Great advice to young and old.

5. Tenderness Over Temper

In 40-plus weeks of family home evenings, we experienced the full gamut of patience and frustration, joy and anger. We always learned lessons better and felt a greater sense of love when we were gentle and tender rather than impatient and grumpy. In the April 2007 general conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about how we ought to use our tongues for good. He said, “We must be so careful in speaking to a child. What we say or don’t say, how we say it and when is so very, very important in shaping a child’s view of himself or herself. But it is even more important in shaping that child’s faith in us and their faith in God. Be constructive in your comments to a child—always.”2

The world is not likely to teach our children about God’s plan for families or to have faith in Jesus Christ. Nor can we expect the few hours of instruction received at church on Sundays to provide us with deep, abiding faith. Instruction must happen at home to be truly embedded in our hearts.

As the end of Joshua’s life was approaching, he called all Israel together to remind them of the great things the Lord had done for them. Joshua’s well-known invitation was to “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). We, like Joshua, can call our families together to teach them the Lord’s words and say, as Joshua did, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Photo illustration by Cary Henrie

Family Night Post

Hey, I've got so many of you I don't know what to say but I've decided to post a family night thought for your comments and discussion, since many of you are far away. I know Mom gets the phone calls each day so that keeps at least some of you in touch but I would also like to take the opportunity to post what we talk about during family night. You may want to join and tell us about yours.

After Kaylie read a story about the effect of seminary on a youth, we spoke about some Ensign articles concerning balance in our lives with all our activities. I was impressed to read that some families because they live some distance apart have family night together over the web and share stories assignments, etc.

So it is born, please share as you feel you can.

The thought for the week is above.

Thought for today

From Joseph Smith's testimony in the Book of Mormon we read

"This he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building His kingdom; otherwise I could not get them."

What are our motives, let's examine them and then purify our hearts so our progress will be meaningful and add to the building of His kingdom.

New Poem

What was I to do with feelings strong?
They are so honest how could they be so wrong
I might as well act each feeling out
and proclaim my feedom with a shout
I then watched roads some others take
Unbridled passions and feelings they did make
While their hearts unleashed down certain roads
they came upon unwanted loads
I gave my heart and feelings there
and opened wide my passionate stare
I could not see the further path
and the power that my own choice hath
I had chosen my own way
I did not see the price I'd pay
For when I traveled the road deep
My heart was taken in one sweep
Now I can truly see the end
of paths I once thought were my friend
I learned that passions not always wise
can be great misery in disguise
For the path I thought I would take in part
Now wants all of my heart.

BYU

Well I just want to say that BYU is great and that I really believe in the school tradiion as well as Bronco Mendenhall's approach. What I don't understand is what has happened to BYU's intensity duringand since the TCU game I attended. Could someone answer that one? I am to the point of asking the football team show me before I l believe. Good luck guys but your not a shoe in for any of your games.

Backyard Performance San Antonio