Family-Themed Conference

If there was one thing Aaron and I got out of General Conference this weekend, it is that nothing is more important than our roles as parents.

Here are some of the things we were instructed to do:

Fathers need to use the Priesthood power in their families.

Mothers need to increase their capacity to use personal revelation to bless their families.

Mothers need to set good examples for their daughters by how they dress and how they talk and how they serve.

Parents need to have frequent and meaningful communication with their kids. Ask them questions, listen to their answers.

Parents can learn from their kids, as well as teach them.

Children are more easily rescued when they are young. Don't wait until they are grown to teach them the gospel.

All of the following should be routine in our homes:

Family Prayer

Scripture Study

Family Home Evening

Reading books aloud

Singing songs together

Family meals

Teach more at home. Become better-prepared teachers at church, which will make you a better teacher at home.

Pre-prepared family home evenings (like the stuff you make in R.S. activities or purchase from the LDS bookstore) are not normally the way to do FHE. They don't allow for the spirit of revelation to direct you to what your family needs to learn and do.

Beware of immorality in media. Run from it. It is getting much worse.

Separate yourself from people, materials and circumstances that can harm you.

Go to the temple as often as circumstances allow.

Love others as ourselves, don't confuse the sin with the sinner.

True love begets action.

Ask ourselves often, "What would the Lord, Jesus Christ, have me do?"

Follow the example of the Savior. It is appropriate to disagree with others, but not to be disagreeable. How we disagree is a measure of who we are.

Without pain, there could not be joy.

Fix the errors and merge the duplicates in your family history online.

A mother's influence is far-reaching.

Quit complaining.

Serve others.

Forgive others.

Standards of morality are eternal and have not changed.

Cultivate with the Holy Spirit a relationship of listening.

Teach the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to our children.

Memorize scriptures with children.

There are a lot of areas here where we are doing things right in our family. There are also areas where we need to improve. But, this conference didn't leave me feeling guilty. It left me feeling motivated. We are doing enough the right way that I just feel like I've been gently reminded of the other things I should be working on. I'm so grateful for prophets!