Are we children of God?

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. 

I hope you know that each individual around the world including you and I are a child of God. This post is focuses on an October 1998 General Conference talk called "We Are Children of God" by Elder Russell M. Nelson. I would like to share with you some highlights what he mentions.

Elder Nelson mentions, “The Body:-
The marvel of our physical bodies is often overlooked. Who has not encountered feelings of low self-esteem because of physique or appearance?

Many people wish their bodies could be more to their liking. Some with naturally straight hair want it curly. Others with curly hair want it straight. Occasionally some ladies, believing that “gentlemen prefer blonds,” become “decided blonds.” Your body, whatever its natural gifts, is a magnificent creation of God. It is a tabernacle of flesh a temple for your spirit. A study of your body attests to its divine design.

Physical Limitations:- 
For reasons usually unknown, some people are born with physical limitations. Specific parts of the body may be abnormal. Regulatory systems may be out of balance. And all of our bodies are subject to disease and death. Nevertheless, the gift of a physical body is priceless. Without it, we cannot attain a fulness of joy. 

A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames. Great spiritual strength is often developed by those with physical challenges precisely because they are challenged. Such individuals are entitled to all the blessings that God has in store for His faithful and obedient children. 

Eventually the time will come when each ‘spirit and body shall be reunited again in perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame’ (Alma 11:43). Then, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become perfected in Him.

"You are a child of God. You are wonderfully made, dearly loved, and precious in his sight. Before God made you, he knew you. There is no one else like you."

Personal Behavior:-

How should these truths influence our personal behavior? We should gratefully acknowledge God as our Creator. Otherwise, we would be as guilty as goldfish swimming in a bowl, oblivious to the goodness of their provider. “Ye must give thanks unto God,” said the Lord, “for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.” And we can practice virtue and holiness before Him continually.

We will regard our body as a temple of our very own. We will not let it be desecrated or defaced in any way. We will control our diet and exercise for physical fitness.

Should not equal attention be paid to spiritual fitness? Just as physical strength requires exercise, so spiritual strength requires effort. Among the most important of spiritual exercises is prayer. It engenders harmony with God and a desire to keep His commandments. Prayer is a key to wisdom, virtue, and humility.

Scriptural warning is clear: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” In time, addictions enslave both the body and the spirit. Full repentance from addiction is best accomplished in this life, while we still have a mortal body to help us.

As children of God, we should not let anything enter the body that might defile it. To allow sensors of sight, touch, or hearing to supply the brain with unclean memories is a sacrilege. We will cherish our chastity and avoid “foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown [us] in destruction and perdition.”We will “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness” traits that edify the whole soul.

Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. May we always honor that heritage in every thought and deed."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time, here's the link to the talk.
www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/we-are-children-of-god

Stay Tuned until next time.

Take Time with Your Children} Part Two

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a October 1993 General Conference talk that I like and it is called, "Take Time for Your Children" by Elder Ben B. Banks. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Elder Banks mentioned, "Do things together - Vacations and recreational activities, also family work projects, give parents a good opportunity to teach the importance of developing a good work ethic. Doing things together gives a child and parent an opportunity to share their attention in a common objective."

Provide opportunities to learn how to be independent and responsible. Teach children how to make their own decisions, even if it involves their failing once in a while. We need to help children come to an understanding such as Lehi taught, “knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon."

"There is no need to be perfect to inspire others ..... Let people
get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections." - Robert Tew.

Discipline with love.

Service - In his great farewell address, King Benjamin taught, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." There are few rewards in life that bring greater feelings of satisfaction, joy, and peace than when one gives meaningful service to a fellow being standing in need.

The last and most important is to establish a “house of God.”

It is not easy for children to stay clean and pure in today’s world. There are times when it becomes hard for them to tell right from wrong. We need to teach our children, as Alma taught his son Corianton, “Wickedness never was happiness." Teach them to stay on the Lord’s side of the line. Hold family home evening regularly. Hold family prayer twice a day, if possible.

Teach them to love the scriptures and how to experience the sweet answer to individual prayer. Teach them to understand and recognize how the Holy Ghost communicates with us and how it comes as promptings, thoughts, impressions, and feelings. Teach the sacred significance of the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

That all who are parents might be successful in convincing their children that true joy and happiness come from living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that parents might find joy and fulfillment in their efforts and sacred role, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I would like to encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time and here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/take-time-for-your-children

Stay Tuned until next time.

Take Time with Your Children} Part One

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish.

I would like to ask the following questions and you may or may not answer those questions either now or your own time. What does it mean to take time with your children? Do you take some quality time with your children?

This post focuses on a October 1993 General Conference talk that I like and it is called, "Take Time for Your Children" by Elder Ben B. Banks. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Elder Banks mentioned, "We cannot overemphasize the importance of parenthood and the family. Some Latter-day Saint families are what we refer to as the “traditional family,” consisting of parents and children all together in a permanent relationship, with both mother and father sharing in the responsibility of caring for children. Others have witnessed the loss of one of the parents and become one of the many single-parent families.

I am one who grew up in a single-parent home. My father lost his life as a result of a construction accident when I was two years old, leaving my mother with seven children to raise. Even in single-parent families, the family continues on, for families are forever. Perhaps few human challenges are greater than that of being good parents.

Yes, even with the best intentions, conscientious, good parents sometimes experience feelings of despair, failure, and hurt when children do not make right choices and turn out the way we would like. Even in those circumstances it is so important for parents to love, pray for, and never give up hope for a son or daughter who may have strayed or brought disappointment.

Elder Howard W. Hunter stated: “The responsibilities of parenthood are of the greatest importance. The results of our efforts will have eternal consequences for us and the boys and girls we raise. Anyone who becomes a parent is under strict obligation to protect and love his children and assist them to return to their Heavenly Father”

Parents should be the master teachers of their children. The Church will assist parents in their teaching and training, but only assist. The Church cannot be a substitute for parental responsibility.

"In the end, kids won't remember that fancy toy or game you bought for them, they will remember the time you spent with them. " - Kevin Heath.

Elder Richard L. Evans said the home “is also the source of our personal lives, and in a sense the determiner of our everlasting lives. And so our plea is for parents to take the time it takes to draw near to the children God has given them. Let there be love at home. Let there be tenderness and teaching and caring for and not a shifting of responsibility onto others. God grant that we may never be too busy to do the things that matter most, for ‘Home makes the man’”

Effective communication - Parents should spend a great deal of time listening, not just telling. This listening should be done with an open mind and heart. When children feel they can talk freely about their feelings, problems, and successes, wonderful relationships develop between parents and children.

Enthrone love and unity - It is important to make your children aware of your love and feelings. This can be done by a hundred little acts and gestures, such as tucking children into bed at night after listening to their prayers, offering a comforting arm or ear even though he or she may not be hurt very badly.

Encourage children to support each other through attendance at ball games and concerts where a family member is participating."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving} Part Two

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is focuses on a New Era article from February 2011 and it is called, "Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving" by Elder M. Russell Ballard. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights that I loved while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new while you are reading this post.

To Mothers and Daughters,

Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman.

But because all women have within their divine nature both the inherent talent and the stewardship to mother, most of what I will say applies equally to grandmothers, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, leaders, and other mentors who sometimes fill the gaps for these significant mother-daughter relationships.

Young women, your mothers adore you. They see in you the promise of future generations. Everything you accomplish, every challenge you overcome brings them pure joy. And likewise your worries and heartaches are their worries and heartaches.

Daughters

It is, unfortunately, all too easy to illustrate the confusion and distortion of womanhood in contemporary society. Popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless, and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves.

Please look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother.

Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. Listen to her. But when it comes to matters of the heart and the things of the Lord, she has a wealth of knowledge. As you approach the time for marriage and young motherhood, she will be your greatest source of wisdom. No other person on earth loves you in the same way or is willing to sacrifice as much to encourage you and help you find happiness in this life and forever.

Love your mother, my young sisters. Respect her. Listen to her. Trust her. She has your best interests at heart. She cares about your eternal safety and happiness. So be kind to her. Be patient with her imperfections, for she has them. We all do.

"A daughter is a mother's greatest treasure."

Mothers

Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children. This is where their love and talents can have the greatest eternal significance. ..

Mothers, teach your daughters that a faithful daughter of God avoids the temptation to gossip or judge one another.

All youth will be more likely to make and keep covenants if they learn how to recognize the presence and the voice of the Spirit. Teach your daughters about things of the Spirit. Point them to the scriptures. Give them experiences that will help them cherish the blessing of priesthood power in their lives. Through keeping covenants they will learn to hear the voice of the Lord and receive personal revelation. God will truly hear and answer their prayers.

Conclusion

Three things you can do to make your relationship with your parents better than it is right now:

1. Trust your parents

2. Take an interest in their lives

3. Ask your parents for advice"

If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/new-era/2011/02/parents-and-children-listening-learning-and-loving

Stay Tuned until next time.

Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving} Part One

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is focuses on a New Era article from February 2011 and it is called, "Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving" by Elder M. Russell Ballard. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights that I loved while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new while you are reading this post.

Elder Ballard mentioned, "To Fathers and Sons, Young men, you are your father’s pride and joy. In you they see a promising future and their hope for a better, improved version of themselves. Your accomplishments are a joy to them. Your worries and problems are their worries and problems.

Sons

1. Trust your father.
He is not perfect, but he loves you and would never do anything he didn’t think was in your best interest. So talk to him. Share your thoughts and feelings, your dreams and your fears. The more he knows about your life, the better chance he has to understand your concerns and to give you good counsel. .. Your Dad wants more than anything for you to be happy and successful, ..

2. Take an interest in your father’s life.
Ask about his job, his interests, his goals. How did he decide to do the work that he does? What was he like when he was your age? How did he meet your mother? Think about what you don’t know about him and find out. Your love, admiration, and understanding will increase by what you learn.

3. Ask your father for advice.
Let’s be honest: he is probably going to give you his advice whether you ask for it or not, but it just works so much better when you ask! .. Nothing shows respect for another person as much as asking for his advice, because what you are really saying is, “I appreciate what you know and the experiences you have had, and I value your ideas and suggestions.”

"Children desperately need parents willing to listen to them." - M. Russell Ballard.

Fathers,

1. Listen to your sons, really listen to them.
Ask the right kind of questions, and listen to what your sons have to say each time you have a few minutes together. You need to know not to guess but to know what is going on in your son’s life. Your sons live in a very different world from the one in which you grew up. As they share with you what’s going on, you will have to listen very carefully and without being judgmental in order to understand what they are thinking and experiencing.

2. Pray with and for your sons.
Give them priesthood blessings. A son who is worried about a big exam or a special event will surely benefit from a father’s priesthood blessing. .. One-on-one prayer and the sharing of testimonies can draw you closer to each other as well as closer to the Lord.

3. Dare to have the “big talks” with your sons.
You know what I mean: talks about drugs and drinking, about the dangers of today’s media, the Internet, cyber technologies, and pornography and about priesthood worthiness, respect for girls, and moral cleanliness. While these should not be the only subjects you talk about with your sons, please don’t shy away from them. Your boys need your counsel, guidance, and input on these subjects.

I am especially concerned that we communicate openly and clearly with our sons about sexual matters. Your sons simply cannot avoid the blatant sexual imagery, messages, and enticements that are all around them. Be positive about how wonderful and beautiful physical intimacy can be when it happens within the bounds the Lord has set, including temple covenants and commitments of eternal marriage."

Stay Tuned until next time.