Faith, Devotion and Gratitude

 This talk was given in Hallmark Ward, and in Northpark (Young Single Adult) Ward today. I did not give identical talks. This is the text for the Hallmark Ward. By assignment, our topic was Faith, Devotion and Gratitude, but my primary focus was gratitude.

I share it with gratitude for the opportunity and the responsibility to speak.

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My dear brothers and sisters, I am thankful to be here today; thankful to worship with you and to feel of your spirit.

I bring you love and greetings from President Garvin and his Counselors. They are mindful of you and your concerns, and they pray for you.

As you know, I am here by assignment from President Garvin today, and I pray that the Spirit will be with each of us as I speak, to touch our hearts and lift our spirits. And I hope that what I say and what the Spirit says to each of you will be of benefit to all of us.

I love Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful time of year. The weather usually cools down. We get a few days off from school. I love the food, the football games, and of course, the opportunity to be with family. It all comes together for a great holiday. And the constant reminders to be thankful are a great lead-in to Christmas season.

Mr. Dooley, who was a print humorist in the 1890’s, made this comment about Thanksgiving: “‘twas founded by the Puritans to give thanks for being preserved from the Indians, and we keep it today to give thanks that we are preserved from the Puritans.”

Elder Talmage told us: “Gratitude is an ennobling quality in man; and he in whose soul it has no place is [defective] … Gratitude is a twin sister to humility; pride is a foe to both. The [individual] who has come into close communion with God cannot fail to be thankful.”

In my readings of the Book of Mormon, it strikes me frequently that the first thing that Lehi and his righteous descendants did after completing a journey was to build an altar and offer thanks unto the Lord.

Under the Law of Moses, the thank offering is equated with the peace offering, which was based on the supposition that the individual offering the sacrifice was at peace with God. So thankfulness and peace with God tie in very closely with each other, and build upon each other.

Gratitude will increase our devotion to God, which strengthens our faith and leads to increased gratitude, in a wonderful cycle.

Moroni was also a great example of this. He was described as “a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people”.[1]

A story is told:

“Two little children were put early to bed on a winter’s night, for the fire had gone out, and the cold was pouring in at the many cracks of their frail shanty.

“The mother strove to eke out the scantiness of the bed-covering by placing clean boards over the children. A pair of bright eyes shone out from under a board, and just before it was hushed in slumber, a sweet voice said, “Mother, how nice this is! How I pity the poor people who don’t have any boards to cover their children with this cold night.”[2]

We would do well to ask ourselves, am I like these children? Or is my attitude more like: “Mom! Charlotte’s board is bigger than mine!” Or “Hey! I’m going to get slivers!” This little girl was able to look at everything from the perspective of what she had—not what she didn’t have. And she was concerned about those who didn’t have as much as she did rather than upset and crabby because some had so much more than she did. The mother gave what she could in love to her children.

Why is it hard for us be grateful in such a situation? Do you have a hard time being grateful for simple gifts from the heart? Most of us have been guilty at one time or another focusing on what we don’t have, instead of being grateful for what we do have.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”.[3]

Godliness with contentment. What does that mean? We might think of it as tranquil happiness: the peace and joy that come from being content instead of envious. Gratitude to the Lord is an important step on the path to true discipleship.

The Lord spoke to us in Section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants: “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments”.[4]

Does that seem harsh to you? Let’s contrast that with additional instruction from the Doctrine and Covenants:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

And then the next verse, which I want to emphasize:

“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more”.[5]

Did you catch the Lord’s promises to you? The kingdom and the attendant blessings, and the riches of eternity are promised to us. If we are thankful, we will be made glorious! We truly do not, and perhaps cannot understand what great blessings Heavenly Father has prepared for us.

It is important for us to understand the doctrine of gratitude. I believe that there are three main concepts in this doctrine.

The Doctrine of Gratitude

1.     Everything is the Lord’s

The Psalmist wrote: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof…”[6]

Do we sometimes have an unrighteous sense of ownership of things that aren’t really ours? If you have received your endowments, you will understand where that comes from.

We should give thanks to the giver of our gifts. Think of the last time you gave a gift that wasn’t appreciated. How did it make you feel?

If we use the gifts he has given us without a thankful heart, or fail to recognize the gift or the giver, the Father’s wrath will be kindled, as he said to Joseph Smith.

King Benjamin reminded us:

“I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another …

 “And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

“And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

“And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you”.[7]

Please note that Benjamin is absolutely not telling us that we are nothing, so we shouldn’t bother trying. He is simply providing perspective on where our gifts come from, which should make us humbly grateful.

2.    We should thank the Lord in all things.

There are many scientific studies that demonstrate that gratitude promotes happiness and well-being.

President Monson spoke frequently of gratitude. He taught us that “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love”.[8]

So how do we show our gratitude to Heavenly Father?

“There are chances for work all around just now, opportunities right in our way; do not let them pass by, saying sometime I’ll try, but go and do something today”.[9] We also sing “because I have been given much, I too must give”.[10]

Giving is a wonderful way to develop gratitude. And the amazing thing about giving is that it doesn’t have to cost us anything. A gift freely given each week in this chapel is the gift of a handshake and a smile. It costs nothing, but who can count the value of a smile to the recipient?

Our thankfulness is shown, not only through our words, but also through our actions, for “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only the service of your God”.[11]

3.    Count Your Blessings

Have you noticed that we live in a world where most people are prone to count their trials? As followers of Jesus Christ, we should count our blessings. Especially in times of adversity.

Paul advised the Thessalonians: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.[12]

And Ammon said: “and now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?”[13]

So, can you tell what great blessings have been bestowed upon you?

If you have a hard time answering that one, I would suggest that you change your focus. Look outward instead of looking inward. Or perhaps you are aware of so many blessings that you don’t know where to begin!

Remember the words of the hymn:

“Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end”.[14]

How do we do that?

1.     Look for your blessings.

Be aware. Look around. Look for the beauty in our world.

We can even feel thankful for ordinary things, for the small blessings we encounter each day. As I was preparing this talk yesterday, I had my window open and could hear the sparrows and finches singing in our yard, the scrub jays squawking, and the hummingbirds chattering at each other. I love these birds that visit our feeders.

I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who created these amazing creatures.

Take time to reflect. The concept of a gratitude journal may seem trite to some of you, but it is a great reminder of the blessings each of us enjoys. And as a teacher, I know that writing by hand enhances our memory far more than typing.

President Eyring spoke of his ongoing experience of keeping a gratitude journal. Each evening before he wrote, he would ponder the question

“Before I would write, I would ponder this question. Have I seen the Hand of God reaching out to touch us?

“As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done”.[15]

Give thanks for those blessings you encounter along the way.

2.    Express gratitude.

This is a big one. Expressions of gratitude are like ripples in water: they spread outward and touch things that are far away, and they often bounce back to touch us from multiple directions.

Gratitude grows as it is expressed. By expressing our gratitude to others for their help and kindness, we give them the joy of being appreciated and we increase our own ability to recognize our blessings.

Both verbal and written expressions are important. Your grandmother might expect a written thank you note for gifts; many thank yous can be in person and spontaneous. Regardless of the medium used to convey it, it should come from the heart.

3.    Thoughtful prayer

Prayer will awaken a grateful heart. Our personal prayers provide us with sacred time to ponder our blessings and express gratitude to Heavenly Father.

I would suggest that we occasionally just fast and pray with gratitude, instead of fasting and praying for a particular blessing or outcome. How many of you have done that? I have experienced rich blessings from these fasts.

As we pray in gratitude for the gifts Heavenly Father has given us, let us be mindful of his greatest gift to us: the gift of His Beloved Son, who atoned for our sins through the shedding of his precious blood. The sacrament should be a time of deep gratitude for this incomparable blessing.

Because I am a teacher, I would like to give you some homework. Perhaps the Bishopric can follow up on this. Think again of Ammon’s question: “what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?” Your homework is to consider this question. As you ponder it, think of five blessings, large or small, that you have enjoyed during the past week. Write them down, along with the giver of the blessing. Give sincere thanks to the person or persons who provided each blessing. Express your gratitude to Heavenly Father for all those blessings.

Primary children, you can do this, too. Ask your dad or mom for help if you need it.

You don’t have to limit your list. If you have a grateful heart, you will see that even a greeting of friendship as you entered the chapel this afternoon, a smile or a hug, is a great blessing.

I promise that if you do this, with a thankful heart, that you will feel a warmth and happiness that you will want to keep with you. The Father will bless you with an increased measure of his love.

I bear you my witness that God lives, He is our loving Heavenly Father, and we should be eternally grateful for the multitude of gifts he has given us.

Jesus Christ is our Savior. He has atoned for our sins. Have we accepted this amazing gift?

This is the true Church of Jesus Christ, restored in the latter days to bless the lives of all God’s children. We are led by a living prophet, Russell M. Nelson, who speaks with God and receives revelation to guide us as we strive to become worthy to receive the great blessings Heavenly Father has offered us.

I pray that we will begin and end each day with a grateful prayer and a thankful heart, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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[1] The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 48:12.

[2] Edmunds, Mary Ellen; Godliness with Contentment; BYU Speeches, Nov. 1995.

[3] KJV, 1 Timothy 6:6.

[4] Doctrine and Covenants 59:21.

[5] Doctrine and Covenants 78:19.

[6] KJV, Psalm 24:1.

[7] The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Mosiah 2:20, 23-25.

[8] Monson, Thomas S.; The Divine Gift of Gratitude; October 2010 General Conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-divine-gift-of-gratitude?lang=eng

[9] Thompson, WL; Have I Done Any Good?; Hymns, #223.

[10] Crowell, GN; Because I Have Been Given Much; Hymns, #219.

[11] The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ, Mosiah 2:17.

[12] KJV, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

[13] The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 26:2.

[14] Oatman, ED; Count Your Blessings; Hymns, #241.

[15] Eyring, Henry B.: O Remember, Remember; October 2007 General Conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng

Strengthening Marriage, Home and Family

This talk was given on August 19, 2018 in the Highlands Ward in San Bernardino, California. As a member of the Stake High Council, it was my privilege to prepare and deliver this message.
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Good morning, brothers and sisters, it is a privilege to be with today, to worship with you and to feel of your spirit. I am grateful for the long friendships that I have enjoyed with many of you.
I pray that Spirit will be with us this morning, that we all may be strengthened by this important message.
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We have heard much about the importance of families over the last few years. I hope you are not tired of hearing it. The only thing more important in our Heavenly Father’s plan is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We continue to study the Book of Mormon individually and as families. I love the Book of Mormon. I love to study it and to feel the spirit that comes from this great book of scripture. I testify to you that it is the word of God, given to us for our day.

The Book of Mormon begins with a family. Lehi’s family was probably an ordinary family in Jerusalem, perhaps wealthier than most. It becomes clear that even though dad was a prophet, they were not a perfect family. They had some serious struggles. Indeed, we may well call them a dysfunctional family.

In the Book of First Nephi, we learn that Lehi taught his family the gospel. Imagine what those family home evenings were like! He taught his children to work. They participated in wholesome recreational activities together: they went hiking, camping, and hunting. They even went on a cruise together, although they had to build the boat first.

Lehi remained true to gospel teachings, in spite of death threats from outside and inside the family. He did murmur against the Lord during the broken bow incidents but responded positively to Nephi’s chastisements, and repented.

We learn a great lesson in 1 Nephi Chapter 5, when Sariah criticized Lehi, and he responded “yes, dear, I know I’m a visionary man.” Brethren, that is a man to follow.

Despite all the struggles, Lehi kept his family together. We read that he exhorted them “with all the feeling of a tender parent.”[1] That phrase touches me deeply. His concern for both his wayward children and his obedient children lasted until his dying breath.

Why is this important to us?

First, it reminds us that the Book of Mormon was written for our day, with many lessons that we can learn and apply.

Second, through the Book of Mormon narratives, we can learn the doctrine of the family.

President Kimball spoke of the family in the opening address of October 1980 General Conference. He told us
“We have always understood that the foundations of the family, as an eternal unit, were laid even before this earth was created!
 “Therefore, whenever anything so basic as the eternal family is imperiled, we have a solemn obligation to speak out, lest there be critical damage to the family institution by those who seem to be deliberately destructive of it.”[2]

Remember, this was in 1980!

He continued,
“The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us.”
“There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence.
“We of all people, brothers and sisters, should not be taken in by the specious arguments that the family unit is somehow tied to a particular phase of development a mortal society is going through. We are free to resist those moves which downplay the significance of the family ... We know the family to be eternal. …
 “The decline in many of our families is occurring at a time when the nations of the world are moving into some of the most difficult times known.
“Our political institutions … cannot rescue us if our basic institution, the family, is not intact. Peace treaties cannot save us when there is hostility instead of love in the home. … Law enforcement cannot safeguard us if too many people are unwilling to discipline themselves or be disciplined.”[3]

Brothers and sisters, these are the words of a prophet of God, nearly 38 years ago.

How many of you have flown somewhere and heard the pilot warn of approaching turbulence and ask you to fasten your seatbelts? When you hear this announcement, you pay attention. The prophets have been asking us to fasten our spiritual seatbelts for as long as there have been prophets. And there is certainly turbulence today. These warnings have increased in frequency and in fervency in the last few years.

How can we effectively defend and protect our families and our homes?

First, we must understand what the doctrine of the family is, and what it is based on. We need to recognize the threats to the family, to marriage, and to the home so we know what we are fighting against and can prepare ourselves. And we need to remember our covenants and be true to them.

The doctrine of the family teaches us that the family is the basic unit for mankind here and in the eternities. We are children of a loving Heavenly Father who is a living example of this eternal law.

The Creation provided a place where families could live. God created a man and a woman who were the two essential halves of a family. And it was a part of his plan that Adam and Eve be sealed and form an eternal family themselves.

The Fall provided a way for the family to grow. Adam and Eve chose to have a mortal experience and to honor their covenant to multiply and replenish the earth. And what a privilege it is to be descended from these amazing people!

The Atonement allows for the family to be sealed together for eternity. The plan of happiness, or the plan of salvation is centered in the family.

When we speak of qualifying for eternal life, it means qualifying for the blessings of eternal families. These blessings are available to all who are faithful, even if they have not had the opportunity to enjoy these blessings in this life.

This privilege was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, as described in the Doctrine & Covenants:
“Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
“If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.”[4]

These verses speak of temple blessings—the ordinances and covenants without which “the whole earth would be utterly wasted.” I find it significant that these verses are the only verses which can be found in each of the four Standard Works. That gives us a sense of the importance of this message.

Through the restoration of priesthood keys, we may receive the promises of eternal life in family units through our temple covenants.

In these temple covenants, we are also promised the blessings of the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What are these blessings?

In Abraham, Chapter 1, Abraham tells us that he sought “the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer; … to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, … and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.”[5]

These blessings come only to those who have a temple sealing and marriage. A man cannot become a “father or many nations” without being sealed to his wife. And he could not hold the right belonging to the fathers without a wife who held the right belonging to the mothers.

These covenant blessings are all contingent upon our righteousness.

Finally, we need to understand that forming families and bearing and rearing children is a faith-based work. I’m not sure that this principle is evident to many of our young people. Or perhaps they are uncertain of their own faith.

I know that in our marriage, we acted in faith in our decision to marry, and in our decision to have children. We trusted in the Lord’s promises as we moved forward and have been richly blessed already.

This is the doctrine of the family. But how do we build on that foundation? It is too easy to use the standard answers, to say, “follow the Spirit, keep the commandments, love one another, pray, study the scriptures and hold family home evening.” It is much more difficult to do it. And there is more to it than that.

I would like to share some practical ideas on strengthening home, family and marriage.

As parents, we should live and teach with so much clarity that our teachings cut through the noise and interference that the youth are hearing from the world and so that it will pierce their hearts and touch them. We need to walk the talk and avoid sending mixed messages. Our youth will pick up on that very quickly. As parents, our teaching should be in harmony with the gospel, and definitely in harmony with each other.

Julie B. Beck counseled us to “live in your home so that you’re brilliant in the basics, so that you’re intentional about your roles and responsibilities in the family. Think in terms of precision, not perfection.”[6]

In other words, it doesn’t matter so much if our efforts are less than perfect, as long as we are consistent in having family prayers, family home evening, family scripture study, family singing and other activities that build faith. Through that consistency our children and grandchildren will gain a firm foundation. If we treat these events as unimportant, that message will be heard loud and clear. And we should do our best to make it enjoyable, leading “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;”[7] not by force or intimidation.

And don’t forget to have fun as a family. That must not be overlooked.

Of course, we all have our agency. And some of our children may choose not to follow us. Lehi dealt with that. Even Heavenly Father lost a third of his children. I would hesitate to call him a failure. But if we remain true and faithful to our covenants, we have a promise, which was stated so beautifully by Elder Orson F. Whitney:
“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”[8]

This is beautiful doctrine, and the Spirit has testified to me that this is true.

Elder Robert D. Hales told us that “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.”[9]

We have been counseled to make our homes a safe place where each family member feels love and a sense of belonging. Our homes should be sanctuaries from the world.

Satan is raging in the world, but we should not allow him to enter into our homes. There should be no place for him there.

President Nelson encouraged Church members to hang certain reminders of the plan of salvation in their home: “I invite the members of the Church to place on the walls of their homes pictures of their family, pictures of their grandparents, pictures as a couple, pictures of their children, and pictures of the temple. These all symbolize God’s eternal plan. It’s all about the family.”[10]

We also need to invest time in our most important relationships: our spouse, children, and grandchildren. I would suggest that the world’s concept of “quality time” is not in keeping with the gospel—it is an excuse. Scheduling an occasional hour is not adequate for eternal relationships. Sufficient time and effort should be given to strengthening our relationships with family members: to teaching the gospel, helping children and grandchildren set goals and lift their sights, to providing encouragement, and to developing common interests.

In my family, my mom had us takes turns doing Sunday dinner dishes with her. It was many years later that I learned that this was her chance to visit with us one on one on a regular basis. And we also learned to do some basic housework. When her grandchildren were old enough, she was patient enough to let them help with baking, and bonds were created.

I recall my mom taking us with her as she did her visiting teaching assignments during the summer. My dad was my home teaching companion throughout my youth, and when he was a Stake Missionary, I frequently accompanied him on visits. My parents taught me to serve others, and to magnify even the challenging church callings.

Heidi spends time talking with our grandchildren who can converse and sings and plays with the grandchildren who aren’t yet conversational. She recently asked our oldest grandson, who is eight, what his favorite thing was to do. He responded, “be a family.” What a mature and gratifying answer!

It is also important to help our children and grandchildren to value themselves for who they are. If they see themselves as children of God, they will be more accepting of others, both in and out of the church. We should help them to understand and respect honorable manhood and womanhood, as well as the God-given expectations connected to each role.

We should ask ourselves, what is the next ordinance? For ourselves, our children, or our grandchildren. It may be baptism, priesthood ordination, or temple ordinances. 
For some the next ordinance needed might be the sacrament. As family members, we can help other family members plan and prepare as they progress on the pathway to eternal life, as Elder Hales advised us.

And that, perhaps, is the most important role we have as family members, to strive together to stay on the path that leads to eternal life.

The Ward Motto of the Crestline Ward is; “It’s all about a Christ-centered family.” These are good words to live by whether we adopt it as a personal motto or goal, or simply recognize its truth.

Strengthening family, home and marriage in the public arena goes hand in hand with protecting our religious freedoms. The scriptures and the prophets have taught that it is through personal righteousness that we will preserve our religious freedoms. 

Through our personal righteousness, we will not only strengthen our own families, but also strengthen the family in society. We need to let our lights shine.

It is not necessary for us to be politically active. Our own righteous acts and other service will serve as the leaven in our society and help to preserve the institutions that we value.

I testify that the family is the foundational unit of Heavenly Father’s kingdom. Heavenly Father created the family in order for us to be happy, both now and in the eternities to come. If we are true to the covenants we have made, we will obtain all the blessings that Heavenly Father has promised to us through obedience to his plan. 
He loves us and wants us to return to him.

I pray that we will be true and faithful in living these important doctrines.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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[1] The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ; 1 Nephi 8:37.
[2] Kimball, SW; Families Can Be Eternal; October 1980 General Conference, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/10/families-can-be-eternal?lang=eng
[3] Ibid.
[4] Doctrine & Covenants 2:1-3.
[5] Pearl of Great Price; Abraham 1:2.
[6] Beck, JB; Teaching the Doctrine of the Family; Ensign, March 2011; https://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/03/teaching-the-doctrine-of-the-family?lang=eng
[7] Doctrine & Covenants 121:41. See also verses following.
[8] In Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110. See also Faust, JE; Dear Are the Sheep that Have Wandered; April 2003 General Conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/04/dear-are-the-sheep-that-have-wandered?lang=eng
[9] Hales, RD; Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty; April 1999 General Conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/strengthening-families-our-sacred-duty?lang=eng
[10] LDS Living; http://www.ldsliving.com/President-Nelson-Invites-Latter-day-Saints-to-Hang-5-Things-on-the-Walls-of-Their-Homes/s/88680