The Family: A Proclamation to the World~

      I know  that there are moments when I feel the spirit speaking to my heart  that I need to share some thoughts.This week a group of Mormon women bloggers share thoughts on the family.  I thought I would join in this Celebration of the Family and share some spiritual moments.
     A week ago on Saturday, I thought my husband would want to watch the BYU and University of Utah football game during the evening. There was an adult session of our Stake Conference in our home ward. We had just attended a adult session of conference in our Inner City Mission Stake the week before. My husband spoke at that session. It was  a very sweet meeting. I was rather excited when he asked if I wanted to go to this session of conference instead of watching the game. As we walked over to the Stake Center, I felt in some respects like I was coming home. I have always loved the Stake Presidency members and I knew that it would be a very spiritual evening and it was.

     If there was a theme to the Stake Conference I would say that it was on The Family: A Proclamation To the World. and the  For The Strength Of Youth booklet. Our Stake President taught a great message on The Family: A Proclamation To The World. Some of the thoughts expressed were that the Family Proclamation is the scriptures for our family. This proclamation should be read, pondered upon and followed as the standards and doctrine of the church. He listed and discussed the recipe for our marriages and families that are found within the Proclamation. Here are the  elements of that recipe:"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." (The Family: A Proclamation To The World).
He talked on many of these principles. I learned that we need to follow this Family Proclamation because it is the Pattern of Heaven."
     The President of the Jordan River Temple told a sweet story about the Family Proclamation. He told of an experience that he had with his Dad  the weekend before this proclamation was announced. Here are a few thoughts that I learned from him.  His father, Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited his family to come over to their home. He mentioned that the families always tried to go over when asked too.  His father made the comment that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spent a year putting together this document. They prayed and fasted over what was to be in this great proclamation. Finally after a year President Gordan B. Hinckley gave the proclamation to Elder Neil A. Maxwell of the Twelve Apostles and told him that he was to go over every word and make sure it was ready. This is a sacred document and we should all read it, pray about it and ponder upon it.
     He encouraged us all to be more diligent in temple attendance. If you are faithful and do this great work your spouses and children will be blessed. I know that I have been encouraged to  keep the names of our family members and others in need on the prayer roll; especially when there are great and varied needs of those individuals that I love. 
     I felt that he was emphasizing that we attend the temple as often as possible. The temple has always been our favorite date night. The challenge was to attend weekly are at least monthly if possible. Here is where we can receive revelation for our families and ourselves. You can also take your children age twelve and older to do baptisms for the dead. This will help their testimonies grow.
For those of you who are not members of our faith; you can find information on the temples here.
     Our general authority was Elder Lynn Robbins. He gave a beautiful message and Dad and I couldn't stop the tears. Some of the thoughts expressed were that the temple should be the focus for the youth.  Never let your recommend expire. Do not let Family Home Evening relapse. In your Family Home Evenings teach lessons from; For The Strength of Youth booklet, Personal Progress for the Young Women, Duty to God for the Young Men and The Faith In God for the  girls and Faith In God for boys.
     Elder Robbins taught a powerful lesson about love. Some of the thoughts I came home with were; you can not fall out of love. Love is an action word both in your mind and heart. It is both a noun and a verb. In marriages and families you should be telling one another I love you frequently through the day. He reminded the men to always hold their spouses hands when together and to honor and respect each other. If you have struggles in your marriage then use love and forgiveness to bind the wounds. You can choose to love.
The next morning in our Stake session of conference; we were reminded to study the General Conference reports. You can find the latest Conference report here. They are the current direction that the Lord wants us to be guided by. Read them; they are just as important as the scriptures. 
I myself believe that "The Book of Mormon" is your greatest child rearing book. I know this to be true.
     Be strong in your commitments to one another and the gospel. Keep you standards high and dress and behave as a righteous daughter and son of our Heavenly Father. Be the example your children need to follow.
     Follow the Prophet and First Presidency.They can't lead you astray. Our Prophets and Apostles of today are sending the messages that the world needs. We desperately need their words.
     I have been studying the last Conference report for the last few months. I decided to see what subjects were discussed the most during our last conference. These are the topics that the Prophet and Apostles feel are important for our times. Here is the list:

1. Family 9

2. Jesus Christ 8

3. Priesthood 7

4. Holy Ghost, 6; Faith 6; Service 6.

5. Adversity 5,

6. Plan of Salvation and Missionary work 4 

     Our recently released Stake RS President gave thoughts from a message given by our President of the Church Thomas S. Monson entitled; "Love At Home". This is a short message that I hope you will all read. It is a powerful message from our prophet.

President Thomas S. Monson

     Some final thoughts on love and service; the Savior is the great "Good Samaritan". President Monson is the Good Samaritan of our day. His life is his great sermon. He will be remembered as a Prophet who loved his people and served them well."
    Take a moments and read this marvelous document; "The Family: A Proclamation To The World.