The Savior Told Us to Have Family Prayer

"The Savior told us, 'Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed' (3 Nephi 18:21). In our day, the Church urges us to have family prayer every night and every morning. . . ."Family prayer is a powerful and sustaining influence."

James E. Faust, "The Lifeline of Prayer," Ensign, May 2002, 60–61

Topics: Prayer

5 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

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Family Divisions Should Not Detract from Loving One Another

“When family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions. We do all that we can to avoid impairing loving relationships, but sometimes it happens after all we can do.“In the midst of such stress, we must endure the reality that the straying of our loved ones will detract from our happiness, but it should not detract from our love for one another or our patient efforts to be united in understanding God’s love and God’s laws.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 29

Topics: Family, Obedience

22 Jan 2010 | 1:00 am

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Families Are Strengthened through Gospel Activities

“One example of great importance for humanity is strengthening our own families. The principle of family home evening was given to us in 1915. President McKay reminded parents again in 1964 that ‘no other success can compensate for failure in the home’ (Quoted from J. E. McCulloch, Home: The Savior of Civilization (1924), 42; in Conference Report, Apr. 1964, 5). In 1995 the prophets of our day called upon all the world to strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society (see “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Heeding the Voice of the Prophets,” Liahona, July 2008, 5

Topics: Example, Family

7 Sep 2009 | 2:00 am

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Parents Need to Truly Listen to Children

“Parents need to give children choices and should be prepared to appropriately adjust some rules, thus preparing children for real-world situations (see “Three Essential Parenting Principles,” 59). To do this, parents must listen—really listen—to what their children are saying. They must know what is important to each child. I learned this lesson years ago from one of our daughters. She was only four or five at the time. She came into the room, all excited. I was reading the newspaper, and she had something very much on her mind that was important to her. And I was responding, ‘Yes, uh-huh, uh-huh.’ All of a sudden the newspaper came crashing down with her two little hands. She grabbed my face between her hands so that she could look me right in the eye. This was a little four- or five-year-old teaching her father a great lesson. ‘Daddy, you’re not listening to me.’ And she was right.”

M. Russell Ballard, “The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood,” Ensign, Mar. 2006, 32

Topics: Parenthood

27 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

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The Joyful Relationships of Fathers and Sons

“There is no other relationship quite like that which can and should exist between a boy and his dad. It can be one of the most nurturing, joyful relationships in life, one that can have a profound impact on who boys become and also on who dads become.”

M. Russell Ballard, “Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 47

Topics: Fatherhood, Melchizedek Priesthood

21 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am