"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?"
In the 1990 Conference, our prophet, President Monsons spoke on "A Little Child Shall Lead Us". He told how some of our special fast offerings were going with the Rotary International to purchase polio vaccine for the children in Kenya. There is also a story of a family on the way to Idaho, that stopped in SLC, temple square. The story is similar to conversations I have been blessed to have with my grandchildren, the latest being Scott and Andersen. There is also a story of an amazing missionary.
ReplyDeleteRead the article by Elder Ballard, "Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children" from Ensign 1994. Elder Ballard reminded us that we are the ones, God has appointed to encircle today's children with love and the fire of faith and an understanding of who they are. I have to remind myself that with my children and grandchildren I "must be about my Father's business". Parenting never stops, it just multiplies and the blessings are amazing!
ReplyDeleteAs we freely give of ourselves without expecting anything in return, we are taking steps toward becoming like the Savior. Service can sometimes be done by ourselves, but other times it takes the unified efforts of many, each making a contribution where he or she is able.
ReplyDeleteIn the last post I should have ended "Bloom where you are planted" by President Spencer W. Kimball. Don. R. Clark in Oct. Ensign of 2006 stated that a person does not need to have a church calling, an invitation to help someone, or even good health to become an instrument in God's hands. How do we become instruments in God's hands?, by following the Lord's 2 greatest commandments. President Joseph F. Smith stated in April Conference of 1917: "Charity or love is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it." President Faust stated:" You can be a powerful instrument in the hands of God to help bring about this great work...you can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do." Ensign Nov. 2005
ReplyDeleteElder M. Russell Ballard said: "When we truly behold our little ones, we behold the glory, wonder and majesty of God our eternal Father."
ReplyDeleteElder Jeffrey Holland in April 1996 Conference "A handful of Meal and a Little Oil" closed with this remark: "May God who has blessed all of us so mercifully and many of us so abundantly, bless us with one more thing more. May he bless us to hear the often silent cries of the sorrowing and the afflicted, the downtrodden, the disadvantage, the poor. Indeed may he bless us to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit whispering of a neighbor anywhere who is suffering and may we drop everything and come running."
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