Day 31: The Lifting, Healing Power of Christ

Raising the Daughter of Jairus by Dan Burr

One of our friends, Dan Burr, is an amazing illustrator.  We love watching what he produces and always feel honored when he asks us to model for him.  A couple years ago he asked if we would model for this picture of Christ raising the daughter of Jairus.  

When I look at this picture I feel almost as if I was really there.  Because I am that mother, my Harold is Jairus and Sarah is our daughter.  Also, there is the Savior raising our daughter up.  This picture symbolizes all I wish for our family.  I wish for us to be in the presence of Christ.  I wish to see him lift my children up.  In all my efforts to create a Christ-centered home this is what I want more than anything.  I want the lifting, healing power Christ to be in our lives every day.  

Day 30: Where it all begins

A Christ-centered home begins in the hearts of two people who love each other and love the Lord.  Fifty-five years ago my darling parents entered the House of the Lord, joined hands across an altar and were married for time and all eternity.  This was the creation of their family, a family that would grow from two to twelve.  This was the beginning of their own Christ-centered home.  Creating a family and a home like this is an act of faith, and these two know a lot about faith.  After all they brought ten children into the world and raised them on a seminary teacher's salary.  If that isn't faith I don't know what is.

My parents raised us with love, sought to help us find our gifts and realize our potential.  They taught us to work and take responsibility for our actions.  They taught us to be kind and generous, honest and industrious.  But the most important thing they taught was to love the Lord and His gospel.  They raised us in a Christ-centered home shoring up our foundations of faith with everything they knew to do.  We read the scriptures together, had family home evening and family prayer, worshipped together each Sunday, had Christ-centered traditions, there were pictures of Christ on the walls and books about his life in the bookcases.  They talked of Christ, rejoiced in Christ, preached of Christ and taught us where to look for help and hope.

  

Day 29: Seeking Shiloah

Seeking Shiloah by Joseph Brickey

"The Pool of Shiloah in Jerusalem is fed by a spring located outside the city walls.  As the only source of fresh water in the area the waters of Shiloah have long been a symbol of God's protection and sustaining power. . . This woman is seeking the fresh waters of Shiloah - hence symbolically seeking God's ongoing love and protection (Ensign, May 2012)."

I am like this woman, seeking the waters of Shiloah.  I need that living water for myself and my family. That is what creating a Christ-centered home is all about.  It's finding what will really nurture and protect us.  It's feeling the love of God every day in our home.

Day 28: Careful and Troubled

Tonight I have nothing to offer.  I have no inspiring thoughts about having a Christ centered home.  No loveliness, no hopefulness, just fatigue and weariness.  It's what comes of trying to do too much.  They were all good things, just too much today.

Tonight as I look back it's as if I can hear the Savior whispering "Kimberli, Kimberli, thou are careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful: (choose) that good part which shall not be taken away from (you)."

I do feel careful and troubled, "cumbered about much serving."  I relate to Martha, wanting to serve those she loved, but getting lost in the task.  Some days the tasks are the most important thing to me.  I push those I love away because I have so much to do.  If they would just get out of the way I could really accomplish something.

Today I chose things that can be taken away.  Dishes, laundry, cooking, meetings, all those things are temporary - although sometimes they seem like one eternal round - relationships, keeping my eye on Christ, gratitude, those are the good things, the things that won't be taken away.

I don't think the Savior was chiding Martha for what she was doing.  She was doing good things.  She was serving, nurturing and caring.  I think he was revealing her heart in that moment.  I think, like me, she lost sight of why she was doing it.  I think she was resentful instead of grateful.  I think the Lord's remarks to her were full of love.  I sense great love from the Lord for Martha and for me.  I know He loves me and understands my desires to do good.  But he knows what is eternal and what is temporary.  He knows that if I will turn to Him I will find rest amidst all that I have to do.  He knows that if I will give up my own will and seek His that I will accomplish more than I can imagine, without the fatigue and frustration.

Tomorrow is a new day and a chance to begin again.  Tomorrow I will live differently.  I'll be more present, I'll not worry about what I have no control over, I'll look into the eyes of my children and really listen.  I'll fill my mind with gratitude and I'll turn my heart to Him.

Day 27: Let Him In

Letting them in - wishing they could stay.

On Sunday evenings I like to read to my kids from The Friend instead our usual read aloud.  One night a couple weeks ago we were reading this story.  When we were finished Peter slid close to me and said, "When we had my music teacher over for dinner it was like we were letting Jesus in."  I was impressed with the insight of this little boy who knew that when we serve others, when we let them into our lives, that we are serving our Savior and letting him in.

A Christ centered home isn't an island where we live with our family alone.  A Christ centered home must include letting friends and loved ones in.  When we have people in our homes it is a natural setting to teach our children to think of others before themselves.  They learn to share, to give our guest the first turn, the best and biggest piece of cake.  They learn to listen to others and share their own stories.  

When I was a little girl we had a flannel board story called "If Jesus Came to My House."  I loved that story.  I loved the idea that Jesus could come to my house, that he could spend time with me in the place I loved the most.  I wished he would come and visit.  I don't think I realized at that time that when my parents invited people into our home it was if they were inviting the Lord.  I'm glad Peter realizes that.  I'm glad he knows, "that when ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Day 26: The Power of Good Books

It was library day today.  I love library day and so do my kids.  We're a book loving family.  I took this picture awhile ago, but this is what library day looks like, books scattered across the floor, everyone reading something.  It's heavenly.

My kids come by a love of reading naturally.  I love books and I especially love reading to my children.  I really love reading to them.  So, what does read-a-loud have to do with a Christ centered home?  I think it has a lot to do with it.

Books give us insight and experience without leaving the comfort of our home.  When we read together I have a chance to transfer important values in a sweet and enjoyable way, no lectures or preaching, just a story.  We read, we cuddle, we talk.  There is so much more than just reading going on.  We are making connections with each other.  Our relationships are strengthened.  Connections are taking place in my children's hearts and heads about what is good and right.  Books fill my children's hearts and minds with great deeds, ordinary joys and beautiful ideals.  When these kinds of things are in their hearts and minds it is natural for them to love light and goodness.

Even books that don't completely align with our values give us an opportunity to learn from their stories.  When my children started reading the Percy Jackson series we were able to talk about how infidelity hurts children, the heartache and pain children experience when a father or mother is missing from their life. It was a chance for me teach again the importance of the family. We got to talk about mythology and the desire people have had through the ages to worship something or someone.  I could express gratitude for the knowledge we have of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, not petty gods, but loving, just and merciful Gods.

Mormon tells us, "That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God (Moroni 7:13)."  The books we read do just that.  They invite and entice my children to do good and to serve God.  That is why books are essential to a Christ centered home.

Day 25: Keeping On

Teaching my children about Christ and centering our home on Him takes constant effort.  I'll go after it really hard and then life happens, I ease up, it doesn't seem as pressing and before I know it we're blown off course again.  I readjust, get back on the path and keep going.

I know I can't give up.  The world is too incessant in its teaching that faith is foolish and that doubt is true sophistication.  Without continual efforts to shore up spiritual foundations we could all fall to the relentless tide of unbelief.  I see it happening all around me.  I see friends and loved ones wavering in their faith, wanting more proof, seeing faults, becoming cynical.  Can't faith be simple, pure and just faith?  Faith isn't something we can hold in our hand, examine, poke and prod. "Faith is NOT to have a perfect knowledge of things. . . if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

Little children are perfectly comfortable with faith.  They believe all kinds of things they don't have perfect knowledge of.  My teenagers have a harder time of it.  It isn't as easy for them to believe.  But, I must say, to their credit, they trust enough in our belief that they keep hoping and having faith.  What a tragedy it would be if I gave up teaching them of Christ.  Where would their faith go then?  So onward I go, despite the winds, the tides and the pounding of the world.  With faith and hope that the peace that comes from believing will live in the hearts of my children all the days of their life.

Day 24: Of Pathways, Pitfalls and Alligators

My little storyteller.

The other day I overheard Emma in the living room with her friend. 

 

“Let’s play family home evening,” she said, “You sit over there and I’ll tell you a story.”

As she began, I could just see Emma standing in front of the chalkboard easel we'd used the night before. “This is a story about you. You are on this path and you come to a pit.  This pit is death!”  She put heavy emphasis on the word death and then paused.

“But, Jesus built a bridge over the pit.  How does that make you feel?”

I smiled as I listened to her.  I had told the story the night before, using the analogy of the pathway back to heaven with two pits representing death and sin to teach the children about the atonement of Christ.  I was feeling a little smug - what a good teacher I was.  She’d really taken in the lesson. Then all smugness melted away as I listened to rest of the story.

“This is the next pit,” I heard her say and imagined her pointing to the second pit drawn on the chalkboard.   

“You fall into this one.  At the bottom is an alligator.  It has big teeth and chomps you up!”

“My turn,” I heard Emma’s little friend say and story time was over.

I laughed to myself, first of all for how the story ended and second of all for feeling smug.  Teaching children about Jesus Christ and his mission is a process.  Even once they know all the right answers they don’t have the experience to know what it means for them personally.

We start when children are young and teach them again and again.  We hope that when they really need it they will remember those lessons.  They will know where to turn for help.  It’s 2 Nephi 25:26 all over again.  “We talk of Christ . . . that our children may know to what source they may look to for a remission of their sins.”  Emma may not have gotten the whole idea this time, but I think she understands, in some small way, that Jesus Christ did something for her that she couldn’t do for herself.  That’s enough for now.  Understanding what Christ’s life and mission means to us is a life long process, a pathway we travel, a pathway with pitfalls, hopefully ones without alligators at the bottom to chomp us up.

Day 23: Camilla Loves Jesus

I live on a dirt road.  In the winter it's covered with packed snow and in the spring it's mud.  But, no matter what the season, driving on dirt roads make for dirty cars.  One of my kids favorite things to do is draw pictures and write things in the dust on the back window of my car.  This afternoon I stopped at the store to get a few things and when I got back to the car I saw for the first time what was written on the window.  "Camilla loves Jesus," it said.  I smiled.  I think Camilla really does love Jesus.  She is a girl that shines.  She treats people with kindness.  If you want a kind and loyal friend Camilla's the girl for you.  She doesn't make a lot of noise or draw attention to herself, but she is observant and thoughtful.  Yes, I think Camilla loves Jesus.  There it is on my back window for all to see.  Even better there it is in her eyes and in her life, as plain as day.

Day 22: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

Rescue of the Lost Lamb by Minerva Teichert

The other night Emma begged me to come to her room and tell her a story.  "I want the one about the lamb," she said.  I snuggled up next to her on her bed and began.  "There was once a little lamb. . . "  I proceeded to tell her the parable of the lost sheep - with a few embellishments of my own.  When I finished I told her, "Jesus is the shepherd and we are like His sheep.  He loves all of us so much."  Emma threw her arms around me and said, "I love Jesus too!"

Stories are a powerful way to point our children to Christ.  Little children have such a natural love for the Lord.  When they hear the stories of Jesus, they feel like they know Him.  Emma tells me often how she misses Jesus and can't wait to see Him again.  Stories help her feel close to Him in the same way that reading His word makes me feel close to Him.  There are so many sweet stories to tell, so many opportunities to help my children know Christ better.

Have you seen the new Bible video of the Parable of the Lost Sheep?  It's beautiful.

Day 21: A Bright Living Hope

He is Not Here - Walter Rane

Just under two weeks ago we heard our friends, Ryan and Renae, had lost their son.  He was their youngest, the baby of ten.  I could hardly take it in and my mother's heart broke for my friends.  

Today was the funeral.  It was the most beautiful funeral I've ever been to.  The church was packed with people who love them.  They had chairs set up in the gym all the way up onto the stage.  Classrooms were full of people too who watched the funeral on televisions.  Every member of Colt's family participated in his funeral.  All his sisters, one of his brothers and both his mom and dad spoke.  When I saw the program I wondered how they would manage to speak.  Each person testified of Christ and the hope they have in Him, the hope they had that they would be with Colt again someday.  There was sadness, but not despair.  That was how they could manage to do it, because of their faith in Christ. 

This is why it is important to center our homes and lives on Christ.  Hard times will come.  We will lose those we love, but with Christ as our companion, friend and helper there is hope - bright, living hope. 

Day 19: The House of the Lord

This is where I spent the afternoon.  Every time I go it's like going home.  It's heaven.

Several years ago when the Mount Timpanogoos temple was having its open house, I went through it with my family.  My sister and her family were in front of us.  Randy was carrying little Summer and I overheard her ask him, "When do we get to see Jesus?"  His answer must not have satisfied her because before long I heard her ask again, "Where is Jesus?  When do we get to see Jesus?"  I smiled at the sweet innocence of her question.  She'd been taught, and rightly so, that the temple is the Lord's house.  She'd been taught that we find Him when we go there.

I expect to find Him there too.  I don't expect to see his face, but I do feel his presence, his love and his acceptance of me.  When I go to the temple I feel closer to him.  I feel peace and hope.  I feel safe.  It truly is His house.

If you've ever wondered what temples are for, look here.

Day 18: The Repentance Bench

Although I wish "love at home" was always the rule for this home, it isn't.  There are times when there is a lot of love and peace here.  But, we also have a fair share of fighting, selfishness and teasing.  I've tried all kinds of things to get kids not to fight, but I haven't found the perfect solution.  One thing we do use is the Repentance Bench, an idea I got from Linda and Richard Eyre.

The Repentance Bench is a way for our children to reconcile their differences.  When kids have been fighting, instead trying to figure out who caused what we simply send them to the piano bench where they sit together.  We then go in and ask each child what they did wrong.  Then they have the opportunity of making things right.  They say they are sorry, ask for forgiveness and then give each other a hug.

Each of these steps are important as they are part of the process of repentance.

1- Admitting that you have done something wrong.  If allowed to, children will always blame the other person (don't we all like to blame someone else?).  The beauty of acknowledging guilt is that it makes them take responsibility for their actions.  Often times, but not always, it humbles them.

2- Apologizing and asking forgiveness is one of the ways they begin restitution for their actions.  We have them say, "I'm sorry, will you forgive me?"  Sometimes children do this grudgingly, but I still think it has value.  It gives them practice in saying they are sorry.  It helps them recognize that their actions affect others and it humbles them.

Asking forgiveness is another humbling part of this experience.  They are asking for something only the other person can give.  When they say yes that they will forgive they are letting go of their anger and letting their relationship heal.

3- Hugging each other is positive way of reconnecting.  This part of the process usually comes with giggles, especially from young children.  Hugging is a physical way in which they say they are not going to be angry any more, they are going to be friends again.

This Repentance Bench is easiest with pre-school and school age children.  At this age children don't have too much of their ego/pride invested in themselves.  They easily admit what they did wrong and readily forgive.  It's harder with older children.  They can't seem to let go as easily.  They want to be right.  They want justice.  Sometimes with older children I have to send them away for awhile to cool off.  Then they can come back and go through process.

Almost always we use this experience to remind them of the gift repentance is.  We remind them that because of Jesus Christ they can begin again, they can let go of hurt and forgive.  We all make mistakes, but the atonement gives us another chance.

Day 17: Making Mistakes

via My Recipes

A few days ago a friend brought over cinnamon rolls for our family.  Some of the kids snatched one up right away, but it was almost bedtime before Peter wanted his.  It was too late, I told him, he could have his in the morning.  

The next morning when I went into the kitchen with Peter all the rolls were gone!  I was horrified.  What about Peter?  What about my promise?  I knew the culprit who had eaten all the extra cinnamon rolls and shouted his name the moment I saw the empty plate.  I found him in another room and gave him the scolding I thought he deserved.  I stomped back through the kitchen and to the laundry room to calm down.  

Calm came quickly and with it regret.  Each of the children came solemnly to me to give me hug good-bye before they left for school, everyone but the one I'd scolded.  I hurried to see if he was gone and he was halfway to the bus stop.  I shouted to him, wishing him a good day and telling him I loved him.  My words sounded hollow and he didn't turn around.

When I went back into the house I felt horrible.  I ruined the spirit in our home, everyone could feel it.  I'd wounded my son.  No amount of cinnamon rolls was worth the hurt I had done to him and our home.  I wished I could start over.  I wished I had handled it differently.  I wished I didn't have a tendency to blow up like that.

I make mistakes in mothering.  I make mistakes in my life.  Sometimes I seem to float through the steps of my life like a graceful dancer and then other times I blunder, crash and step on toes at every turn.  I simply can't get through life without making mistakes.

I can't talk about a Christ-centered home without talking about mistakes.  Mistakes are inevitable.  We get to choose every day what we will do and what we will be.  Sometimes we make poor choices, even horrible ones.  That is why we have a Savior.  He came because I would make mistake after mistake.  What matters in my life and in my home is that I pick myself up from my mistakes and turn to the Lord, repent and make things right.  I also must point my children to Him when they make mistakes, and for me to be as compassionate with their mistakes as I hope they will be with mine.  When Christ is the center of my home no mistake is the end of the story.  It's just the prelude to a new one.

Day 16: On the Lord's Errand

via Courtney Aitken

It's good to remember whose work we are really doing as we raise our children in light.  It is the Lord's work and He will be with us.  I love these words from Elder Ballard, they comfort me and bring me hope.

Day 15: Angels

Angels Ministered Unto Them by Walter Rane

In my home hangs a painting by Walter Rane depicting the Savior with the Nephite children.  The Savior and the children seem still, watching, waiting as angels, in a flurry of movement descend. 

I have always loved this story of Christ blessing the children.  I have thought often of the significant command the Savior gave the people to bring their children to him.  I know he commands me to bring mine to him too.  Once the children were brought to him, he prayed for them and blessed them one by one.  One by one!  Each child had a personal experience with the Lord!  I can only imagine the joy of those children and the joy of those parents as they watched the Savior blessing their children.  It seems like that should have been enough, but it wasn't.  Angels descended and encircled those children and ministered to them.

I see the wisdom and the compassion of the Savior in this event.  I see how he met the needs of those little children by calling angels down to encircle and minister to them.  As great and marvelous as he was, he was one and those children were many.  He needed helpers to help him care for those little ones.

One of the many angels in my life, my dad.

As parents we are primarily responsible for bringing our children to Christ, but we are not alone in that task.  There are angels all around our children.  Angels who encircle them and minister to them.  I think of school and church teachers, coaches, friends and extended family.  They are often there at critical moments to teach, love and help my children.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said of these mortal angels, "But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods.  Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

I am grateful for these angels who aid me in the work of bringing my children to Christ. I am grateful for their encircling, ministering, angelic ways. They give me hope that I am not alone in the monumental task of pointing my children to Christ.  

Day 14: Building a Sure Foundation

Emma loves to build tents.  Just the other day she asked if she could build one.  We placed the chairs across from the banister and hung a sheet across them.  She piled in pillows and her dolls, and then she invited me in for lunch.

Tents are fun to play in, but I don't think I'd want to live in Emma's little tent home.  It certainly wouldn't protect us from the weather.  It wouldn't give us room to grow.  We need a house built strong and firm.  We need a house built on a solid foundation.

In the Book of Mormon are the words of a father, Helaman, to his sons Nephi and Lehi.  He teaches them about Christ and in those teachings he says, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which yea are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation wheron if men build they cannot fall," (Helaman 5:12).

Creating habits in our family like family home evening, family and personal prayer and scripture study, and worshipping together is a way of helping our children build upon a foundation of Christ.  

Last week when we were running from one thing to the next these foundational habits kept us returning to Christ again and again.  Without these in place it would be easy get caught up in life and forget about the importance of our faith.

We don't usually see the foundation of our home.  It is beneath the structure where we live.  We don't think about it.  It is just there holding up the place where the most important work is being done.  These spiritual habits are much the same.  They are just there and as we keep doing them they create a foundation for our faith individually and as a family.  Upon them we continue to build our faith in Christ, without them it is as if we setting up temporary, flimsy structures of faith.  Like Emma's tents they might be pleasant and give an illusion of security, but they can't withstand even the slightest blow.

I want my children to have the protection of a sure foundation.  I would never send them out into a storm with a sheet and a couple chairs to huddle under for protection.  Harold and I provide for them a roof, walls and foundation that keep them comfortable and safe.  Could we choose to do less with the foundation of their faith?

Day 13: Worshipping With Children

Worshipping with young children can be challenging and sometimes discouraging.  I've had plenty of Sunday's when I wondered what I was even doing in church since I spent so much time in the hall.  But, despite the challenges I have to say that I love going to church with my family. 

I love sitting together on the pew.  I usually have a child in my lap and one or two snuggled up next to me.  Often times I even get to hold hands with Harold.  I love the peace I feel there.  I love mingling with the saints.  I love listening and learning.  

I remember being bored as a child and I suspect that my children are often bored too.  I know there are days when they wish they didn't have to go to church.  I don't think they realize the peace and strength they are gaining from being there together.  It points our family to Christ.

All that being said, there certainly are challenges to going to church as a family.  I thought I'd share some of the things that have made those challenges a little easier for us.

For most of the really young years with my children Harold was in a bishopric.  He was called to the first one when Joshua was just one.  He served there for three years.  We had a break of about a year or so and then he was called to be in another one for five years.  Those were the years I was having babies and getting to church and then sitting alone with my children was a real concern.  

One of things that helped me get there with all of them was to prepare the night before.  I had to make sure shoes, socks and church clothing were all laid out and ready to go.  I couldn't spend Sunday morning hunting for things when I was the only one there to get us ready.  

The other thing I did to get us there was that I got up early and got myself ready first.  I found that if I got them all ready and took care of myself last we were always late.  I had to be first on Sunday.

I had certain strategies once we got to church.  The first was to sit near the front.  That made it so the children could see the speaker and see their dad on the stand.  They just seemed to do better up front.  I also tried hard to get a pew on the side.  This way there was no escape route for little explorers.  I'd sit on the end and they were trapped in the pew.  I also tried to sit away from other families with young children.  If sat near other children it was always harder.

As far as what we brought to church, I kept it very simple.  In the beginning I brought lots of toys and activities to keep the children occupied, but I found that the less I brought the better things went.  Soon we were just bringing a few church books and magazines.  I only brought snacks when they were babies.  Once they were old enough to go to nursery (18 months) I quit bringing snacks and sippy cups.  This made getting to church easier, but somehow it also made the sitting through sacrament meeting easier too.  It's not that we didn't have some really wild days, but for the most part we managed.  

Now that the children are older and Harold sits with us it is much easier.  I get lazy about getting things ready ahead of time and getting myself ready first, but find when I do Sunday morning is much more peaceful.  We still have days where we are confiscating toys or moving children around so they are not sitting by someone they can't get along with, but worshipping with children is worth it.

Going together to church unifies our family in our faith.  It reminds us of what is really important.  It breaks up the busyness of our lives and gives us a spiritual breath of fresh air.  It lets us remember our covenants and our desire to follow Christ.  It draws us closer to Christ and each other.

Day 12: Personal Scripture Study

Add to Your Faith Virtue; and to Your Virtue Knowledge

"For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children," (2 Nephi 4:15).

I care deeply about the education of my children.  I want them to learn, grow and expand in their thinking.  I want them to wonder, be curious and explore.  I want them to discover all the beauties this world has to offer.  But more than any secular knowledge they could gain I hope they will gain a love and delight in the word of God.  It's the knowledge that is found in the scriptures that will bring them peace and balance in their lives.  It will profit them more than any other knowledge.

To help our children create a habit of reading the scriptures on their own, we spend five minutes after our morning thought and prayer for each child to open the scriptures and read to themselves.  I set the timer for 6 minutes, 1minute to get settled and find our places, and 5 minutes for reading.  I sit with the younger ones and we take turns reading from Scripture Readers.

I don't know that this will make them fall in love with the scriptures.  I think that will come as they mature and grow in the gospel.  I do think this gives them a place to start.  It gets them familiar with the way the words of the scriptures sound in their heads.  Any involvement with the words of Christ invites the Holy Ghost to testify of Him and inspire us in our hearts.  That is something I want for my children, guidance and direction, leading them to Christ.

Day 11: Benefits of Reading the Book of Mormon

Benefits of reading the Book of Mormon - these guys really like each other.

"I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness," (Marion G. Romney in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 90; or Ensign, May 1980, 67).

Day 10: Family Scripture Study

It's been a crazy week.  Not what I had planned at all.  I took an unexpected overnight trip to a city 6 hours away.  I did the driving and arrived home exhausted at midnight last night.  Lots of things I planned to do this week didn't get done.  Many of the routines in our family life were disrupted, but when I got up this morning - a little later than usual - I found one routine was still functioning just like it always does.  I came into the main room where Harold was reading these words to our children, "Be faithful in Christ. . . And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ who sitteth on the right hand of his power . . . be, and abide in you forever" (Moroni 9:25-26).  

Family scripture study is another of those "weight bearing beams in a Christ-centered home."  It keeps us focused on our faith and focused on Christ.  I'm not delusional enough to think that our children listen to everything we read or even get much out of it, but the consistency of the routine lets them know that it is important to us.  Even better is that the scriptures invite the Holy Ghost to be in our lives and boy, do we need that in our world today.

Scripture study wasn't an easy habit to establish and took lots of trial and error on our part, but we finally came up with a pattern that works for us.  I've tried to make it more elaborate at times, to include more discussion, singing and interaction.  But at this point in our family simplicity is the name of the game.

Every morning we gather our children together and start our day with a thought and family prayer.  Our morning scripture is almost always a quote from a living prophet.  We use the General Conference Ensign and New Era.  Sometimes during Christmas and Easter we will do specific scriptures and quotes that relate to the holiday at hand.

In the evening we gather our children together for scripture study and family prayer.  This is where we do our more formal study of the scriptures.  Everyone has a chance to read.  Sometimes we discuss what we've read, but usually we feel it is enough that we got everyone together to read the words of Christ.

Sometimes I wonder if what we are doing is enough.  I hear of families who have meaningful discussions and challenge each other to do better.  Sometimes I feel badly that, that isn't my family.  Still, I have to remember that the consistency of this routine matters.  I love that we bookend our days with scriptures and prayer.  It is comforting and reassuring.  It brings us together in a positive way.  It's worth every effort we made in the beginning to make it a habit.

Day 9: Family Prayer

Friday afternoon I got a call from my mom.  I missed the call, but heard the message.  My niece Vanessa was in labor with her first baby.  It had been long and hard and she was calling to ask us to pray.  I immediately went to my room and knelt in prayer for Vanessa and her baby girl.  I felt the power of joining in prayer with members of my family all over the place.  Abby Lu was born soon after and both mom and babe are healthy and doing well.

I believe in the power of family prayer.  Emma and I are away from the rest of our family today, but I know that they knelt in prayer for us this morning.  I know they prayed for our safe return tonight.  I feel surrounded in their love.  Emma and I will offer a prayer for them before we leave our room.  Prayer brings us together and helps us remember where true strength lies.  We acknowledge that we need the Lord in our lives.  We are reminded of all that we have to be thankful for.  I would be lost without family prayer.  It is another of those weight bearing beams in a Christ-centered home.

Day 8: Family Home Evening

In 1915, President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency instructed parents to begin holding a regular “Home Evening.” This was to be a time for parents to teach their families the principles of the gospel. The First Presidency wrote: “If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them” (in James R. Clark, comp.,Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965–75], 4:339).

Family home evening fun at the spinning park.

Monday night, every week, is family night at our house.  This simple practice is one of the things that keeps our family and our home centered on Christ and His gospel.  It isn't just that we spend time together, we are also learning together.

Every member of our family contributes to family night.  We have a simple board where we rotate assignments.  Every person does every assignment, big or small.  

Conductor: This person conducts the meeting part of family night.  They welcome and announce who is doing what.  Last night McKay was the conductor.  He usually uses a funny announcer voice when he conducts.

Song: This person picks the song we will sing.  Last night Peter picked, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me."  One of my personal favorites.

Opening Prayer:  This person prays at the beginning of the family meeting part of family night.

Scripture: This person shares a scripture they like or they share what they have been learning in the scriptures they've read lately.  Last night was Emma's turn.  She does the same thing every time.  She tells her favorite scripture story, Jonah and the whale.  Some of the kids groan when she tells it, but it is cute to hear her little voice telling us the familiar story.

Lesson:  This person teaches a gospel based lesson.  When little ones have this assignment Harold and I help them.  Camilla, Sarah and Joshua can teach the lesson themselves.  Most of our lessons are very simple and short.  Last night Sarah was in charge of the lesson and she started off with a question, "How do the scriptures bring us to Christ?"  We had a sweet discussion about the scriptures and how they help us in our lives, how they help us follow the Savior.  Sarah didn't prepare an elaborate lesson for us, but she instigated a discussion that strengthened our faith and brought us closer to each other.

Closing prayer: Camilla closed up our meeting and our day with kneeling family prayer.

Activity: This is one of the favorite parts of family home evening for the kids.  They love playing with us.  We play board and card games, hide and seek, even ring around the rosy.  We go to the park, play basketball, kick ball or soft ball in the yard.  Sometimes we play tag games or clapping games.  Our activities on family night our usually simple and fairly short.

Treat: This is the other favorite part of family night.  Each week someone gets to choose the treat we will have.  Last night it was pear and raspberry cobbler.  Oh my, super yummy!  

Although unassigned, family business and a VIP are included in family night.  I try to keep family business short.  It's usually the assigning of meal helpers and coordinating schedules if we didn't do it on Sunday.  

The VIP is our very important person for the week.  We sing the VIP song to that person and then each one of us shares something we love about them.  Last night Peter was the VIP.  As we started to sing he snuggled under Harold's arm and waited to hear what everyone would say.

Family home evening has been a blessing in our family.  We started doing it when Joshua was very young.  In some ways it was harder when we had little children.  We had to keep things really short and Harold and I took care of the whole thing.  There have been crazy family home evenings where Harold and I looked at each other over the heads of our noisy children and just shook our heads.  There have been times when we wondered if it was making any difference and wondered why were we doing it.  But now when I hear the sweet testimonies our children share when they finish their lessons, it is all worth it.

Family home evening is a habit now.  I don't think the kids would let us not have it.  It does take some effort, especially from me.  I'm the one who reminds people of their assignments.  I remind them to prepare lessons, think of an activity and make a treat - usually I'm making the treat they picked.  But, every effort has been worth it.  It is important for the gospel of Christ to be taught in our homes.  I can't leave it to the church or anyone else.  Family home evening keeps us grounded in the gospel.  It is one of the "essential weight bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home."  It brings us closer to Christ.