etc. People respect them when they see a father who is able to provide, not just physical support, but emotional and moral support as well.

As we celebrate fathers, may we learn from the fathers of the stripling warriors. They may not be a popular lesson from the epic story of the mighty 2000, but their influence and their effort can’t be overlooked. They were a crucial part of the victory of Helaman’s “little sons” and a paragon for all fathers to emulate.

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Times Were Tough

At that time, my father had just graduated from college and my mother was working as a teacher. With 2 kids and one on the way, my father could hardly make ends meet with his salary as a casual government employee. I can vividly remember my parents eating salted fish so they could buy milk for me and my little brother. I can imagine how much they must have sacrificed just so we could be provided with the basic things we needed. As a father, it must have been hard for him to see his family have so little. I am sure that all he wanted was to provide a good life for us.

My Father’s Desire to Have His Family Forever

My father wanted a good life for us, but, more importantly, he held dear the promise of the Lord that his family could be with him for time and for all eternity. When he found out that a temple was going to be built in Manila, he made all the preparations needed to be able to bring his family there. It would also be his first time to be in the temple because the temple had been so far away during his Missionary Training that he had not been able to go and get his personal endowment. During his mission, he used to imagine what it would be like to go to the temple, so it was an exciting time for him preparing to go to the temple with us, but it was daunting as well. After evaluating his and my mother’s income, they discovered that there would not be enough to pay for both our fare and our board and lodging.

His Decision to Sell His Little Possessions

At that time, my father only owned a few things that he had bought previously. He had a little TV for our entertainment and he owned a watch that he’d had for years. He also had a scientific calculator from his years studying to be an electrical engineer. These were the only things of value that he possessed. We had no land and no house. He just rented a small room to house his small family. The TV and the watch were sold first but the scientific calculator was a hard thing for him to give up because it would be very useful in his future career. But, judging from the sale of the TV and watch, the scientific calculator had to go to raise the funds needed for travel to Manila.

Then Miracles Happened

When finally my father was able to buy tickets for the four of us, he could only afford the lowest form of accommodation. It was not comfortable. My mother was pregnant with their 3rd child and morning sickness plagued her. The journey to Manila took 3 days and after the first day of travel, my mother was already weak with morning sickness and seasickness. But then, as my father was out getting food for us, he met a missionary couple who offered us better accommodation. They sponsored an upgrade for us, and soon my mother felt a lot better. My father considered it to be a miracle because if she had continued to get weaker, he was afraid they would not have been able to continue the journey. When we were sealed, my mother felt the little baby in her womb kick as if to say, “Hurray!” The journey home was smooth sailing, without any discomfort and my father was empowered with a feeling of assurance that he had done the right thing in his efforts to provide for, protect and preside over his family.

We have now been sealed as a family for 35 years and it has blessed my parents’ lives and our lives as well. What my father sacrificed so we could be sealed was a strong testimony of his love for my mother and for his love for us. He taught us the difference between things that are of temporary value and things that have eternal significance. He was able to buy another TV and another watch and another scientific calculator but he said, “if I lose my family forever, that would be a great loss – something I can never replace.”

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“You look so drained. Stop having children already!”

People see parents around them looking so tired taking care of their children and that is true. Having children takes much of our time and energy but please don’t tell us to stop having children especially if you do not know the whole picture. “Children are an heritage of the Lord…” (Psalm 127:3) The decision to have children is made by husband and wife and the Lord. However sincere our intentions are, we may make parents feel limited and guilty. When people tell us to stop having children, it makes us feel like it’s our children’s fault that we feel and look exhausted. It is so unfair for the little ones. It feels so unfair to us. We want to have children and we are paying the price to have them in our lives. I am sure parents who spend most of their time taking care of their children are happy. They may look tired but that doesn’t mean they do not feel rewarded for their efforts. A word of appreciation can go a long way if we want to help parents who seem to be spread thin. We can compliment their efforts and if they need us to, let us lend a helping hand.

“Stop feeling that way. It’s a matter of choice.”

Thank you for reminding us of our agency but please allow us to be human. We have all the right to feel angry, exhausted, silent, disappointed, elated – and these feelings need to be validated. It is already hard, and enough pressure is put on our shoulders, without thinking that we shouldn’t feel this way. Sister Reyna I. Aburto said, “My dear friends, it can happen to any of us — especially when, as believers in the plan of happiness, we place unnecessary burdens on ourselves by thinking we need to be perfect now. Such thoughts can be overwhelming. Achieving perfection is a process that will take place throughout our mortal life and beyond — and only through the grace of Jesus Christ.”

All of us are fighting battles, whether we can see them or not. Kind words of encouragement are very helpful. However, let us be more sensitive and remember that sometimes a listening ear weighs more than unsolicited advice. We can talk to them and validate their feelings of exhaustion or fear or anger. A simple word of appreciation for the good they do as parents will definitely brighten their day.

“Don’t worry! Everything will be okay.”

We are already worried and everything will not be okay – at least not right away. Things will sometimes – if not most of the time – go wrong. The plans we make will not always come to pass. Things will at times go bad and sometimes bad things will take a turn for the worse. That is part of our mortal journey.  If we worry, that is normal. Please don’t get us wrong. We want things to be okay all the time. Who wouldn’t? But if someone tells us, “Let’s grow through it!” that would make us feel a lot better. Let’s realize that every reason for worry is an avenue for lessons to be learned. We can work hand in hand as parents by asking each other how we can parent better. We may have different circumstances but we have one thing in common – we want to be the best parents for our children. So let’s use that common ground to plant the seed of empathy and compassion and reap the blessings of team work.

There are a lot of reasons why parenthood can be such a Herculean task. That is more so because of the different roles parents need to fill, especially in troubled times. Communication is a vital tool in all relationships. Through proper and sincere communication, walls between people are broken and relationships are strengthened. There are times when, however sincere our intentions are, we sometimes fail to put into the right words what we want to communicate. One thing we can do is to listen. Taking time to listen and to understand someone is an act of charity and when we do listen, we may better console and serve each other.

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The Challenges

My husband prepared the bread and water the night before. He placed two slices of bread on a plate and readied the mugs (yes mugs!) for the water. He covered them so it will be ready early in the morning. When he woke up one of our daughters have spread hazelnut on the bread and made a sandwich out of it. It turned out that we did not have extra bread since the kids ate the rest of the loaf. So we made do with “yummy” bread because we used the sandwich which was the only bread we had in the house. The mugs were replaced by glasses since my husband didn’t know where they are stored, so he used what he could easily see in the kitchen and those were mugs.

Another issue we needed to address was how to help the kids feel more reverent, and not as at home. It was quite a challenge because they didn’t feel it was as solemn when we were just sitting on our couch holding Sacrament Meeting.

The Sacrament

It was a bit strange watching as my husband make all the preparations being the only Priesthood holder in the home. We have 5 daughters and none of us could help in the preparation. It was an eye opener for us because we usually look past the preparation part of the Sacrament. We just see the sacrament table all set when we sit in the pews during sacrament meeting. It was such a humbling experience being able to see how gently my husband selected white sheets to line and cover the sacrament emblems. We were filled with reverence as we saw how the seemingly mundane task of breaking bread became holy and sacred. Seeing it so close opened our eyes to the sanctity of the things we usually see as routine.

The Closing Hymn

For our closing hymn, we sang “Keep the Commandments.” It was a hymn my daughter selected because it is one of the few hymns she can play on the piano. I tried my hardest to hold back tears as my heart swelled with a testimony of the truth that the hymn teaches. When the COVID-19 pandemic first began to spread fear in the hearts of people worldwide, our daughters were also alarmed as information on the phenomenon reach them. We have tried our best to comfort them and keep them in their bubble of normalcy. But we cannot seem to do that because these kids are so informed. When we sang,

“Keep the commandments; keep the commandments!

In this there is safety; in this there is peace.

He will send blessings;

He will send blessings.

Words of a prophet:

Keep the commandments.

In this there is safety and peace.”

It was like the Holy Ghost enveloped me with the assurance that my children will be fine. The world will not always be an ideal place for them, but they will be taught the ideal principles that will mold them to be resilient and constant. My husband and I expressed our gratitude for the blessing of having a living prophet, and our children understood that if we listen to the words of the prophet, there is always safety and peace.

The Reminder

When we asked the girls what they thought of the special Sacrament Meeting we had, my daughter said, “I gained confidence because even when I make mistakes in playing the piano, it’s ok because I’m with my family.” Our sense of family was strengthened by this beautiful experience. And our hearts were one with people all over the world who worshiped with us that morning as we prayed for the healing of our nations. There was a spirit of being one big congregation under one God despite holding Sacrament services at home in family units or even as individuals. As I searched the hymn “Keep the Commandments,” on lds.org I was humbled by what a seemingly hidden second verse revealed:

“We are His children; we are His children,

and we must be tested to show we are true.

Hold to His promises;

Hold to His promises,

Heeding the prophets:

Keep the commandments.

In this there is safety and peace.”

In these trying times when we can’t do all the usual day-to-day things because we can’t go out, we can find safety and peace in the four corners of our homes. When we have our faith and our family with us, there is a sense of security that comforts and strengthens. Once again, we are reminded of what matters most.

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I have been a mother for 12 years now. And as my children increased in number, my excitement for Conference somehow diminished. I asked myself, “Am I going inactive?” “Have I gone so far from the straight and narrow path?” These questions may sound dire but although I’m probably just overthinking, deep in my heart, I fear positive answers to them. During General Conference Broadcast, I am faced with a myriad of challenges and I am pretty sure, in one way or another, we can all relate.

Do I Listen to the Speakers or to My Child?

My children cannot keep quiet for long. They always have something to say and questions to ask. They ask pretty good questions but there are times when they are plain silly. “Mum, why is President Nelson’s head so shiny?” How can I then keep a straight face and keep quiet dignity when faced with questions like that? I needed to remind myself that I am a mother to my children first, before I am a member listening in the congregation. My children first learn from me before they learn from General Authorities speaking in Conference. So I brace myself and answer their questions the best way I can.

Do I Take Notes or Do I Carry my Sleeping Child in My Arms?

Taking down notes for impressions I get and words that inspire me has been one of the highlights of my General Conference experiences, and it is important to me that I keep a notebook for that specific reason. Another perk for taking down notes is that it keeps me awake throughout the 2-hour sessions. But now, in my years of motherhood, my children doze off during Conference and I have needed to carry them. Maybe it is because of the Tabernacle Choir’s music or the perfect chapel temperature and lighting — they doze off almost altogether and obviously, taking down notes sometimes becomes impossible. Their sleeping spell is even contagious. I sometimes find myself dozing in the middle of a talk. Feelings of frustration can be overwhelming at times like this but then I ask myself, “Would you rather have other people carry your children and smell their head and feel their heartbeat?”

Do I Attend General Conference Broadcast or Do I Stay at Home?

Despite all the craziness, I’d still choose to gather with the Saints in chapels for General Conference Broadcast. I understand that I can’t “perfectly” prepare for General Conference, but I want to “intentionally” prepare to do so. Even if I cannot listen well, I think it’s okay. I gather with the Saints and bring my children with me. I know that if I do this, my children will eventually see the importance of gathering for Conference where possible. They may not learn from the speakers but they will surely learn from us. They will be able to see the reverence we give to this sacred event.

There are times when situations do not allow us to watch General Conference with the Saints as a congregation. But I strongly feel that if we can, and if circumstances allow, it’s good to go to Stake Centers or Chapels and bring our children with us. I really feel that when the Saints gather, the heavens smile and miracles happen. Things will get better. It will not always be chaotic. Our children will grow up and we will miss all the mess they create. So for now, while we still can, we should experience General Conference with them. These will be moments we can remember for the rest of our lives.

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I Can Be a Producer and Not Just a Consumer

In this world, there are two kinds of beings – the givers and the takers. People are considered takers; thus the title “consumers”. We take and take not just because we need things, but greed is a strong force that propels us to take more than what we need. Working in my garden taught me that I can be a giver. I may not be giving a lot from such a tiny parcel of land, but I feel I have contributed to producing oxygen instead of just consuming it to produce carbon dioxide. Am I a giver in other things in my daily life? Do I produce happiness, and comfort, and service for others? There are so many ways we can contribute to this world. It is indeed an eye opener for me, how much the little things we do can make a difference.

I Can Work With Nature

Humans, through our intelligence and technology, have made breakthroughs that have changed the way the world works. We have solved numerous problems, but advancements in technology have also endangered the natural order of things. We tend to tailor nature to suit what we want, but what we don’t understand is that nature knows better than we do. In my garden, I learned that I cannot force a seed to sprout. I cannot will a plant to flower or fruit. “To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I can use all the fertilizers and other concoctions or methods science can offer, but the best produce can only come from the works of the Lord Himself. And it is the same with other things in my life. Some things I can’t rush: my progression in the gospel, the things I am learning in mortality, I cannot even speed through my trials. I must be patient and work with nature and not against it.

Persistence From Weeds

There is one thing I cannot seem to stop propagating in my tiny garden: weeds. They come in different forms but they have one thing in common – they never die! I have gone to great lengths to get rid of them, but they keep growing! Finally, I tossed my garden tools in the air and told myself, “There must be something these weeds are good for…” I may not know now, but maybe someday the cure for cancer could come from these pesky plants. One thing I know for sure… Weeds taught me persistence. No matter what I do to deter their growth, they cleverly find ways to sprout. And so the persistent weeds gave me staying power when I face challenges. And when I am tempted to give up in the face of life’s challenges I tell myself, “Be like the weeds… Be like the weeds…”

Planting Increased My Hope for a Better Tomorrow

Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” I am reminded of how Alma compared the word of God unto a seed (Alma 32: 28-43). The nourishing of a seed will eventually bring forth fruit. Well, not all plants produce fruit, they might give edible leaves, medicinal roots, beautiful flowers, etc. The point is if we give a seed a chance to grow – like that of the word of God – we will someday reap the rewards. My faith increases as I tend to every single plant in my garden. And my hope for a better tomorrow exponentially increases as I get to watch a seed develop into a beautiful mature plant.

As I pondered upon the lessons that I’ve learned from my garden, somehow I understood why Heavenly Father prepared a garden for Adam and Eve. I am sure they learned numerous things from all the flora and fauna that they saw around them. I feel Heavenly Father’s love in my tiny garden. His promise that “…the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare…” (D&C 104:17) holds true.I hope we could all experience Eden in our own home as we create beautiful things, with the Lord’s help, in our lives, families, and communities. It is simply magical!

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The clash between the desires of Jesus Christ and Lucifer when it comes to the welfare of humanity has never been more apparent than in today’s world. The pressure is felt most strongly within the family. As hard as we work to keep our family safe from the adversary’s attacks, it feels like Satan works twice as hard. He wants to win individual souls by plucking them from the protection of family relationships. He does this because he knows he can never win. The next best thing he can do is share his misery and woe with unfortunate souls that fall into his traps. The battleline has been drawn. How then do we stay on the winning side and have our family with us?

Willing Obedience to God

Trusting The One who understands everything from beginning to end, is the safest thing to do. It is comforting to know that He seeks the eternal joy of us all. The commandments that the Savior gives to us are, in actuality, instructions for safety and happiness. If we offer our will and submit it to our all-knowing and all-powerful Heavenly Father, He will be able to guide us every step of the way. By doing so, we need not risk going on unsafe roads. All we have to do is follow the path the Savior has marked for us. If husband and wife, parents and children, put complete trust in the plan that a loving Father in Heaven has designed for His children, we will all be able to stay within the bounds of safety.

Integrity in All That We Do

Another way to avoid being collateral damage in the adversary’s war, is to instill in our being the value of integrity. Integrity goes beyond its popular definition. It is popularly known as being honest in all that we do. But integrity is more than that. It delves into the “why” in all that we do. Motives make or break every act. No matter how good the act, if it is carried out because of selfish or evil desires, it is still not counted as righteousness. Our relationship as a family is strongly dependent upon what is inside our hearts. Parents often tell children, “We only want what is best for you.” But do we really base our opinions and advice upon what is best for our children? Or do we do so for personal gratification? It is in times like these that we need to check our motives, examine our inner desires and ask ourselves the “why” of everything that we do. Confidence will wax strong in each family member and each will learn to have faith in humanity, as well as caution where appropriate.

Protection From Within

We can build high walls or install state-of-the-art security systems for our homes to prevent outside physical dangers from intruding. We can even make our homes fire-proof, earthquake-safe or get all the insurance money can buy to prepare for a natural disaster. These preparations are good but they are not enough. If we want to protect our families from the dangers of the world, we start doing so from within. There are threats more dangerous than robbers or calamities. These threats are often subtle and sometimes seem harmless at first, but the effects can be devastating. Pornography, deceit, addiction, abuse and other menacing perils are accessible through the internet and through any other media that we expose ourselves to. If we want to protect our family from these dangers, we need to learn and teach correct principles (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/viewpoint-learn-and-live-correct-principles?lang=eng). By doing so, we equip ourselves and our children with the moral courage needed to combat such threats when they are confronted with them. Even if nobody is watching, we will be able to make correct choices and avoid pain and regret. We need to reinforce this kind of protection because we cannot be with our family all the time.

Yes, we can help and pray for our family members when they are facing difficult situations but if we fortify our families early on, we can save ourselves from a lot of tears and heartache later on. And if trying times come, and they surely will, we will know what to do and who to trust. We are on the frontline of the battle between good and evil as we fight to protect what is sacred and of great worth. We have the help of heaven as we do our best to partner with Heavenly Father to bring to pass His work and His glory.

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Married life for me is not all about Instagram-worthy photos and likable statuses. There are a lot of things that are more valuable than grand weddings and luxury things. I have summed them up, these beautiful lessons that are now so dear to my heart.

Agency and Accountability

Every choice I make has a corresponding consequence. I need to make better choices because I am not the only one being affected by the results. I have a husband and I have children. My posterity depend on my daily decisions. We are tightly interconnected. What happens to me can also impact them.

Gratitude

When I am grateful I am happy. I learned, over the course of my marriage, to be content with what we have and to be patient with the Lord’s timetable. Gratitude gave me staying power to help me trust in the Lord. Marriage taught me to see the beauty in every situation, how every little thing – both good and bad – contributes to the canvas like strokes of a painting.

Education

Never stop learning. Marriage taught me to cook, bake, tend a garden, manage finances, and many more things. It gave me the drive to educate myself, especially when children came. My husband and I needed to upgrade our intellect. He learned a trade in law school and I continued learning employable skills. Our children have seen this over the years and they understand the value of education.

Family

My daughter once said, “I am surrounded by wonderful people everyday and they are called my family.” The essence of family is when someone feels good being with you. Marriage taught me to do my part so we can build a home where wonderful things can happen. It taught me to be more cheerful, more repentant, more forgiving, more positive, and to work harder… It taught me what it takes to be a family.

Friends

Friendship took on a different meaning when I got married. We can be friends with everyone but we need to choose those who influence us for the better. Marriage taught me to better choose my friends. There are those who we choose to let influence us, and there are those who we need to influence. I learned the difference between the two. And it is never a question whether to choose friends over family. Family always comes first.

Language

A Filipino adage teaches that we need to think seven times before we say something. Communication is vital in relationships. My marriage taught me when to speak and when to keep quiet. Most importantly, it taught me “how” to speak. We can learn to be articulate over the years, but civility must never fade. This is sometimes very challenging as we become more familiar with each family member but we’ll save ourselves a lot of grief if we learn to tame our tongue.

Honesty

This eternal principle has never been more vital than in a marriage relationship: in thoughts, in words, in finances, in plans… in everything. There were times when it was very easy to be honest. And there were times when we needed the Lord’s help to either show honesty to or accept honesty from our spouse. The bottom line is: I have learned to avoid secrets. More secrets often means more lies…

Tithes and Offerings

When I got married, it became more apparent why paying tithing, fasting and giving fast offerings are very important. I learned to see money with another perspective – the Lord’s perspective. If we wanted our family to be more self-reliant, we needed to be better stewards over what the Lord had given. Observing these principles taught me to budget well – both our money and my time. It made me appreciate our blessings more.

Service to Others

I’ve always had a desire to make a difference in the world. Yet what good is it to save the world when we can’t even serve those who are nearest to us? There is a reason why our spouse and our children are placed near us. The Lord taught me a great deal about service through marriage and family: to put them above and before myself. In family life, as a mother, it comes naturally. There has never been a better avenue for service than in family life.

Go Forward with Faith

The best things in life are worth fighting for. Marriage is now mocked by popular worldly beliefs. The family is under constant attack, and we need to fight back. I learned to kneel and ask for the Lord’s help, because I know I cannot do it alone. I know I need to walk by faith every single day and depend on the Lord. There is only so much I can do by myself and giving up is not an option.

Being married, I know I have grown in knowledge and character. Every day I am still learning and I don’t intend to stop. A wise Heavenly Father has designed marriage and family life so His spirit children can reach their full potential. It is, for me, a preparation for the eternities.

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Helps families become more spiritually self-reliant

Spiritual self-reliance is an important part of our efforts to become like the Savior. When we are spiritually self-reliant, we do not depend on another’s testimony – we seek opportunities to build it. When we become more self-reliant spiritually, we begin to look for spiritual experiences through prayer, scripture study, and service. When we have a strong testimony of the gospel, we know where to turn when we encounter problems – the Lord. We also become more effective at helping others in times of spiritual need. Imagine what a family can do if they – individually and collectively – are spiritually self-reliant.

Learning the scriptures, knowing more about Jesus Christ, understanding Heavenly Father’s plan as a family can bless the testimonies of each family member. A spiritually self-reliant family is what the Lord needs in these latter days filled with corruption and immorality, and spiritual self-reliance is what a family needs to combat the temptations of today. Elder Boyd K. Packer warned “If we lose our emotional and spiritual self-reliance, we can be weakened quite as much, perhaps even more, than when we become dependent materially.” As you study with your families, you become more spiritually self-reliant, you become better prepared for the challenges of these latter-days.

Helps families combat the effects of social media

When a Pathway student was asked about the benefits of regular 30-minute conversations without social media interruption,, she said it strengthened her friendship with her Pathway partner. Imagine what regular scripture study – without social media interruption – could do for your family. One of the blessings of the home-centered, church-supported gospel learning approach is improved family relationships. When a family gathers together to learn the gospel, and to hear insights and impressions from each other, negative feelings are alleviated and the needs of members of the family are identified. Spending time with your family can also increase understanding for each member of the family.

Helps children recognize the spirit at a younger age

These children sent here to earth are valiant individuals – the temptations they face are more difficult, and they face them at a younger age. One of the best ways to help children and youth face temptations, and triumph over the adversary is to help them recognize the spirit at a young age. This important gospel skill can help them discern what’s right and wrong, stand for truth and righteousness, build their testimonies, find answers to their prayers, and know where to turn when they are bombarded by challenges. Like learning a new language, or a new skill, recognizing the spirit comes with practice. As we “talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ, and prophesy of Christ” in the home, we help our children and youth learn how to hear and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As you teach, learn, and bear your testimony together as a family, children can learn to recognize their own spiritual experiences.

Helps Make Families Ready for Latter-day Challenges

In these latter days, the adversary’s biggest target is the family. President Boyd K. Packer remarked “We live in a very dangerous world that threatens those things that are most spiritual. The family, the fundamental organization in time and eternity, is under attack from forces seen and unseen. The adversary is about. His objective is to cause injury. If he can weaken and destroy the family, he will have succeeded.” One of the most effective ways to protect the family from the onslaught of temptations is to go back to the basics – family prayer and family scripture study. With this great shift – making the home a place for gospel learning – comes the blessing of strengthened families. As individual family members’ testimonies of the Savior are strengthened, the family will be able to withstand the trials and temptations coming their way.

The Family Can Draw Closer to the Savior

As homes “transform into a sanctuary of faith” through this home-centered, church-supported gospel learning approach, the family can “build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement.” As parents and children talk more of Christ, they can draw closer to Him, and truly know Him and not just about Him.

This new approach – one of the biggest changes in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – can bring “remarkable blessings” to the family. May all of us take this revelation to heart and learn with our families. By doing so, we can indeed see miracles within our individual lives and our families.

The post 4 Special Blessings of a Home-Centered, Church-Supported Gospel Learning appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Aside from the “Come, Follow Me” manual, I have found a lot of things we can use to increase attention span and improve how we teach our children in a home setting.

Use Church Youtube Channels and Websites

There are a number of Youtube channels that showcase videos and even karaoke songs that help us deliver lessons to young children. The following links below are good examples:

1.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqcV3DaWnvf2j-Dl1w7nNyA
2.https://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages

lds.org is also a very good resource. Try the following links:

1.https://www.lds.org/children?lang=eng
2.https://www.lds.org/media-library?lang=eng

Make Object Lessons

It is sometimes difficult to give lessons on faith, repentance or the Atonement that are geared towards young minds. If we use day to day objects and situations that they can relate closely with, we may find it easier to teach them gospel principles. The Savior provided a powerful example in His use of parables. We can also make modern-day parables to share with our children the points of doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Grab Every Teaching Opportunity

A question asked, a moment that happened, at meal times, during commute – these are all teaching opportunities. It is ideal to sit down and talk to our children discussing topics from the “Come, Follow Me” manual. However, it is not the only time or setting when we can have a gospel discussion. The Holy Ghost can manifest truths to us and to our children in places and in situations when we need inspiration the most. We need not wait until we sit down and open with a prayer and a hymn. We can take advantage of every minute when a teaching opportunity is available.

Get Back to Basics (Scriptures, Gospel Art Kit, Family Home Evening Manual, Music, etc.)

No matter what new website or latest app, nothing can replace the valuable resources already provided for us. The scriptures must never be replaced when it comes to where we base all our lessons. The Gospel Library is replete with beautiful texts and images we can use to teach our children but what if there is no power or our electronic gadgets fail? Having a gospel library in print at home is a big help. It is fundamental. If we still do not have one at home, let us start with completing the four standard works – The Book of Mormon, The Holy Bible, Doctrine & Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. Eventually build a gospel library at home adding a book or two that can be used to increase gospel knowledge. This is a good investment so children will develop a love for reading and searching the scriptures.

It is a challenge for young parents with small kids to create a learning atmosphere like that of the primary classes they have at church. Gathering them in a formal setting is already hard enough. Getting them through the whole lesson is a Herculian task. We just need to roll up our sleeves and use the creativity that God has given us. Each family has setups unique to them. We cannot compare ours with others but we can learn from them. Let us open our eyes and our hearts for inspiration that may come our way as we strive to center our gospel learning inside the four corners of our home. This is an opportunity for us to practice more fully our responsibility to teach our children and nurture their testimonies.

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