C REATING CELESTIAL FAMILIES T: Doctrine and Application for
Creating Fabulous Families and Marriages W: Great Activities to Do
on the Sabbath to Bless You and Your Family Th: Effective Family
Councils: How, When, and Why? F: Highest Priorities for Raising
Valiant Children Who Will Work Miracles for the Lord Now and
Throughout Eternity 1
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D OCTRINE AND A PPLICATION FOR C REATING F ABULOUS F AMILIES
AND M ARRIAGES Brothers and Sisters, The most important cause of
our lifetime is our families Elder M. Russell Ballard, Conference
Report April 2012 2
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T ODAY S R OADMAP : D OCTRINE AND APPLICATION FOR CREATING
FABULOUS FAMILIES AND MARRIAGES What is the vision our Heavenly
Father and Savior have for families? Motherhood and fatherhood are
the noblest and most demanding, yet most rewarding careers on
earth. What is an ideal marriage? When we follow the prophets with
faith in Jesus Christ we can go forth with vision, create celestial
families, and have great joy in the journey. 3
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A P EOPLE OF P ROFOUND L EARNING Nothing we do while on the
earth is of greater importance than what we do in our homes with
our families. -- Preparing for Exaltation Teachers Manual
http://www.lds.org/manual/preparing-for-exaltation-teachers-manual/lesson-40-home-a-school-for-eternity?lang=eng
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E LDER B OYD K. P ACKER : The most sacred place on earth may
not be the temple, necessarily. The chapel, the stake house, and
the temple are sacred as they contribute to the building of the
most sacred institution in the Churchthe homeand to the blessing of
the most sacred relationships in the Church, the family ( That All
May Be Edified [1982], 23435). -- Quoted in Preparing for
Exaltation Teachers Manual
http://www.lds.org/manual/preparing-for-exaltation-teachers-manual/lesson-40-home-a-school-for-eternity?lang=eng
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E LDER B ALLARD Brothers and sisters, the most important cause
of our lifetime is our families. If we will devote ourselves to
this cause, we will improve every other aspect of our lives and
will become, as a people and as a church, an example and a beacon
for all peoples of the earth. Elder M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May
2012 That the Lost May Be Found
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/that-the-lost-may-be-
found?lang=eng 9
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T HE R OLE OF F AMILIES IN G OD S P LAN The family is ordained
of God. It is the most important unit in time and in eternity. Even
before we were born on the earth, we were part of a family As part
of our Heavenly Fathers plan, we were born into families. He
established families to bring us happiness, to help us learn
correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and to prepare us for
eternal life. Church Handbook of Instruction p.2
http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/families-and-the-church-in-gods-plan?lang=eng
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T HE R OLE OF F AMILIES IN G OD S P LAN CONT D Parents have the
vital responsibility to help their children prepare to return to
Heavenly Father. Parents fulfill this responsibility by teaching
their children to follow Jesus Christ and live His gospel. Church
Handbook of Instruction p.2
http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/families-and-the-
church-in-gods-plan?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/families-and-the-
church-in-gods-plan?lang=eng 11
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Is there an Ideal Family? 12
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E LDER S COTT F IRST T HINGS F IRST Through the restored gospel
we learn there is an ideal family. It is a family composed of a
righteous Melchizedek Priesthood bearer with a righteous wife
sealed to him and children born in the covenant or sealed to them.
With a mother in the home in an environment of love and service,
the parents teach their children, through example and precept, the
ways of the Lord and His truths.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/first-things-first?lang=eng
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E LDER S COTT F IRST T HINGS F IRST They fulfill their divinely
appointed roles mentioned in the family proclamation. Their
children mature by living teachings instilled from birth. They
develop characteristics of obedience, integrity, love of God, and
faith in His holy plan. In due course, each of those children seeks
a companion with similar ideals and aspirations. They are sealed in
the temple, bear children, and the eternal plan continues, with
generation strengthening generation.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/first-things-first?lang=eng
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E LDER A NDERSEN C HILDREN I testify of the great blessing of
children and of the happiness they will bring us in this life and
in the eternities. . Many voices in the world today marginalize the
importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting
children in a family. In our day prophets and apostles have
declared. The first commandment, that God gave to Adam and Eve
pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We
declare that Gods commandment for His children to multiply and
replenish the earth remains in force.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/children?lang=eng
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U LTIMATE GOAL IS THE SAME FOR ALL All members, even if they
have never married or are without family in the Church, should
strive for the ideal of living in an eternal family. This means
preparing to become worthy spouses and loving fathers or mothers.
In some cases these blessings will not be fulfilled until the next
life, but the ultimate goal is the same for all. - Church Handbook
of Instruction 1.3.3
http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/families-and-the-church-in-gods-plan?lang=eng#1.3.3
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W HAT M ATTERS M OST I S W HAT L ASTS L ONGEST E LDER B ALLARD
I believe the mission statement for mortality might be to build an
eternal family. Here on this earth we strive to become part of
extended families with the ability to create and form our own part
of those families.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/what-matters-most-is-what-lasts-longest?lang=eng
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F AMILY R EUNION S HIRT 18
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G RANDPA S K ISS 19 First and Firmest to Follow the
Brethren
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Y OUR F AMILY M OTTO ? Take 30 seconds Consider what is the
purpose and vision for my family? Does my family have a motto?
Should it? How could having a motto or mission statement that
reflects the Lords vision for my family bless my family? 20 D OES
YOUR F AMILY M OTTO R EFLECT Y OUR V ISION ?
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E LDER H ENRY B. E YRING A wise parent would never miss a
chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of
Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the
efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is
introduced into a childs life, there may be hundreds of hours of
messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths. Elder
Henry B. Eyring, The Power of Teaching Doctrine Conference Report,
April 1999
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/the-power-of-
teaching-doctrine?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/the-power-of-
teaching-doctrine?lang=eng 21
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E LDER H ENRY B. E YRING C ONT . The question should not be
whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it
wouldnt be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or
whether the child isnt beginning to think that we preach too much.
The question must be, With so little time and so few opportunities,
what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the
attacks on their faith which are sure to come? The words you speak
today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone.
Elder Henry B. Eyring, The Power of Teaching Doctrine Conference
Report, April 1999
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/the-power-of-teaching-doctrine?lang=eng
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Wednesdays class on how to use the Sabbath to Teach and Bless
your Family the Doctrine and Detailed Application 23
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E LDER S COTT F OR P EACE AT H OME Regardless of your
circumstances, you can center your home and your life on the Lord
Jesus Christ, for He is the source of true peace in this life. Be
certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or
spiritual, is conditioned on what the Savior would have you do.
When He is the center of your home, there is peace and serenity.
There is a spirit of assurance that pervades the home, and it is
felt by all who dwell there.
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng
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IDEAS FOR C HRIST C ENTERED H OME 1 Sing Hymns as the children
are waking and you are preparing breakfast Have family devotional
at/around Breakfast Sing Hymn together 1 st Presidency Preface
Hymnbook Prayer Scripture Reading (3 mins in Book of Mormon)
Scripture Memorization 5-15 minutes total Kisses and Hugs Goodbye
as children and spouse go to their school or work 25
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Specific time in the morning (perhaps 10 am) Have Pre-school or
scripture reading time with your preschoolers Use nursery manual
pictures online, in book, the resources are endless. Love and be
with your children without interruption for 15 mins to an hour
(whatever you can give) 26
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Before Naps Read to your children as they lay down for their
naps Select scripture stories that show who true heroes really are
Some children form their heroes as young as 3, so you deliberately
teach and testify to them (through out the day) of Heavenly Fathers
real heroes and valiant warriors. 27
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L UNCHTIME Use gospel in art pictures to teach a 3 min
spiritual lesson to teach a scripture story to your children each
day at lunch time. These minutes and days will add up and your
children will be the greatest generation of missionaries and
valiant mothers and fathers and church leaders. 28
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L ACY S W ALL 29
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H OME FROM S CHOOL Before children arrive home from school,
prepare yourself the hours before to greet them and give them your
full attention This means that shopping, visiting teaching,
housework, some things that need to be done, are done before the
children get home When they get home, greet them with a snack and
talk to them about their day Then children do homework together If
you have a lot of little children, its helpful to help the oldest
child, help the younger child, and be their tutor 34
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After an hour or two of homework, children can have free time
or play time Sometimes having this structure for children in the
home, is more important to their eternal welfare than running to
team sports or outside the home activities, even though these
things might be good. Think: good, better, best. 35
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1 ST PRESIDENCY LETTER FEB. 11 TH 1999 However worthy and
appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be
permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only
parents and families can adequately perform.
http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,5154-1,00.html 36
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Half hour before dinner time, children return from playing and
their activities to do their room checks (3x5 card by the
light-switch) and help prepare dinner and dads arrival (even if he
isnt able to be there for dinner and family time) Sing Im so glad
when daddy comes home at Dads arrival Family scripture study before
or after dinner 37
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D INNER TIME After dinner Family responsibilities clean up of
dinner Bed Time Mother or dad reads to the children (if you have
several children in different bedrooms, read in hallway/ one child
read in their bed) Kneel by their bed for prayer 38
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M OM AND D AD Spend 15 minutes with your spouse (or yourself)
before bed and discuss the home evening lesson you just had or will
have, tues priesthood lesson, wed RS lesson, thurs yw/ym lesson,
Friday Date night, Saturday night lesson for Sunday church (with
children too), Sunday specifics for Gospel Study discussed on
Tuesday. 39
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T HE FAMILY IS ORDAINED OF GOD The Family is Ordained of God.
Marriage between Man and Woman is essential to his eternal plan.
Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and
to be reared by a Father and a Mother who honor marital vows with
complete fidelity. -The Family: A Proclamation to the World
https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation 40
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F ATHERS ARE TO PRESIDE, PROVIDE, AND PROTECT By divine design,
Fathers are to preside over their families in love and
righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of
life and protection for their families. -The Family: A Proclamation
to the World https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation 41
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G REAT THINGS REQUIRED OF THEIR FATHERS EZRA TAFT BENSON Yes,
these times require great things from fathers, and so does the
Lord. Three requirements are: create a home where love and the
Spirit of the Lord may abide; bring up children in light and truth;
and set your homes in order.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/04/great-things-required-of-their-fathers?lang=eng
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G REAT T HINGS R EQUIRED OF T HEIR F ATHERS EZRA TAFT BENSON
The sacred title of father is shared with the Almighty. In the
Church men are called and released. Did you ever hear of a mortal
father being released?
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/04/great-things-required-of-their-fathers?lang=eng
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G REAT T HINGS R EQUIRED OF T HEIR F ATHERS EZRA TAFT BENSON
Fatherhood is not a matter of station or wealth; it is a matter of
desire, diligence, and determination to see ones family exalted in
the celestial kingdom. If that prize is lost, nothing else really
matters.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/04/great-things-required-of-their-fathers?lang=eng
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T HE POWER OF TEACHING YOUR FAMILY ON THE S ABBATH (W EDNESDAY
' S CLASS ) Leaders should ensure that Sunday meetings are not so
numerous that there is little time for parents and children to be
together on that day. When possible, leaders should avoid
scheduling Sunday meetings other than those in the standard
three-hour schedule, leadership meetings in the early mornings, and
occasional meetings on evenings. Church Handbook of Instruction p.
138
https://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/meetings-in-the-church
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R USSELL M. N ELSON Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the
highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her
who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels. Russell
M. Nelson Ensign, May 1999,38
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/05/our-sacred-duty-to-honor-women
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"The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist
for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career."
C.S. Lewis
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/20606-the-homemaker-has-the-ultimate-career-all-other-careers-exist
http://bardfan.blogspot.com/2009/10/it-is-mystery-where-did-this-cs-lewis.html
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T HE L ORD S PEAKS TO M OTHERS In this age when more and more
women are turning to daily work, how tremendous it is, once in a
while, to stop and recognize that the greatest service that any
woman will ever perform with be in nurturing, teaching, lifting,
encouraging, and rearing her children in righteousness and truth.
There is no other thing that will compare with that regardless of
what she does. I hope that the women of the Church will not slight
their greatest responsibility in favor of a lesser responsibility.
To the mothers of this church, every mother who is here this day, I
want to say that, as the years pass, you will become increasingly
grateful for that which you did in molding the lives of your
children in the direction of righteousness and goodness and
integrity and faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley (Heber
City/Springville, Utah, regional conference, 14 May 1995)
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/12/excerpts-from-recent-addresses-of-president-gordon-b-hinckley?lang=eng
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T HE L ORD S PEAKS TO M OTHERS CONT D I think I can share this
with you. As I sat in the Tabernacle at the last conference and was
sustained by the people of this church, there came before me in my
minds eye, the picture of my mother when I was a little boy. And Im
sure she must have thought then that I wouldn't amount to much
because I was not an easy little boy to deal with. I am grateful
that I have the opportunity in my old age to bring honor to her
name. Its been the mothers who have been the great carriers and
purveyors of faith throughout the history of this church. I believe
that with all my heart President Gordon B. Hinckley (Heber
City/Springville, Utah, regional conference, 14 May 1995)
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/12/excerpts-from-recent-addresses-of-president-gordon-b-
hinckley?lang=eng 51
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E LDER B ALLARD Q UOTES P RESIDENT J OSEPH F. S MITH One
hundred years ago, President Joseph F. Smith connected happiness
directly to the family and admonished us to focus our efforts
there. He said: There can be no genuine happiness separate and
apart from the home. There is no happiness without service, and
there is no service greater than that which converts the home into
a divine institution, and which promotes and preserves family life.
The home is what needs reforming ( Teachings of Presidents of the
Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 382, 384). Elder M. Russell
Ballard, Ensign, May 2012 That the Lost May Be Found
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/that-the-lost-may-be-found?lang=eng
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Joseph F. Smith said: There can be no genuine happiness
separate and apart from the home, and every effort made to sanctify
and preserve its influence is uplifting to those who toil and
sacrifice for its establishment. Men and women often seek to
substitute some other life for that of the home; they would make
themselves believe that the home means restraint; that the highest
liberty is the fullest opportunity to move about at will. There is
no happiness without service, and there is no service greater than
that which converts the home into a divine institution, and which
promotes and preserves family life ( Teachings of Presidents of the
Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 382).
http://www.lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Manuals/TPTC_JosephFSmith_35744_eng.pdf
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M OTHERHOOD HAS ETERNAL INFLUENCE AND IS A NOBLE AND DIVINE
CALLING A mother has far greater influence on her children than
anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every
act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner
of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It
is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the
attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life
he will live and the contribution he will make to society.
President N Eldon Tanner, No Greater Honor: The Womans Role, New
Era Jan 1977
http://www.lds.org/new-era/1977/01/no-greater-honor-the-womans-role?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/new-era/1977/01/no-greater-honor-the-womans-role?lang=eng
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T O THE M OTHERS IN Z ION : P RESIDENT E ZRA T AFT B ENSON, F
EB 1987 10 Ways to Spend Time with Children Be at the Crossroads Be
a Real Friend Read to Your Children Pray with Your Children Have
Weekly Home Evenings Be Together at Mealtimes Read Scriptures Daily
Do Things as a Family Teach Your Children Truly Love Your Children
http://fc.byu.edu/jpages/ee/w_etb87.htm 55
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T HE F AMILY : A P ROCLAMATION TO THE W ORLD Successful
marriages and families are established and maintained on principles
of: faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love,
compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.
https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation 56
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A N I DEAL M ARRIAGE An ideal marriage is a true partnership
between two imperfect people, each striving to complement the
other, to keep the commandments, and to do the will of the Lord.
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Conference Report April 1999
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/our-sacred-duty-to-
honor-women?lang=eng 57
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T HROUGH F AITH IN C HRIST The way to create successful
marriages and families is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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As you remember the Savior and follow Him, you truly can be of
good cheer. You can experience real, enduring peace at all times.
You can find hope in the Saviors first words to His disciples after
His Resurrection: Peace be unto you ( John 20:19). True to the
Faith p.114
http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/l
anguage-materials/36863_eng.pdf 59 Your happiness in this life and
throughout eternity depends largely on whether you are valiant in
the testimony of Jesus (D&C 76:79; see also verses 51, 74,
101). True to the Faith p.179
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Do you want your children to have self-esteem? Listen simply to
what the Lord has said. 60
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F OR P EACE AT H OME When we obey the commandments of the Lord
and serve His children unselfishly, the natural consequence is
power from Godpower to do more than we can do by ourselves. Our
insights, our talents, our abilities are expanded because we
receive strength and power from the Lord. His power is a
fundamental component to establishing a home filled with peace.
-Richard G. Scott
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng
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E ZRA T AFT BENSON If we love God, do His will, and fear His
judgment more than mens, we will have self- esteem. -Beware of
Pride 62