Happiness in Family LIfe

The family is important not only to society and to the Church but to our hope for eternal life.

(Preach my Gospel page 32)

It says in the proclamation to the World:
Happiness in Family Life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful  families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
I would like to talk about some of these principles that contributes to happiness in the family.

1. The first one is faith. Faith in our family begins with trusting our Heavenly Father and His promises.
 Elder Dallin H. Oaks says, "As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust."
Act with faith; don’t react with fear.

2. Second is prayer. D&C 10:5

 President Thomas S. Monson states, "
Perhaps there has never been a time when we had greater need to pray and to teach our family members to pray. Prayer is a defense against temptation. It is through earnest and heartfelt prayer that we can receive the needed blessings and the support required to make our way in this sometimes difficult and challenging journey we call mortality."As a people, aren’t we grateful that family prayer is not an out-of-date practice with us? There is no more beautiful sight in all this world than to see a family praying together. There is real meaning behind the oft-quoted ‘The family that prays together stays together.’

*I have a funny experience to share. So when I was 13 yrs old, my family were headed back home to California from our vacation. We were around Baker, CA when we had to fill up the gas tank. My parents didn't want to pay like $2.50 in Baker, so they kept on driving towards Barstow, CA. They were hoping we would make it to the next gas station. It didn't happen. The gas tank was empty. So here we are parked on the side of the freeway in the heat. So my parents decided to say a prayer. I remember my mom started to say the prayer and she busted up laughing just because of how bizarre the situation was. I just remember sitting there waiting to find out what we were going to do. And all I remember was just playing the Gameboy and hearing one of my sisters complain about how she was going to miss American Idol on tv. She didn't care that the gas tank was empty. So my dad and I started to walk along the side of the freeway towards the nearest gas station. With big semi-trucks zooming past by within 20 feet of me and dad. This whole time I was having a prayer in my heart that I wouldn't get hit. We walked about 50 yards before a man pulled over on the road and gave us a ride to the gas station. Just from this experience I know prayers are answered.

3. Third, love in the family. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf states: "
Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk."
Always tell your family you love them. Don't assume that they already know.
John 13:34-35
The greatest joys we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting others first before ourselves. That is what love is.

4. Fourth is compassion. Compassion means to feel love and mercy toward another person. It means to have sympathy and desire to relieve the suffering of others. It means to show kindness and tenderness toward another. The Savior has asked us to do the things which He has done, to bear one another’s burdens, to comfort those who need comfort, to mourn with those who mourn, to feed the hungry, visit the sick, to succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and to ‘teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom’
When life seems tough, home can be a place where we
find love, compassion, and warmth. Within our family, we feel reassured that someone understands and cares how we feel. And the compassion we witness and experience at home inspires us to be more compassionate to others.

5. The fifth one is doing activities together. Families that play together stay together, especially when their play is uplifting and wholesome. Family vacations, holidays, birthday celebrations, and other activities build strong bonds within the family.

*I know the saying, Families that play together, stay together is true. There is another family memorable moment I like to share. When I was about 6, my family decided to go camping for a mini vacation. I remember being really excited to go. We set up the tent and then it  started to rain the whole time we were there. My excitement just dropped, because I loved to explore. I didn't like being in the cold. So I remember playing Uno with the family majority of the time in the tent. And my mom kinda demanded my sisters and I, "You will enjoy our time here." This camping trip was one to remember. Even though it rained the whole time, spending time with the family made it a whole lot better.
Nothing is better than creating great memories with our own families. Those are the times where we can grow closer as a family unit.

Elder Robert Hales said,

Strengthening families is our sacred duty as parents, children, extended family members, leaders, teachers, and individual members of the Church. Make our homes a safe place where each family member feels love and a sense of belonging. Realize that each child has varying gifts and abilities; each is an individual requiring special love and care.
 He then listed some ways oh how we can strengthen our families like serve together, pray together, read the scriptures and having family home evening.
I believe the key to strengthening our families is having the Spirit of the Lord come into our homes. The goal of our families is to be on the strait and narrow path. 2 Nephi 31:18. How great are the blessings we may receive by being on the strait and narrow path.

The word, "Family" means a lot to me. Being part of a family is wonderful. It means you will love and be loved no matter what may happen in life. Families are always there for each other. They are there to lift you up with the hard times and share the joys you experience while here on earth. Families grow together and stay together. Families are forever.

A Family Is Like
© Nicole M. O'Neil
A Family is like a circle
the connection never ends
and even if at times it breaks
in time it always mends
a family is like the stars
somehow there always there
families are those who help
who support and always care
A Family is like a book
the endings never clear
but through the pages of the book
their love is always near
A family is many things
with endless words that show
who they are and what they do
and how they teach you so you know
but don’t be weary if it's broken
or if through time its been so worn
families are like that-
they're split up and always torn
but even if this happens
your family will always be
they help define just who you are
and will be apart of you eternally

TESTIMONY
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know The Book of Mormon is true. I know families are eternal and can be together forever. I know that Heavenly Father has prepared a way for us to return to live with Him again. I am grateful for my own family who have helped me to get to this point in life where I will become a  missionary. Nothing brings me greater joy than knowing that I will soon serve the people in San Diego and be an instrument in the Lord's work. I have a testimony that the Atonement is real. I know Christ lives. With Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father in our lives, there is no need to fear. I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and what he says comes directly from the Lord.