I came down the stairs last Wednesday evening and was startled to find the living room clean and spotless. While I am well aware that my husband is a superhero, it was still quite surprising to me to see this as I had only been upstairs for a short while and I had left him alone with the children.
Just then my husband came around the corner and I called out to him from the stairs, where I was still admiring this feat, how impressed I was. "The living room looks great! You did a great job!"
He gave me a puzzled look and said, "I didn't clean it - I thought you cleaned it. I was going to ask you when you did it."
I told him I hadn't cleaned it and had been upstairs.
We stood there looking at each other for a minute, quite perplexed. Then we looked at the living room as if to re-evaluate whether it had been cleaned at all.
Maybe it had just been clean the whole time?
No, it had definitely been a disaster just a short while ago because we had discussed it and put it on our to-do list.
Maybe it was still messy and we had just misjudged it to be clean somehow?
Let's see - Nothing on the floor. Toys all put away, blankets folded and sitting on the back of the couch, books in their bins, chairs pushed into the tables neatly...
Not a chance! It had been cleaned and cleaned well.
We looked at each other again feeling confused. Then we looked down at our son who had just appeared next to us.
"I cleaned the living room up so now we can have Family Night!" he announced.
My husband and I burst out laughing.
First, there was the relief of finally knowing how the living room had come to this state.
Then, the amusement at how observant our son clearly was.
He had noticed that I go on a cleaning rampage every Monday, and Family Home Evening never begins until after the clutter disappears.
(My brain often feels as cluttered as the room I am in, so I like to start FHE (Family Home Evening) in a less chaotic environment - not to mention one that invites the spirit more abundantly!)
A couple of other noteworthy things about this experience...
1) It was a Wednesday night. (And we had already had FHE on Monday night as per usual)
2) Yes...2. As in, his age. He's two years old folks! And he had just cleaned the living room on a Wednesday because he wanted to have FHE.
All of these thoughts happened more quickly than you are reading them, as we didn't have much time to think before he was gathering us to the couches to begin FHE – the sequel.
We complied.
I worried that I wouldn't come up with any ideas on the spot that were good enough to honor his efforts, but I soon realized that it didn't matter.
Our toddler was a “man with a plan.”
He instructed us to close our eyes and fold our arms. Once he had peeked enough times to feel confident that we were as reverent as we should be, he offered this simple prayer:
"Dear Heavenly Father,” he said. “Please bless us that we will have Family Night. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."
Amen! I guess it doesn't hurt to have Heaven on your side when you are pushing for an impromptu second Family Night in the middle of a busy week.
He then led us (twice) in singing, "This is the night we've waited for..." (Apparently 48 hours was a long enough wait!) And he finished with the line he always adds on at the end, "...together on Family Night...at the park!"
We had held FHE at the park once, while staying in a hotel, and he's held out hope for a repeat ever since. (But to be fair, that was in October and I've held out hope for warmer weather ever since.
Now, just in case Elder Bednar asks...we did have a lesson at the park!
Just then my husband came around the corner and I called out to him from the stairs, where I was still admiring this feat, how impressed I was. "The living room looks great! You did a great job!"
He gave me a puzzled look and said, "I didn't clean it - I thought you cleaned it. I was going to ask you when you did it."
I told him I hadn't cleaned it and had been upstairs.
We stood there looking at each other for a minute, quite perplexed. Then we looked at the living room as if to re-evaluate whether it had been cleaned at all.
Maybe it had just been clean the whole time?
No, it had definitely been a disaster just a short while ago because we had discussed it and put it on our to-do list.
Maybe it was still messy and we had just misjudged it to be clean somehow?
Let's see - Nothing on the floor. Toys all put away, blankets folded and sitting on the back of the couch, books in their bins, chairs pushed into the tables neatly...
Not a chance! It had been cleaned and cleaned well.
We looked at each other again feeling confused. Then we looked down at our son who had just appeared next to us.
"I cleaned the living room up so now we can have Family Night!" he announced.
My husband and I burst out laughing.
First, there was the relief of finally knowing how the living room had come to this state.
Then, the amusement at how observant our son clearly was.
He had noticed that I go on a cleaning rampage every Monday, and Family Home Evening never begins until after the clutter disappears.
(My brain often feels as cluttered as the room I am in, so I like to start FHE (Family Home Evening) in a less chaotic environment - not to mention one that invites the spirit more abundantly!)
A couple of other noteworthy things about this experience...
1) It was a Wednesday night. (And we had already had FHE on Monday night as per usual)
2) Yes...2. As in, his age. He's two years old folks! And he had just cleaned the living room on a Wednesday because he wanted to have FHE.
All of these thoughts happened more quickly than you are reading them, as we didn't have much time to think before he was gathering us to the couches to begin FHE – the sequel.
We complied.
I worried that I wouldn't come up with any ideas on the spot that were good enough to honor his efforts, but I soon realized that it didn't matter.
Our toddler was a “man with a plan.”
He instructed us to close our eyes and fold our arms. Once he had peeked enough times to feel confident that we were as reverent as we should be, he offered this simple prayer:
"Dear Heavenly Father,” he said. “Please bless us that we will have Family Night. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."
Amen! I guess it doesn't hurt to have Heaven on your side when you are pushing for an impromptu second Family Night in the middle of a busy week.
He then led us (twice) in singing, "This is the night we've waited for..." (Apparently 48 hours was a long enough wait!) And he finished with the line he always adds on at the end, "...together on Family Night...at the park!"
We had held FHE at the park once, while staying in a hotel, and he's held out hope for a repeat ever since. (But to be fair, that was in October and I've held out hope for warmer weather ever since.
Now, just in case Elder Bednar asks...we did have a lesson at the park!
"As a stake president, I interviewed many, many people about their family home evenings and what they did during that time together. For many members, it was Monday night football and donuts. They would talk in our interviews about the wonderful, fun activities they had together as families. Having fun activities is right, and good, and true. But it is not enough. Anybody can have fun as a family. Anybody can go to the park. But if with small children in the park there are even two or three minutes devoted to a simple illustration about a doctrine or a principle and a pure testimony expressed by a parent, there comes into the mind and into the heart of those children understanding that will bear eternal fruit. I fear there is not enough focus on doctrine in our homes. We should each evaluate our ability to preach the doctrine more effectively to our families in our homes."
We do make sure to have our FAMILY at HOME in the EVENING on Mondays as a general practice.
Anyway, our toddler then offered a lesson and brought us some books to read. Eventually, we coerced him into a closing prayer. After which he announced, "Now it's time for Family Devotional!"
Enos 1:12 shows us a great principle with a promise when he prays, labors with all diligence, and then has success. That promise was manifest here in our clean living room.
As for the spiritual giant inside that tiny two-year-old body - he just came that way! We just try our best to facilitate and not get in the way of the gospel learning that he craves.
Believe it or not, I'm not some supermom with magical powers that make children clean. I actually have more weaknesses than most. Especially as a Mom. True story. But this I know:
The gospel works!
And when we live it right, it produces joyful results and our children can hear the music of the gospel.
Anyway, our toddler then offered a lesson and brought us some books to read. Eventually, we coerced him into a closing prayer. After which he announced, "Now it's time for Family Devotional!"
Enos 1:12 shows us a great principle with a promise when he prays, labors with all diligence, and then has success. That promise was manifest here in our clean living room.
As for the spiritual giant inside that tiny two-year-old body - he just came that way! We just try our best to facilitate and not get in the way of the gospel learning that he craves.
Believe it or not, I'm not some supermom with magical powers that make children clean. I actually have more weaknesses than most. Especially as a Mom. True story. But this I know:
The gospel works!
And when we live it right, it produces joyful results and our children can hear the music of the gospel.
"The challenge for all of us who seek to teach the gospel is to expand the curriculum beyond just the dance steps. Our children’s happiness depends on their ability to hear and love the beautiful music of the gospel."
If we are centered on Christ, it will produce the needed effects - which means we will live the gospel joyfully. That doesn't mean we grin and bear it as we go through the motions, it means to love and find joy in living the gospel above all else.
"The world in which we live is similar to the potter’s spinning wheel, and the speed of that wheel is increasing. Like the clay on the potter’s wheel, we must be centered as well. Our core, the center of our lives, must be Jesus Christ and His gospel. Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness."
In order to keep the commandments with exactness, (like holding FHE or keeping the Sabbath Day holy) we also need to progress spiritually within those commandments. One of the synonyms for the word "exactness" is "closeness". Who are we trying to be close with when we keep these commandments? Jesus Christ, and our families. We live in a time where it takes great effort to stay close to both.
In order to keep ourselves and our families safe and close to the Lord in a world that gets busier and louder by the day, we have to continually evaluate not only if we keep His commandments but take a sincere look at the way we keep His commandments.
In order to keep ourselves and our families safe and close to the Lord in a world that gets busier and louder by the day, we have to continually evaluate not only if we keep His commandments but take a sincere look at the way we keep His commandments.
"In living the baptismal covenant we look for ways to keep the commandments rather than look for ways around them."
Family Home Evening didn't come naturally to us as newlyweds. We were together every evening anyway and we both loved the gospel so much it was inseparable from anything we said or did. How would we set Monday nights apart from the rest?
We have had to continually adjust as children are added to the family. Not adjust as in, how can we fit Family Home Evening into our busy schedules and differing bedtimes, but how can we adjust to make sure this commandment is producing the necessary spiritual effects and we are receiving the promised blessings from it.
We have had to continually adjust as children are added to the family. Not adjust as in, how can we fit Family Home Evening into our busy schedules and differing bedtimes, but how can we adjust to make sure this commandment is producing the necessary spiritual effects and we are receiving the promised blessings from it.
"Prophets have promised that if we participate in family home evening, great blessings will result: Love and obedience at home will increase. Faith will develop in the hearts of youth. Families 'will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations' that surround them."
By keeping Family Home Evening a high priority, we can make sure that it becomes a special and sacred time for our families to look forward to. Just like we do with the Sabbath Day.
"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."
Similar to Monday evenings, continually evaluating and perfecting our Sabbath Day Worship is also vital.
President Nelson shares his thoughts on Sabbath Day Worship and our responsibilities to both the Lord and our children on this day:
President Nelson shares his thoughts on Sabbath Day Worship and our responsibilities to both the Lord and our children on this day:
"Though the doctrine pertaining to the Sabbath day is of ancient origin, it has been renewed in these latter days as part of a new covenant with a promise. Listen to the power of this divine decree:
How can you ensure that your behavior on the Sabbath will lead to joy and rejoicing? In addition to your going to church, partaking of the sacrament, and being diligent in your specific call to serve, what other activities would help to make the Sabbath a delight for you? What sign will you give to the Lord to show your love for Him?
The Sabbath provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties. After all, God wants each of us, as His children, to return to Him as endowed Saints, sealed in the temple as families, to our ancestors, and to our posterity.
We make the Sabbath a delight when we teach the gospel to our children. Our responsibility as parents is abundantly clear. The Lord said, “Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion … that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”
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.'"
'That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
'For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. …
'And on this day … let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, … that thy joy may be full. …
'And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, … the fulness of the earth is yours.'
Imagine the scope of that statement! The fulness of the earth is promised to those who keep the Sabbath day holy. No wonder Isaiah called the Sabbath 'a delight.''For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. …
'And on this day … let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, … that thy joy may be full. …
'And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, … the fulness of the earth is yours.'
How can you ensure that your behavior on the Sabbath will lead to joy and rejoicing? In addition to your going to church, partaking of the sacrament, and being diligent in your specific call to serve, what other activities would help to make the Sabbath a delight for you? What sign will you give to the Lord to show your love for Him?
The Sabbath provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties. After all, God wants each of us, as His children, to return to Him as endowed Saints, sealed in the temple as families, to our ancestors, and to our posterity.
We make the Sabbath a delight when we teach the gospel to our children. Our responsibility as parents is abundantly clear. The Lord said, “Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion … that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”
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.'"
There is so much good and so much to learn from what President Nelson says, but two words that really stand out to me are, "more fully." He also makes it clear that our homes should be the place where the spirit of the Sabbath thrives!
I love the Sabbath day and having time set aside to focus on things of a spiritual nature without work or studies or other things getting in the way.
I do have to admit that, when I joined the church as an adult convert, I was very surprised at some of the activities lifelong members would justify on the Sabbath. I thought to myself, "Perhaps a church stamped, missionary approved film, to teach a specific principle, and not just for a reason to lay on the couch, would be appropriate at times. ...but Disney? Really?" A girl sneaks out of the house with a boy. (Aladdin) A girl ditches her family and voice for a boy. (The Little Mermaid). Meg swaying her hips and 'behind' around seductively while bearing plenty of cleavage. (Hercules). Ursula does a lot of this as well. (The Little Mermaid... again) And come on... have you ever seen a modest Disney Princess? Few and far between. What about the nonconsenual kissing of sleeping women? (Snow White/Sleeping Beauty) Not to mention Disney being full of sexual imagery and inuendos, some subtle and some not so subtle, along with racist and/or derogatory comments and stereotypes. Each Disney movie also has tons of hidden "Easter Eggs" as they call them, many of which are of a sexual nature. These are the people we are trusting with our children's media?
With other religions that share our views on modesty speaking out against Disney, enough to get them to publicly change...
I love the Sabbath day and having time set aside to focus on things of a spiritual nature without work or studies or other things getting in the way.
I do have to admit that, when I joined the church as an adult convert, I was very surprised at some of the activities lifelong members would justify on the Sabbath. I thought to myself, "Perhaps a church stamped, missionary approved film, to teach a specific principle, and not just for a reason to lay on the couch, would be appropriate at times. ...but Disney? Really?" A girl sneaks out of the house with a boy. (Aladdin) A girl ditches her family and voice for a boy. (The Little Mermaid). Meg swaying her hips and 'behind' around seductively while bearing plenty of cleavage. (Hercules). Ursula does a lot of this as well. (The Little Mermaid... again) And come on... have you ever seen a modest Disney Princess? Few and far between. What about the nonconsenual kissing of sleeping women? (Snow White/Sleeping Beauty) Not to mention Disney being full of sexual imagery and inuendos, some subtle and some not so subtle, along with racist and/or derogatory comments and stereotypes. Each Disney movie also has tons of hidden "Easter Eggs" as they call them, many of which are of a sexual nature. These are the people we are trusting with our children's media?
With other religions that share our views on modesty speaking out against Disney, enough to get them to publicly change...
"The majority of Princess Jasmine’s numerous flaws stem from the fact that she is completely inaccurate and offensive to her culture. From the clothes she wears to the way she speaks, Jasmine does not represent Arab or Muslim women at all but rather a disgraceful woman in their culture. Unfortunately, Jasmine is not a suitable role model for young girls."
Washington Times - Disney’s Princess Jasmine gets a Modest Makeover
...you would think that we would be right there with them, opposing these poor role models, rather than justifying it for our children, just because of some catchy songs and cute characters, or because there is some good mixed in with the bad. But instead, many welcome it on the most sacred day of the week. The Lord's Day.
And don't get me started on the Super Bowl and other sports events that fall on a Sunday...
And don't get me started on the Super Bowl and other sports events that fall on a Sunday...
"Sunday is not a day for shopping, recreation, or athletic events. Do not seek entertainment or make purchases on this day."
For The Strength of Youth - Sabbath Day Observance
At the very least, our Sabbath worship should reflect the commandments and standards we are asking our children to live.
As we live the gospel, we progress in our understanding of obedience. At times we may be tempted to practice what I call “natural man’s obedience,” in which we disobediently reject God’s law in favor of our wisdom or our desires or even popularity. Because this is widely practiced by so many, this perversion of obedience diminishes God’s standards in our culture and in our laws.
At times members may participate in “selective obedience,” claiming to love God and honor God while picking and choosing which of His commandments and teachings—and the teachings and counsel of His prophets—they will fully follow.
Some obey selectively because they cannot perceive all the reasons for a commandment, just as children do not always understand the reasons for their parents’ counsel and rules. But we always know the reason we follow the prophets, for this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and it is the Savior who directs His prophets in all dispensations.
As our understanding of obedience deepens, we recognize the essential role of agency…
…Spiritually mature obedience is 'the Savior’s obedience.' It is motivated by true love for Heavenly Father and His Son. When we willingly obey, as our Savior did, we cherish the words of our Heavenly Father: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we look forward to hearing, upon entering our Heavenly Father’s presence, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter … into the joy of thy lord.'
Using our agency to obey means choosing to 'do what is right [and letting] the consequence follow.' It requires self-mastery and brings confidence, eternal happiness, and a sense of fulfillment to us and, by example, to those around us; and it always includes a deep personal commitment to sustain priesthood leaders and follow their teachings and counsel."
At times members may participate in “selective obedience,” claiming to love God and honor God while picking and choosing which of His commandments and teachings—and the teachings and counsel of His prophets—they will fully follow.
Some obey selectively because they cannot perceive all the reasons for a commandment, just as children do not always understand the reasons for their parents’ counsel and rules. But we always know the reason we follow the prophets, for this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and it is the Savior who directs His prophets in all dispensations.
As our understanding of obedience deepens, we recognize the essential role of agency…
…Spiritually mature obedience is 'the Savior’s obedience.' It is motivated by true love for Heavenly Father and His Son. When we willingly obey, as our Savior did, we cherish the words of our Heavenly Father: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we look forward to hearing, upon entering our Heavenly Father’s presence, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter … into the joy of thy lord.'
Using our agency to obey means choosing to 'do what is right [and letting] the consequence follow.' It requires self-mastery and brings confidence, eternal happiness, and a sense of fulfillment to us and, by example, to those around us; and it always includes a deep personal commitment to sustain priesthood leaders and follow their teachings and counsel."
Elder Robert D Hales - If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments
We must also ensure that we do not feel we have kept a commandment simply because we were together on Monday evening or because we attended church on Sunday. The commandments are not to be lived and checked off like items on a Google Keep list. We have to put forth our best efforts to make these special sacred times.
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
If days of the week were friends, who would we find ourselves spending time with outside of Sunday and Monday? There are five friends who may or may not be a good influence on us and the way we keep the commandments. Let me introduce you to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
It's important to evaluate these five friendships to make sure we are not living the gospel Rameumptum-style and checking our religion at the chapel doors on Sunday, which Elder Holland describes as not being discipleship at all...
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
If days of the week were friends, who would we find ourselves spending time with outside of Sunday and Monday? There are five friends who may or may not be a good influence on us and the way we keep the commandments. Let me introduce you to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
It's important to evaluate these five friendships to make sure we are not living the gospel Rameumptum-style and checking our religion at the chapel doors on Sunday, which Elder Holland describes as not being discipleship at all...
"Lesson number one for the establishment of Zion in the 21st century: You never 'check your religion at the door.' Not ever.
My young friends, that kind of discipleship cannot be—it is not discipleship at all. As the prophet Alma has taught the young women of the Church to declare every week in their Young Women theme, we are 'to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in,' not just some of the time, in a few places, or when our team has a big lead."
My young friends, that kind of discipleship cannot be—it is not discipleship at all. As the prophet Alma has taught the young women of the Church to declare every week in their Young Women theme, we are 'to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in,' not just some of the time, in a few places, or when our team has a big lead."
Jeffrey R. Holland - Israel, Israel, God is Calling
What are these five friends calling you to do that influence for better or worse how Sunday and Monday look for you and your family? Do these friends have high standards that encourage you to step up your game? Or are their standards so low that simply attending church and then winging it with a quick Family Home Evening has you feeling righteous in comparison?
If these dear friends, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were true disciples of Jesus Christ who studied the Book of Mormon every day as counseled by the Prophets, who attended seminary and mutual or institute classes, attended the temple frequently, and most importantly, taught the gospel in their homes, it would take our best efforts to make Sunday and Monday stand out. And don't our families and the Lord deserve just that - our best efforts to invite the Spirit and produce a much needed, and continual, mighty change of heart?
If these dear friends, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were true disciples of Jesus Christ who studied the Book of Mormon every day as counseled by the Prophets, who attended seminary and mutual or institute classes, attended the temple frequently, and most importantly, taught the gospel in their homes, it would take our best efforts to make Sunday and Monday stand out. And don't our families and the Lord deserve just that - our best efforts to invite the Spirit and produce a much needed, and continual, mighty change of heart?
"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Thomas S. Monson - The Power of the Book of Mormon
Someone told me once that spiritual maturity is consistency and spiritual immaturity is inconsistency.
I would say that spiritual maturity is consistently progressing.
I would say that spiritual maturity is consistently progressing.
The temple recommend interview for a limited-use temple recommend asks if we are striving to keep the commandments. The temple recommend interview for an endowed member asks "are you KEEPING the commandments". This suggests that early on in our lives as Latter-Day Saints we come to a point where we are no longer just "striving" to keep the commandments but we are living them. And living them with exactness has become our foundation and springboard for progression.
As Elder Bednar has said, the blessing of keeping the commandments is more commandments!
As Elder Bednar has said, the blessing of keeping the commandments is more commandments!
"The true Spirit of Ricks is about progressing to and through 'letter of the law' obedience to public and institutional commandments and toward the spirit of devoted discipleship and a private, personal, and individual change of heart.
I find it fascinating that one of the greatest blessings related to keeping God's commandments is additional commandments. Now, individuals who find commandments restrictive and constraining clearly will not regard more commandments as a blessing. But the Apostle John taught that for one who has come unto Christ and been born again, God's 'commandments are not grievous' (1 John 5:3). Thus, individuals who have eyes to see and ears to hear will readily recognize the consummate spiritual benefit that comes from extra direction from heaven. What are these 'commandments not a few,' and how do we receive them?
The individual and personal commandments 'not a few' we receive frequently tend to focus upon the good things we can and should do to develop and deepen our discipleship--as opposed to focusing primarily upon the bad things we must avoid or overcome. Such instructions typically are proactive and anticipatory in nature. For example, many of us remember the teachings of President Spencer W. Kimball concerning fast offerings. He stated:
'I think that when we are affluent, as many of us are, that we ought to be very, very generous . . . . I think we should be very generous and give, instead of the amount we saved by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more--ten times more where we are in a position to do it.'
Thus, an individual or a family may be prompted to freely and willingly and cheerfully contribute to the fast offering fund at a level far beyond the routine and basic 'letter of the law' standards with which most of us are familiar."
I find it fascinating that one of the greatest blessings related to keeping God's commandments is additional commandments. Now, individuals who find commandments restrictive and constraining clearly will not regard more commandments as a blessing. But the Apostle John taught that for one who has come unto Christ and been born again, God's 'commandments are not grievous' (1 John 5:3). Thus, individuals who have eyes to see and ears to hear will readily recognize the consummate spiritual benefit that comes from extra direction from heaven. What are these 'commandments not a few,' and how do we receive them?
The individual and personal commandments 'not a few' we receive frequently tend to focus upon the good things we can and should do to develop and deepen our discipleship--as opposed to focusing primarily upon the bad things we must avoid or overcome. Such instructions typically are proactive and anticipatory in nature. For example, many of us remember the teachings of President Spencer W. Kimball concerning fast offerings. He stated:
'I think that when we are affluent, as many of us are, that we ought to be very, very generous . . . . I think we should be very generous and give, instead of the amount we saved by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more--ten times more where we are in a position to do it.'
Thus, an individual or a family may be prompted to freely and willingly and cheerfully contribute to the fast offering fund at a level far beyond the routine and basic 'letter of the law' standards with which most of us are familiar."
Elder David A. Bednar - Heartfelt and Willing Obedience
If keeping the commandments blesses us with additional “commandments not a few” then the way we live the gospel has to have progressed or we likely weren’t centred on Christ or fully keeping the commandments in the first place. We’ve often heard the Spirit compared to a GPS. You may know how to get from point A to point B, but, the GPS can reroute you a better way, as different obstacles come up, or as an area develops and offers better routes.
Elder Lawrence shares his experience with and examples of personal commandments and reminds us that:
Elder Lawrence shares his experience with and examples of personal commandments and reminds us that:
“If we are humble and teachable, the Holy Ghost will prompt us to improve and lead us home, but we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way."
Larry R. Lawrence - What Lack I Yet?
To collaborate Sister Wixom’s quote above with the two words that stood out the most to me from President Nelson’s thoughts, along with Elder Bednar’s message: In living our covenants, we will look for ways to “more fully” keep the commandments.
Please note, however, that if you find you have progressed to a place that is out of harmony with the teachings of the living prophets, or to where you feel that you are an exception to a commandment, it’s time for a U-turn!
For our family, one of these personal commandments has been to hold a nightly family devotional with, yes, you guessed it, each of those five friends.
This is what our families evenings looks like from to Tuesday-Saturday: Family Devotional before bed (Often in jammies). 5-15 minutes including an opening prayer, a short lesson/activity from the primary manual, a song, a scripture, and then our bedtime family prayer.
For our two-year-old, we do one verse per night from the Book of Mormon, having him repeat each word and making sure he understands it. Thank you, Mormon Channel Talk, for that brilliant idea! Quality over quantity at play here.
These short and sweet family devotionals are looked forward to as they invite the Spirit and ensure time all together as a family. It's a great way to end each day.
Following this personal commandment has also ensured that in order to make the Sabbath Day and Family Home Evening stand out we had to really put forth our best efforts and we cannot wing it or get lazy. Otherwise, FHE or Sabbath Day worship could become indistinguishable from Family Devotionals.
We followed the recipe for success we learned about earlier in Enos and the Lord multiplied our efforts. Our two-year-old son was able to hear the music of the gospel and joyfully anticipate a sacred time together as a family...and speaking of recipes, we don't even have a treat with Family Home Evening, just the fruit that is 'sweet above all that was sweet'! (Alma 32:42)
Another personal commandment I have followed, is to have Mormon Channel Talk playing all day at home. It invites the Spirit and helps fill in the gaps during the day between my morning Book of Mormon study and evening companion study and family devotional. It helps me keep my baptismal covenant to always remember Jesus Christ. As a busy stay at home mom with no quiet alone time, this personal instruction has turned out to be paramount.
If our family, with all of its imperfections, can have these blessings and results, anyone can! And like Enos, when we realized this, we wanted it for everyone else as well!
So, evaluate your five friends and their influence on you, re-evaluate your Family Home Evenings and your Sabbath Day worship, and enjoy the promised blessings. (Mosiah 2:41)
Please note, however, that if you find you have progressed to a place that is out of harmony with the teachings of the living prophets, or to where you feel that you are an exception to a commandment, it’s time for a U-turn!
For our family, one of these personal commandments has been to hold a nightly family devotional with, yes, you guessed it, each of those five friends.
This is what our families evenings looks like from to Tuesday-Saturday: Family Devotional before bed (Often in jammies). 5-15 minutes including an opening prayer, a short lesson/activity from the primary manual, a song, a scripture, and then our bedtime family prayer.
For our two-year-old, we do one verse per night from the Book of Mormon, having him repeat each word and making sure he understands it. Thank you, Mormon Channel Talk, for that brilliant idea! Quality over quantity at play here.
These short and sweet family devotionals are looked forward to as they invite the Spirit and ensure time all together as a family. It's a great way to end each day.
Following this personal commandment has also ensured that in order to make the Sabbath Day and Family Home Evening stand out we had to really put forth our best efforts and we cannot wing it or get lazy. Otherwise, FHE or Sabbath Day worship could become indistinguishable from Family Devotionals.
We followed the recipe for success we learned about earlier in Enos and the Lord multiplied our efforts. Our two-year-old son was able to hear the music of the gospel and joyfully anticipate a sacred time together as a family...and speaking of recipes, we don't even have a treat with Family Home Evening, just the fruit that is 'sweet above all that was sweet'! (Alma 32:42)
Another personal commandment I have followed, is to have Mormon Channel Talk playing all day at home. It invites the Spirit and helps fill in the gaps during the day between my morning Book of Mormon study and evening companion study and family devotional. It helps me keep my baptismal covenant to always remember Jesus Christ. As a busy stay at home mom with no quiet alone time, this personal instruction has turned out to be paramount.
If our family, with all of its imperfections, can have these blessings and results, anyone can! And like Enos, when we realized this, we wanted it for everyone else as well!
So, evaluate your five friends and their influence on you, re-evaluate your Family Home Evenings and your Sabbath Day worship, and enjoy the promised blessings. (Mosiah 2:41)
President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled: 'If you have any doubt about the virtue of family home evening, try it. Gather your children about you, teach them, bear testimony to them, read the scriptures together and have a good time together.' There will always be opposition to holding family home evening. Regardless, I invite you to find a way around the obstacles and make family home evening a priority—and make fun a key ingredient.
Devin G. Durrant - Heartfelt and Willing Obedience
Love and prayers,
Mom Standing Still
Mom Standing Still
