You are welcome to read this talk and get ideas for your own, but I own the copyrights to it, so you may not use it as your own. And don’t forget to read my tips on How to Give a Killer Church Talk.
Good morning, brothers and sisters. I was asked to speak today about a subject that I am very passionate about. I will say that it’s not something I am perfect at, or will ever be perfect at, but my testimony on how a Christ-centered home can bless families runs very deep. I write many articles on marriage, parenting, and family relationships, but I’m not able to really include my faith or certain spiritual thoughts in those articles, which frankly is the cornerstone of marriage and family. So I’m excited to share my thoughts on creating a Christ-centered home with you today.
Elder Hales said, “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 the responsibility of strengthening families.” He further counseled 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.”
How important are these essentials?…these family prayers/home evenings/family scripture study etc.? Well, it’s not even enough that we do them! But we need to be consistent. Not perfect, but consistent.
Creating a Christ-centered home starts with parents.
Fathers: President Benson counseled you to give fathers blessings, to baptize and confirm your children. Ordain your sons to the priesthood. These will become spiritual highlights in the lives of your children! President Benson also counseled fathers to personally direct family prayers, daily scripture reading, and weekly family home evening. Your personal involvement will show your children how important these activities really are. Last, be worthy of the priesthood which you hold and USE IT! Use it to bless the lives of your family.
To mothers, President Benson gave us the key for successful motherhood! He said, “Make time to teach your children the gospel and principles of gospel living when they are young. It may be that you too will need to ‘renounce the world’ and devote above twenty years of the prime of life in hopes to save the souls of your children.” No accomplishment transcends the building of the character of a son or a daughter of God.
One of my favorite pieces of advice President Benson gave was to be at the crossroads. Take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going – when they leave and return from school, or dates, or when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen. How vital are mothers influence and teaching in the home – and how apparent when neglected.
One thing I personally have a deep testimony of is the importance of family meal-time. I treat it like it is just as important as family prayer or family home evening. And I believe it is. I have actually avoided signing my kids up for certain activities because they were scheduled during dinner time. Last year, Josh tried working 4/10s, which meant he didn’t get home until after 7. I tried to play it cool, but it almost gave me a panic attack because he wasn’t home for dinner! Thankfully, that work schedule didn’t last very long. Now, if Josh has to work late, we eat late. Together. Unless mama gets hungry, but hey- I never said I was perfect. Elder Oaks said, “Eating meals at home is the strongest predictor of children’s academic achievement and psychological adjustment.”
It is difficult to overstate the importance parents have in teaching their children celestial traditions through word and example.
As I was thinking of other ways to create a Christ-centered home, I had an idea that is definitely not vital to our salvation, but I believe makes a big difference. And believe it or not, President Kimball and other general authorities have actually mentioned it too. It’s how you decorate your home. When Josh and I were first married, and I sought out to find things to hang on the walls of our tiny hole-in-the-wall apartment, the first two things I bought were a framed picture of Christ, and a framed picture of the temple. We received a picture of the Family Proclamation at our wedding shower, and those 3 things were pretty much the only things on those walls the first year of our marriage. And they’re pretty much the only things still up on my walls besides pictures of my kids. So if there’s any interior design pros out there, give me a call. Growing up, my parents had a huge 3-opening picture frame of the First Presidency. They placed it right above the TV in the family room. And they must have known what they were doing because if a questionable show ever came on, I couldn’t help but look into President Hinckley’s sweet blue eyes and change the channel immediately. President Kimball said, “It seems to me it would be a fine thing if every set of parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so the child from the time he is an infant could look at the picture every day and it becomes a part of his life. When he reaches the age that he needs to make this very important decision (of going to the temple), it will already have been made.” Is the art in your home portraying the message that you are committed to following Christ?
All of these simple, everyday habits will build the foundation of a Christ-centered home.
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, have offered us this inspired counsel with regard to happiness and family life: ‘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. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Alma spoke about this happiness in Alma 42. “Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.”
This happiness will most surely be found in the home with family. If will be found in abundance if we do everything in our power to establish a Christ-centered home.
Like I said in the beginning, I do have a strong testimony of doing these simple things, in our home, with our family. It will not only affect your children now, but will continue to affect them when they are grown and have families of their own. They may not remember every family home evening lesson, or the exact words of the scripture or the prayer. But they will remember that you did them. I know there is great power and protection for us and our youth in establishing celestial traditions in the home. Brothers and Sisters, I believe the most important thing in life is to focus on your relationship with God and your relationship with your family. Everything else is only important as it helps you to improve those relationships.
Read more of my church talks HERE.
Follow Becky on Instagram and Facebook!
