Reflections to share with my children

Thoughts on this Sabbath evening: Recently, Spencer and I were visiting about our children and grandchildren. As parents, we never stop feeling concern when you face challenges and heartaches. Every parent hopes their children achieve a higher level than they did in every important area: spiritually, emotionally, financially, etc. We rejoice with you when things go well in your lives and we pray for you when they don’t. We are many miles away, but our hearts are knit closely with yours. Sometimes we feel concerned about choices we see being made and then we pray even harder. But tonight I feel inclined to do more than pray. I want to counsel you to stay close to the basics you have been taught. 1. Have family prayer and personal pray twice a day. 2. Read scriptures together with your children—regularly. Set the example 3. Have Family Home Evening every week. Help children prepare to teach the gospel. 4. Attend meetings and encourage children to fully participate in the activities. 5. Pay tithing. 6. Attend the temple. 7. Keep the Sabbath Day holy. 8. Etc., etc., etc. [This are in random order, not placed by importance.] Last week I read the April Conference talk by Russell M. Nelson, “The Sabbath Is a Delight”. I want to include a couple of paragraphs for you. Years ago the First Presidency stressed the importance of quality family time. They wrote: “We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility. “We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. 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.”17 When I ponder this counsel, I almost wish I were a young father once again. Now parents have such wonderful resources available to help them make family time more meaningful, on the Sabbath and other days as well. They have LDS.org, Mormon.org, the Bible videos, the Mormon Channel, the Media Library, the Friend, the New Era, the Ensign, the Liahona, and more—much more. These resources are so very helpful to parents in discharging their sacred duty to teach their children. No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting! …” It touched my heart to know that the First Presidency and Elder Nelson outlined the same goals I had been thinking about. I have been reflecting about my years as a mother. We did some things quite well—but not perfectly. We read scriptures together regularly—on school days—but we fell short otherwise. We held FHE regularly, generally on Sunday afternoon because of work conflicts. We even held FHE when it was only Adam and I left at home—sometimes our preparation and quality was lacking, but we still met together and discussed some aspect of the gospel. Normally, I kept the Sabbath Day holy—but there were infamous times we let go of the iron rod. We regularly attended and participated in church activities. We tried to have quality family time as often as possible. Tithing was faithfully paid by all. Even without a dad in the home, the kids received priesthood blessings at appropriate and needed times—first from Grandpa then Chad. Those are special memories. I echo Elder Nelson in encouraging families to utilize LDS.org, Mormon.org, the Bible videos, the Mormon Channel, the Media Library, and church magazines. Man, there are so many things I DIDN’T do. I did love listening to great tapes or reading together when we were on trips. But I could have done more. So much more… Today was our ward conference. The bishop spoke about tithing and the importance of the Sabbath Day. He read from the Proclamation on the Family about the basics I’ve already touched on. The Stake President talked about the Sabbath Day (do we find joy and happiness in it?) and the Sacrament. He brought tears to my eyes as he spoke about the difficulty of the sacrifice the Savior made. It was not easy for Him. Do I truly reflect on it and thank Him as I should? In Relief Society the Stake President spoke. He taught from Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk in October Conference, “Lord, Is it I?” That is what made me really do a critical self-assessment. I know I have fallen short in areas. But I pray that you will learn from both the things I did right and the mistakes I made. I guess this is long enough. I’ll close by saying I love you all and I’m proud of the good choices you are making. Hold to the rod!