I have a very strong testimony of the importance of family. I know that the family is central to God’s plan. I know that we are destined to have a family, and raise our children in love and righteousness. I know that we are to be sealed in the temple and make and keep sacred covenants with our spouse and our God to be able to qualify for the greatest degree of glory. I know that through creating a family we are close to God and what it will be like when we can create our own worlds someday. I know that families can be made eternal as we are sealed in God’s temple. I know that great strength and comfort can be found within the walls of our homes as we invite the spirit to dwell with us at all times and we rely on our families for support and knowledge to make it back to our Father in Heaven someday. I love my family very much and I am eternally grateful for the knowledge that I have and the peace that I have felt in my home already. ~ Madisen Busenbark
“Life eternal is to live in unity, in families, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Eternal life is only possible through the keys of the priesthood of God, which were restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Holding that eternal goal before the youth you lead is as great a gift as you could give them. You will do it primarily by example in your own family. Those you lead may not have a family in the Church, but I challenge you to help them feel and want the love of family on both sides of the veil.” President Henry B. Eyring, Help Them Aim High, October 2012 General Conference
“Our strengthened family cultures will be a protection for our children from “the fiery darts of the adversary” embedded in their peer culture, the entertainment and celebrity cultures, the credit and entitlement cultures, and the Internet and media cultures to which they are constantly exposed. Strong family cultures will help our children live in the world and not become “of the world” Elder L. Tom Perry, Become Goodly Parents, October 2012 General Conference
“Children need the emotional and personal strength that come from being raised by two parents who are united in their marriage and their goals.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Protect the Children, October 2012 General Conference
“The need for civility in society has never been more important. The foundation of kindness and civility begins in our homes. It is not surprising that our public discourse has declined in equal measure with the breakdown of the family. The family is the foundation for love and for maintaining spirituality. The family promotes an atmosphere where religious observance can flourish. There is indeed “beauty all around when there’s love at home.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
“Parents, the days are long past when regular, active participation in Church meetings and programs, though essential, can fulfill your sacred responsibility to teach your children to live moral, righteous lives and walk uprightly before the Lord.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
“It is essential that this be faithfully accomplished in homes which are places of refuge where kindness, forgiveness, truth, and righteousness prevail. Parents must have the courage to filter or monitor Internet access, television, movies, and music. Parents must have the courage to say no, defend truth, and bear powerful testimony. Your children need to know that you have faith in the Savior, love your Heavenly Father, and sustain the leaders of the Church. Spiritual maturity must flourish in our homes.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
"Above all else, children need to know and feel they are loved, wanted, and appreciated. They need to be assured of that often. Obviously, this is a role parents should fill, and most often the mother can do it best." President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“Children need to know who they are in the eternal sense of their identity. They need to know that they have an eternal Heavenly Father on whom they can rely, to whom they can pray, and from whom they can receive guidance. They need to know from whence they came so that their lives will have meaning and purpose.” President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“Children must be taught to pray, to rely on the Lord for guidance, and to express appreciation for the blessings that are theirs. I recall kneeling at the bedsides of our young children, helping them with their prayers.
Children must be taught right from wrong. They can and must learn the commandments of God. They must be taught that it is wrong to steal, lie, cheat, or covet what others have.
Children must be taught to work at home. They should learn there that honest labor develops dignity and self-respect. They should learn the pleasure of work, of doing a job well.” President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“Families must spend more time together in work and recreation. Family home evenings should be scheduled once a week as a time for discussions of gospel principles, recreation, work projects, skits, songs around the piano, games, special refreshments, and family prayers. Like iron links in a chain, this practice will bind a family together, in love, pride, tradition, strength, and loyalty.” President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“Take heart and prepare the best you can, whatever your circumstances. Prepare to be a good husband and father; prepare to be a good and productive citizen; prepare to serve the Lord, whose priesthood you hold. Wherever you are, your Heavenly Father is mindful of you. You are not alone, and you have the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“Of course, as has been repeated by prophets over the years, “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes.” We have much to do to strengthen marriage in societies that increasingly trivialize its importance and purpose. We have much to do to teach our children “to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:28). Our task is nothing less than to help our children experience the mighty change of heart or conversion to the Lord spoken of so eloquently in the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 5:1–12; Alma 26). Together with the Relief Society, priesthood quorums can build up parents and marriages, and quorums can provide the blessings of the priesthood to single-parent families.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“Life eternal is to live in unity, in families, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Eternal life is only possible through the keys of the priesthood of God, which were restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Holding that eternal goal before the youth you lead is as great a gift as you could give them. You will do it primarily by example in your own family. Those you lead may not have a family in the Church, but I challenge you to help them feel and want the love of family on both sides of the veil.” President Henry B. Eyring, Help Them Aim High, October 2012 General Conference
“Our strengthened family cultures will be a protection for our children from “the fiery darts of the adversary” embedded in their peer culture, the entertainment and celebrity cultures, the credit and entitlement cultures, and the Internet and media cultures to which they are constantly exposed. Strong family cultures will help our children live in the world and not become “of the world” Elder L. Tom Perry, Become Goodly Parents, October 2012 General Conference
“Children need the emotional and personal strength that come from being raised by two parents who are united in their marriage and their goals.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Protect the Children, October 2012 General Conference
“The need for civility in society has never been more important. The foundation of kindness and civility begins in our homes. It is not surprising that our public discourse has declined in equal measure with the breakdown of the family. The family is the foundation for love and for maintaining spirituality. The family promotes an atmosphere where religious observance can flourish. There is indeed “beauty all around when there’s love at home.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
“Parents, the days are long past when regular, active participation in Church meetings and programs, though essential, can fulfill your sacred responsibility to teach your children to live moral, righteous lives and walk uprightly before the Lord.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
“It is essential that this be faithfully accomplished in homes which are places of refuge where kindness, forgiveness, truth, and righteousness prevail. Parents must have the courage to filter or monitor Internet access, television, movies, and music. Parents must have the courage to say no, defend truth, and bear powerful testimony. Your children need to know that you have faith in the Savior, love your Heavenly Father, and sustain the leaders of the Church. Spiritual maturity must flourish in our homes.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
"Above all else, children need to know and feel they are loved, wanted, and appreciated. They need to be assured of that often. Obviously, this is a role parents should fill, and most often the mother can do it best." President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“Children need to know who they are in the eternal sense of their identity. They need to know that they have an eternal Heavenly Father on whom they can rely, to whom they can pray, and from whom they can receive guidance. They need to know from whence they came so that their lives will have meaning and purpose.” President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“Children must be taught to pray, to rely on the Lord for guidance, and to express appreciation for the blessings that are theirs. I recall kneeling at the bedsides of our young children, helping them with their prayers.
Children must be taught right from wrong. They can and must learn the commandments of God. They must be taught that it is wrong to steal, lie, cheat, or covet what others have.
Children must be taught to work at home. They should learn there that honest labor develops dignity and self-respect. They should learn the pleasure of work, of doing a job well.” President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“Families must spend more time together in work and recreation. Family home evenings should be scheduled once a week as a time for discussions of gospel principles, recreation, work projects, skits, songs around the piano, games, special refreshments, and family prayers. Like iron links in a chain, this practice will bind a family together, in love, pride, tradition, strength, and loyalty.” President Ezra Taft Benson, Salvation—A Family Affair, July 1992
“As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“Take heart and prepare the best you can, whatever your circumstances. Prepare to be a good husband and father; prepare to be a good and productive citizen; prepare to serve the Lord, whose priesthood you hold. Wherever you are, your Heavenly Father is mindful of you. You are not alone, and you have the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“Of course, as has been repeated by prophets over the years, “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes.” We have much to do to strengthen marriage in societies that increasingly trivialize its importance and purpose. We have much to do to teach our children “to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:28). Our task is nothing less than to help our children experience the mighty change of heart or conversion to the Lord spoken of so eloquently in the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 5:1–12; Alma 26). Together with the Relief Society, priesthood quorums can build up parents and marriages, and quorums can provide the blessings of the priesthood to single-parent families.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
Follow this link to read about some family principles I learned in my family relations class last year!
http://madisenb-fam.blogspot.com/
http://madisenb-fam.blogspot.com/