🍁September

6:30-7:30 3/ week

7:30 scripture 

Friday Date night

Be a steal (strongest metal alloy) chain in the generations. 

Weekly temple 

Help in classrooms 

Love boys’ friends 

Art classes

• No sugar/white flour, journal (small plates), blurbs, 6:30-7 exercise, read

If I could guarantee a successful family, what would the recipe be? PJSS (service e & temple)

One of our great missionaries said: “I bear them my testimony. Then I bear them their testimony. And then I have them bear their testimony back to me.” ‘80

Eternal Perspective. Start recording, and spiritual things will happen. They are there all the time, but we become more sensitive to them as we write.”

Writing our histories will certainly help us keep our eyes on the most important of all goals--even the goal of eternal life. Groberg ‘80

There is another reason why we should read the Book of Mormon: By doing so we will fill and refresh our minds with a constant flow of that “water” which Jesus said would be in us “a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). We must obtain a continuing supply of this water if we are to resist evil and retain the blessings of being born again.

The great overall struggle in the world today is, as it has always been, for the souls of men. Every soul is personally engaged in the struggle, and he makes his fight with what is in his mind. In the final analysis the battleground is, for each individual, within himself. Inevitably he gravitates toward the subjects of his thoughts. Ages ago the wise man thus succinctly stated this great truth: “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).

-Romney ‘80

Help others (and children) to feel “Mormon enough”

Desires: we construct and cultivate; we have to educate and guide our desires. Cultivating, readjusting, rejecting, nourish, discard. 

The Lord blesses those who want to improve. -Holland 

Fackrell:

Work together and serve each other to be one. 

Love and service is like a bandaid on strained relationships. 

Mom, your love was so big. I could never get outside the reach of your love. 

Service: immediate family. 

You should know your people/ your besties and be ready to drop everything and serve them. Give what you’ve got. The Lord always pays you back. 

1)Teach your kids to be a (true blue) “trusted friend” = inner circle. 

Confidential. No fences. Love is unconditional; not judged. Positive influence/ trusted friends build you up.

Be careful with which friends you let into your inner layer. Shared moral boundaries. Chosen very carefully. Reciprocal. It’s your job to teach your children to be a trusted friend. 

Remove toxic friends from inner circle:

“I get it. He needs help. But you need boundaries or you’re going to be torn down with them.”

2)”Green bean” friends. Mid-circle friends. Acquaintance but not trusted friend. Friendly and able to serve them but not going to be too close to be torn down by them. 

Lifetime work to help siblings love and serve them. 

“What makes you think that mutual is about you?” Teens can affect teens. It’s not about you. 

3)people placed in your path for you to influence. 

• I think good friends are like spouses. You can’t expect them to guess or to just know what is important to you. When it is a ten, you need to communicate that to them. If you feel like there’s a way they’re not reciprocating then speak up. 

Andrew: give him 15+seconds to decide to comply. Don’t single him out or box him in. He’s actually quite shy and doesn’t like attention drawn to him. He doesn’t do well with public reprimands and needs lots of praise and positive interactions. Focus on and draw attention to his good and his successes. Help him to feel and to believe that he is lovable. 

Kids: disclosure & choices

Fair doesn’t mean everyone gets the same thing. Fair means everyone gets what they need. -Mr. D’Matz (Clementine)

“teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Doesn’t integrity demand that we tell others about this great restoration?” - pinnock’80

“Key” to good parenting: 

high love + high guidance 

Most important time: “decade of decision” (age 16-26)

Congruency of outward self and conflict self. Does our normal self match with conflict self?

Wait 20 minutes for someone to simmer down. 

“For the strength of youth” lifestyle

FHE: help each boy put on an amazing lesson/ presentation.

Pray daily to receive revelation. 

• “They’re at a different place than you.” (While getting hard on myself for not inviting families over as often as the Fackrells). 

Family planning: For years I wanted a big family. I wanted to be surrounded by kids and grandkids. 

Well, we’ve decided that four is our happy number. I’m a little disappointed that it’s not five. But we’re older and we’re done. 

Who touches a boy by the Master’s plan

Is shaping the course of a future man. Monson

I’m kind of a daddy’s girl. More than meeting my own alone time, I need time with him every single day. I require a good half hour of uninterrupted time to not only check in with myself, but with him. I love the little nuggets of love, counsel, and miracles he sends to me every day. 

Jesus is a perfect introvert and extrovert. Sometimes I consider myself an extroverted introvert. My preference is to have quiet time. That might have a little bit to do with the stage I’m in and with the fact that I grew up on 17 acres. Not to mention, my parents are totally introverts. But, by nature like I need my time alone as well. However, with the gospel we are continually taught that we need to reach out to others. To lift, serve, and unite. That it’s all about the one. As I consider my shortcomings and being an extrovert, I realize that the gospel also requires introvertedness. It takes quiet Temple attendance, prayer, searching the scriptures, meditation, and learning to hear the voice of the Lord. In essence, it creates not only perfect extroverts capable of losing themselves in the service of others, but it also create the perfect introverts who are comfortable with peace, quiet, solitude, and stillness. 

“Elder Holland groupie”

To sacrifice, be willing to serve a mission. Concerning serving a mission, President Kimball has said, “How selfish and thoughtless would it be for a young man to grow to maturity, spend his time preparing for his life’s work and his occupation and be unwilling to serve his Creator in this, the most important service in the world” (Regional Representatives’ seminar, 30 Sept. 1977).

Too many of our young men have not yet decided to give two years of service to the Lord. I speak particularly to you young men who live in the United States and Canada, the host nations from which the gospel is to go to other nations. While you reap the benefits of prosperity unprecedented in the history of mankind, do you ever think that one of the reasons the Lord sent you to earth under such favorable circumstances is that you could use your talents, education, and money to bless others with the gospel?

Recently, while in South America to dedicate several countries and organize the first stakes in Bolivia and Paraguay, I visited the Missionary Training Center at Sao Paulo, Brazil. I was informed that most native South American young men who come to the training center do so at great sacrifice, having given their life’s savings. Though the Missionary Department recommends that each young man bring at least six white shirts with him, most of these foreign-born missionaries, these sons of Lehi, bring one, possibly two. But they also bring to this service a great commitment and love for the Lord. And their blessings will exceed any sacrifice they have made. We can never get the Lord in debt to us.

Young men, this statement by President Kimball should be your personal motto: “Every LDS male who is worthy and able should fill a mission” (Ensign, May 1974, p. 87). We ask you to make the sacrifice. We call it that because of want for a better name for it. It’s an investment. Enlist in this, the greatest service in the world. Do not evade the responsibility. Do not conscientiously object. We invite you to join the army of 28,000 that is swelling in numbers each day. Your job will be to proclaim the message of the Restoration to the world. Know that you have our confidence and love. We expect you to perform that mission. -Benson

Naps vs. I’m loving going to bed at 9 pm. 

You’re just as important as Matt but you’re no more important. Chris

• Heavenly father is confident enough in his parenting that he allows us to parent his children. 

Mark E Peterson: Where do we stand 

“In a very real sense it is a war--a hot war--a war between right and wrong, between the powers of heaven and the forces of Lucifer.

This is not a war for territory or wealth; it is a contest for the eternal souls of men and women, boys and girls, the literal offspring of God, our Heavenly Father.

Our forces are strong. We have had many glorious victories and will yet have more. Our task is to save all who will listen.

God’s work and glory are the same: “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). We work together in partnership with him.

But how many of us realize how serious this conflict is? Do we measure its effect upon our own family circles? Do we understand what the devil is trying to do to us? Do we recognize his evil emissaries for what they are when they openly assail us or when they seek deceitfully to seduce us quietly?

If we do know what is right, have we the courage to stand up for it, to defend virtue, to declare the validity of our faith, to oppose false teachings, and to fight the unpopular battle? Have we the moral stamina to confront any and all opportunities and thus preserve truth, uphold cleanliness, and defend the cause of God?

The time has come when we must take a far more firm and positive stand than ever before. We must identify illicit sex, pornography, filthy speech, and the use of liquor, tobacco, marijuana, and worse drugs as enemies of God and enemies to ourselves.

We must see in all of them the fiery darts of the devil.

We must bolster our spiritual fortifications, raise the shield which God has given us, and wield the sword of righteousness and faith as all God’s servants should.

We must ask ourselves anew the potent question: Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?

How vigorously do you fight? Do you go all out for your child, or don’t you love him that much? Would you try as hard to save him from sin as you would to save him from drowning or from fire? If not, why not?

Is not sin our worst enemy? It can destroy both body and spirit. Are we not fighting for eternal life as well as for a peaceful mortal existence?

Then shall we not as families bend every effort to save our young ones? Shall we not fortify our homes to defend them? Shall not every parent rise to this emergency? Every father must awaken to the responsibility which is his. Every mother must put her priorities where they belong.

Is it too much to ask that parents deliberately and objectively teach their children the gospel truths which alone can save them from the carnage of Satan? Is it too much to ask all parents to live those truths themselves?

Is it too much to set a proper example by our own righteous living?

Is it too much to teach our children that it is better to die in defense of virtue than to lose it?

It is too much to live the Word of Wisdom ourselves and teach it to our little ones? Is it too much to teach them that violation of the Word of Wisdom can lead them into much worse sin?

Is it too much to be honest ourselves and to teach our children to be honest?

Is it too much to have daily family prayers?

Is it too much to go with our children to our Church meetings and observe a sacred Sabbath?

Is it too much to hold family gatherings in our homes either before or after our chapel services on Sunday and thus further insulate our little ones against the sins of the day?

Is it too much to hold a home evening each Monday and there teach our family the value of a clean life, doing so by recreation as well as by precept?

Is it too much to believe sufficiently in the Lord so that we will accept his word and really obey him?

Is it too much to remember that God has said that if we are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus we shall lose the crown over the kingdom (see D&C 76:78–79)?

Is it too much to keep in mind--and may we never forget--that if we receive the commandments with a doubtful heart and keep them with slothfulness, we shall be condemned (see D&C 58:26–29)?

There is no reward for half-hearted obedience. We must become vigorous and enthusiastic about living our religion, for God commands that we serve him with all our heart, with all our might, with all our strength, and with the very best of our intelligence.

With him there can be no halfway measures. We must be fully for him or we may be classed with those who are against him.

Then what shall we do? Put on the whole armour of God--that is what we are to do:

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

“… Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day. …

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:11, 13, 14, 16–17).

As Paul further said, let us not be “men-pleasers,” but be true servants of God, doing his will from the heart (see Eph. 6:6).

May I remind all of us that if we will live the gospel and follow the counsel of the leaders of the Church, we will be blessed to avoid many of the problems that plague the world. The Lord knows the challenges we face. If we keep his commandments, we will be entitled to the wisdom and blessings of heaven in solving them. Kimball 

Feel God’s love and share that. 

Parents: work smarter not harder

“What if” role play 

“Random item” relate it to the gospel 

5:1 in your brain too. If you have a negative or critical thought, you need to come up with 5 positive thoughts to counterbalance. 

Behold: see, observe, view, look at, watch, survey, witness, gaze at/upon, regard, contemplate, notice (husband, children, friends, family, children’s friends, ministering).

I’m not one for dishing out advice or even speaking my mind with boldness. I’ve struggled a bit with the new ministering council to not only visit in love but to bring souls to Christ. I’m typically not bold or blunt when it comes to someone else’s beliefs. 

But as I talked to Lucy about that today she said: “and yet, you’re the one who was called to visit Julie (a less active sister) for a reason.” She already knows all the words. Maybe it’s my heart that she needs. 

Happily married couples behave like best friends. 

Conflict is handled in gentle and positive ways.