The Atonement

These talks were great for our family. They were simple and easy for the kids to read and understand.
Elder Richards spoke of two kinds of pains- those we inflict on ourselves because of sin, and pain and suffering not necessarily our fault- unexpected events, contradicting or disappointing circumstances, interrupting illness, and even death. My kids actually got this concept! It was amazing to see them making sense of it. We've always talked of true repentance/sorrow and the difference sorrow of the damned is, and we were never really convinced they fully comprehended, until now.




Elder Grow's talk was equally good. His nephew served with Gabriel as one of his counselors in the Bishopric in Baltimore. They look a lot alike!

"Not only did He pay the price for the sins of all men, but He also took "upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people." And He took "upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, … that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

 

Followers of Christ and The Essence of Discipleship

These talks were inspirational, and ones that we were especially able to share with our kids.  My husband always likes to tell the kids, "Intelligence is the application of knowledge".  We can teach and teach to our kids until we're blue in the face but they have a responsibility to take that knowledge and apply it, and until they do they aren't true followers of Christ.  These talks were all about applying the teachings of Christ and being "doers" of the work.

I loved what Elder Gonzales says,

"The Savior has promised, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Followers of Christ pattern their lives after the Savior to walk in the light. Two characteristics can help us recognize to what extent we follow Him. First, followers of Christ are loving people. Second, followers of Christ make and keep covenants."

I love Sis Allred!  I loved the stories she shared of Saints around the world helping themselves and those around them.

".. a humble sister or brother with a Church calling can go into a home where there is poverty, sorrow, sickness, or distress and can bring peace, relief, and happiness is astonishing. No matter where the ward or branch is or how big or small the group is, every member throughout the world has that opportunity. It happens every day, and it is happening somewhere at this very moment."

Become As a Little Child and What Manner of Men Ought You To Be

This was a sweet talk. I especially liked:

"It is here in our families, in an atmosphere of love, where we see and appreciate in a more personal way the divine attributes of His spirit children. It is here in our families where our hearts can be softened and in humility we desire to change, to become more childlike. It is a process by which we can become more Christlike."

This was a good talk, too.  We haven't gone over this one with our family yet.  Having re-read it this week I think there is so much I can learn to do better with my own kids.

"A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101.  If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505.  Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself.  With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined?  Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"

The Sabbath and the Sacrament

This was a great talk!  It reminded me of another talk about Sacrament Meeting by Elder Oaks back in 2008.
I liked this one a lot, too.



We've lived in many wards over the last several years and some are really good at bringing a reverent Spirit to their Sacrament Meetings and others not so much.
We try really hard to make sure our kids understand that Sacrament Meeting is a special meeting- not a place to search for friends or hold fun conversations.  It's a reverent place and we never know who may be there who really needs the peace that the Atonement can bring.  We don't want to be the ones to interrupt that.
Elder Perry says,

"Parents, now is the time to teach our children to be examples of the believers by attending sacrament meeting.  When Sunday morning arrives, help them to be well prepared to partake of the emblems of the sacrament and receive the enlightening, edifying, ennobling power of the Holy Ghost.  Let your family be filled with love as you honor the Sabbath all day long and experience its spiritual blessings throughout the week."

How do you prepare for Sacrament Meeting?  How do you help your family prepare?

LeGrande Richards gave a Speech at BYU about this topic. Click here to listen.

It's Conference Once Again/ At Parting

I combined the two talks from President Monson to start off the Book Club.  There's so much in both of these talks.  He spoke at the start of Conference of temples.  I love temples! He then spoke of service- the Church's service in Japan and service that members could perform.




In his last talk of Conference, President Monson asked that we read and study the talks from Conference once we received the Ensign.


I especially loved:

"We are a global church. Our membership is found throughout the world. May we be good citizens of the nations in which we live and good neighbors in our communities, reaching out to those of other faiths as well as to those of our own.  May we be examples of honesty and integrity wherever we go and in whatever we do."

What did you like best in these talks?  What did you teach your children about what the prophet said at Conference?