In this month's newsletter, our Bishop challenged the ward to work on 7 items.
1. Read the Book of Mormon by the end of July
2. Take time individually and as a family to write your testimony in a copy of the Book of Mormon.
3. Parents are to hold a personal private interview with each child every month.
4. Parents are to do something every month that demonstrates your unflinching faith in Christ.
5. Married couples--with your spouse, consciously do something each month to unify and strengthen your marriage.
6. As a ward let us be self sufficient in finding and taking family names to the temple.
7. Let us fervently sing the songs of Zion in our worship services each week. (Interesting eh?)
I was particularly struck by items 4 and 5, and am including the rest of the information included in the newsletter regarding that challenge.
"Parents--do something every month that demonstrates your unflinching faith in Christ. What can you consciously do to show your faith? There are many things, but make an effort to demonstrate your faith. For example, tell a story in family home evening about an answer to your prayers; pay your tithes and discuss how you don't miss or need the money; be caught praying, reading the scriptures, or going to the temple; don't be found doing anything that would take away the the faith of your children. Don't be caught seeing an R-rated or immoral movie; don't be caught swearing; don't be caught lying. If you are found doing something wrong--demonstrate your faith by immediately admitting it, repent, say you are sorry and beg forgiveness. Let us each demonstrate our faith in Christ by doing something."
Kids learn so much through example that it makes perfect sense that we would consciously work provide a good example of what we believe for them to follow.
**Thoughts??**
Comment Window Tidbit: This was the first time I stayed home from church in so long I can't even remember!
13 comments:
Wow! I would love a copy of your ward newsletter! What a fabulous reminder of our need to be dedicated to the Savior and an unfaltering example to our children.
Thanks for the Sunday thought...
These are great goals and great thoughts. I love the ward newsletter idea and will be passing it along to my husband.
P.S. Hope you feel better soon!
Hey missy on this last paragraph. I was surprised by the language used....DON'T GET CAUGHT? That rubbed me wrong, because how authentic can you live a life if you are hiding? Maybe it should say "do not," nevertheless good thoughts and good things to achieve and a way to improve one self and family. This comes to mind whenever I hear things to this effect... “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.”
Excellent advice. I need to do this. I have a stong testimony but sometimes I think I don't share it with my kids enough or let them see me praying or reading my scriptures.
So glad you shared your Sunday thoughts even though sick!
Wow...very powerful. I love the thought of my kids "catching" me doing what it right.... Harder than it sounds! A great challenge. Thanks for sharing.
I think it is so great that you have a monthly newsletter! I would love having those birthday reminders. And the challenge that your ward was issued is very interesting -- I too was struck by #4 & 5. And 7.
Thanks for sharing the newsletter. I have a big testimony of spending time to build up your marriage. Not purposefully spending time together is what led Bob and me to the brink of divorce....we now make sure we spend some time together EVERY day!
I hope you are not sick since you didn't get to go to church!
This is really such a great newsletter! We have a ward one but nothing like this. I want to copy some of these.
"don't be found doing anything that would take away the the faith of your children"
makes you give a good look at myself!
4 and 5 are great. Your bishop is definitely inspired and puts a lot of time into tending his flock. I would like to do #4 for myself. Do I demonstrate unflinching faith on a regular basis? Yikes, I'm not so sure. Faith, yes. Unflinching faith? Man, I don't know if I could say that I do...
I think those reminders are definitely good ones even though they might pinch a little.
I don't know if I demonstrate unflinching faith--and I'm not sure how exactly to do that in a way someone would see/notice.
It's scary to think how we might unknowingly influence someone, either a stranger or friend, by our actions/words, especially with careless acts or negative words.
Definitely thoughts to chew on!
This definitely gives me something to think about. How often do I change what I'm doing because I realize that one of my roommates is watching. My behavior should be the same no matter who is in the room. I want to be able to get to the point of not letting myself use my time wastefully so that when I have children I will be able to set a good example.
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