Some of our most important choices concern family activities. Many breadwinners worry that their occupations leave too little time for their families. There is no easy formula for that contest of priorities. However, I have never known of a man who looked back on his working life and said, I just didnt spend enough time with my job.
In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best. A friend took his young family on a series of summer vacation trips, including visits to memorable historic sites. At the end of the summer he asked his teenage son which of these good summer activities he enjoyed most. The father learned from the reply, and so did those he told of it. The thing I liked best this summer, the boy replied, was the night you and I laid on the lawn and looked at the stars and talked. Super family activities may be good for children, but they are not always better than one-on-one time with a loving parent.
The amount of children-and-parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports, and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated. Otherwise, children will be overscheduled, and parents will be frazzled and frustrated. Parents should act to preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, and the other precious togetherness and individual one-on-one time that binds a family together and fixes childrens values on things of eternal worth. Parents should teach gospel priorities through what they do with their children.
Family experts have warned against what they call the overscheduling of children. In the last generation children are far busier and families spend far less time together. Among many measures of this disturbing trend are the reports that structured sports time has doubled, but childrens free time has declined by 12 hours per week, and unstructured outdoor activities have fallen by 50 percent.2
The number of those who report that their whole family usually eats dinner together has declined 33 percent. This is most concerning because the time a family spends together eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of childrens academic achievement and psychological adjustment.3 Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against childrens smoking, drinking, or using drugs.4 There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you.
President Gordon B. Hinckley has pleaded that we work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.
He continued: I ask you men, particularly, to pause and take stock of yourselves as husbands and fathers and heads of households. Pray for guidance, for help, for direction, and then follow the whisperings of the Spirit to guide you in the most serious of all responsibilities, for the consequences of your leadership in your home will be eternal and everlasting.5
The First Presidency has called on parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place in this God-given responsibility. The First Presidency has declared that however worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.
Author: MormonsLoveFamilies
Keywords: Families Mormon Christian Love LDS Eternity Jesus Christ Savior Happiness Prayer
Added: November 19, 2008
T. C. Christensen, director of Praise to the Man and Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, brings you this new heart-warming film about the life of our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.
This inspiring story dramatically highlights many of President Hinckley's character building moments as his mother teaches him to be gracious leader, to speak kind words, and to cherish great literature. Later as he experiences the fear and frustration of a mission, his father teaches him a pivotal lesson that helps him endure the trials of life.
Gordon and Marjorie's tender love story shows how they nourished their love with kindness and humor while feeling the demands of work and church.
Whether in the railroad yard, behind a typewriter, or hand-in-hand with Marjorie, the love of his life, Gordon B. Hinckley grew to become a giant among men.
Author: LivingScriptures
Keywords: Hinckley LDS Film Praise to the Man Documentary Prophet Living Scriptures Excel Entertainment Deseret Book
Added: November 19, 2008
The new trailer for the movie about the life of Gordon B. Hinckley. Available on DVD November 25th at DeseretBook.com!
Author: freepfroman
Keywords: mormon prophet
Added: November 19, 2008
[http://www.JohnDeighton.com] Gordon B Hinckley gave this talk Oct 1998.
Full Transcript:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-22-20,00.html
"I wish to speak to you about temporal matters.
As a backdrop for what I wish to say, I read to you a few verses from the 41st chapter of Genesis...."
"Now, brethren, I want to make it very clear that I am not prophesying, that I am not predicting years of famine in the future. But I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order."
"There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed."
Exactly 7 years later, another warning. Again Pharaohs dream he reiterated.
Oct 2005
"If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear"
Full transcipt:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-559-20,00.html
"If anyone has any doubt concerning the terrible things that can and will afflict mankind, let him read the 24th chapter of Matthew. (Matthew 24:68, 19, 2122)."
"In the Book of Mormon we read of unimaginable destruction in the Western Hemisphere at the time of the Savior's death in Jerusalem. (3 Nephi 8:510, 1214)."
"And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people" (D&C 88:8991).
"Someone has said it was not raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains came."
"The Lord has said, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear " (D&C 38:30)."
"I am saying nothing that has not been said for a very long time. Let us never lose sight of the dream of Pharaoh concerning the fat cattle and the lean, the full ears of corn, and the blasted ears; the meaning of which was interpreted by Joseph to indicate years of plenty and years of scarcity (see Genesis 41:136)."
I wonder where the state of the world will be 7 years after this warning - 2012?
Author: johnlds1965
Keywords: gordon hinckley lds prophetic prophet credit crunch mormon warning voice prophecy
Added: November 19, 2008
Hinckley plays fetch, sort of.
Author: nadine82marie
Keywords: dog
Added: November 15, 2008
Hinckley wants to go outside.
Author: nadine82marie
Keywords: dog
Added: November 15, 2008
Another clip from the DVD Gordon B. Hinckley - A Giant Among Men. This is an experience he had where he first gained a testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith
Author: deseretbooktv
Keywords: mormon lds deseretbook gordon b. hinckley
Added: November 13, 2008
This is a clip from the new DVD "Gordon B. Hinckley: A Giant Among Men. It is a combination from the stories and experiences of His life coupled with music.
Author: deseretbooktv
Keywords: Hinckley lds mormon deseretbook
Added: November 13, 2008
Hinckley United Players enjoying some serious "Laugh Out Loud Fun!" with Dancing Bodies. Call us now on 0844 8844 510 or visit our website at www.dancingbodies.co.uk
Author: dancingbodiesuk
Keywords: Hinckley United Dancing Bodies
Added: November 4, 2008
well known 'moaning' hinckley fan give's his comments on the 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood on 1st November 2008. He also adds his comments on the Blackpool lights as they drive down the golden mile on the way back from Fleetwood.
Author: DJhinckley
Keywords: Hinckley United Fleetwood Town
Added: November 2, 2008
Hinckley Team 1 completing a Tyrolean Traverse activity duringtheir Team Building Residential in Derbyshire. Delivered by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Interested in joining a team? Call 0116 2872241 or visit www.lfrs-team.org
Author: tone322
Keywords: lfrs team princes trust tyrolean traverse
Added: October 31, 2008
A quick insight into the exciting new world of dodgeball that has found it's self in Hinckley! Get in touch if you wanna get involved
hinckleydodgeballleague@hotmail.com
Author: tommienufc
Keywords: hinckley dodgeball league dodge ball
Added: October 30, 2008
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