Sunday Lesson, June 18th

Home—The Basis of a Righteous Life

President Hinckley believed strongly that “the strength of any nation is rooted within the walls of its homes”. He taught us many principles to understand the importance of family relationships and to learn how to strengthen family members and teach in our homes.

Our family relationships are the most important relationships we have, and we have the responsibility to help our children learn the principles of the Gospel. We must do so by the Spirit; being gentle, kind, and loving as we teach them to understand the Gospel. When we teach in this way, President Hinckley said that there will be love and peace in our homes, and warm relationships will develop.
We must also remember that children are gifts from God and treat them accordingly. President Hinckley encouraged us to control our anger when speaking with children and to be free with compliments, while limiting criticism. Love is the best way to teach our children.
Family prayer is very important. Our children will need to learn that they can rely on their parents when they need help, and also learn that they also will need the help of the Lord. Teaching children to pray through family prayer is essential.

Family home evening is also very important. President Hinckley urged everyone to make the effort to hold it. He said, “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.”

President Hinckley emphasized that it is far easier to direct a child when they are young than trying to change them when they are older. He compared it to the importance of staking a tree so it will grow straight instead of having to severely prune it to help it be straight after it is established. Sometimes, even if a child is brought up properly they still may rebel against Gospel teachings. President Hinckley urged us to never give up, it is never too late!

We closed with President Hinckley’s wise counsel. “Raising a family may not be easy. It may be fraught with disappointment and challenge. It will require courage and patience…Love can make the difference—love generously given in childhood and reaching through the awkward years of youth will do what money lavished on children will never do.

“These, with prayers, will accomplish wonders. You cannot expect to do it alone. You need heaven’s help in raising heaven’s child—your child, who is also the child of his or her Heavenly Father.”