- I was asked to speak on Wholesome activities in
the home
The proclamation says
- President Kimball states
“Too much leisure for children leaves them in a state of boredom and it is natural for them to want more of the expensive things for their recreation. We must bring dignity to the labor in sharing responsibilities of the home and the yard”.
This topic has been weighing on my mine especially now that school has begun and the time with our children is minimal. We must make every moment count from the time they come through the door. We need to have a schedule for free time and plan for other productive positive activities.
“Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, ‘I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.’ Time passes quickly. Many parents say that it seems like yesterday that their children were born.”
- President Ezra Taft Benson states
“Wholesome recreation is part of our religion, and a change of pace is necessary, and even it’s anticipation can lift the spirit.
“families must spend more time together in work and recreation. Family home evenings should be scheduled once a week as time for discussion of gospel principles, recreation, work projects, skits, songs at the piano, games, special refreshments, and family prayers. Like iron links in a chain, this practice will bind the family together, in love, pride, tradition, strength, and loyalty.”
“Successful families do things together”
“Mother’s in zion, your god given roles are so vital to your own exaltation and to the salvation and exaltation of your family....”
What a huge responsibility!!!!!
He goes on to say
“Take time to be a friend to your children, read to them, take time to do things together as a family”
Our family recently had a change of job this year and have had the opportunity to be together more and share a lot of special time. This summer Adam was able to go with our son on a week long trip to Missouri on a fishing trip. I know Jaxson loved the time he had special with his dad and grandpa and uncle and what fun meaningful time they had together.
We were also able to grow closer as we have been consistent with family prayer and scripture study every night and with this have discussion nightly with our children about the scripture heroes.
We have also had an opportunity to play and laugh more.
I know we could have been doing these things all along but this change made us realize the more important things in life. These little people we are responsible for and love more than anything.
So frequently we are mistakenly believed that our children need more things when in reality their silent pleadings are simply for more of our time. The accumulation of wealth or the multiplication of assets belies the Master’s teaching.
President Monson states
Our second key relationship is with our families. Since “no other success can compensate for failure” , we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship.
A WISE BISHOP ONCE SAID,”Do fun things that do not require a lot of money outlaybut makelasting impressions on your children”
Growing up we didn’t have a lot of money and we had 7 kids in our family. My Mother stayed home and was very involved in our education and activities. We were eachother’s best playmates playing dress up and baking cookies, riding bikes, and swimming a lot. We had a family cabin growing up and would play for days exploring with our cousins, picking blackberries, and telling stories around a campfire. We didn’t need money or TV to make us happy back then, just some music and family time.
I also remember growing up with my mom’s parents who weren’t members, they had a condo in california. We had many trips to Solana Beach and sometimes the money and time were a huge sacrifice for my parents but those memories of pennies on the train tracks and walks to get dounuts will never be forgotten. Also I remember going on the longest bike ride of my life one Sunday after church like 10 miles!!!!! We went through neighborhoods and down the canals, but all I remember is that we were so proud and excited that we got to do such a special thing together, and my grandparents were pretty surprised too! We were together and growing stronger as a family and I am grateful for my parents example of making us feel important and involved.
Now that I am a parent, we have taken on some of the wholesome activities we did as kids, We also have continued with the california trips revisiting the same beach and sharing memories with our children. We also recently visited the cabin in prescott and picked blackberries and hope to continue those special activities in the future. Also playing a great game of spoons, dancing and dancing and dancing more usually to finish FHE on Monday’s we have Dance time are some things we like to do together. I also love to bake and making some late night deliveries which my kids love to help with and have fun running up to people’s doors and knowing how happy it makes me and them! We also like board games and sometimes splurge on a new game every once in awhile to have family game night as Jaxson would say. We love Christmas and our tradition which I also had growing up was the 12 days of Christmas. We think of a family together and sometimes we have done more that one, but we take something to them for the last 12 days before Christmas. The kids have learned the true meaning of the holiday as we have done this and have so much joy as the annonymosly run gifts and treats to thte door and run back to the car. We have also started a tradition of packing sack lunches on Chrismas eve and on Christmas morning after we finish our family christmas we drive downtown and pass out these lunches that don’t consist of more that a water sandwich chips apple and a treat, but the recipients are so thankful and we as a family are so touched and feel the true meaning of the holiday.
Elder Faust says
“Develop family traditions. Some of the great strengths of families can be found in their own traditions, which may consist of things making special occations for blessings and baptisms, fishing trips, skits for Christmas Eve, FHE, and so forth.
Wholesome recreational activities
This has made me ponder on if I am doing enough. I am not great at this by any means, I always am asking myself if the TV, computer and phone being used too much. Or as I say to jaxson you have had too much technology today go play! Am I a culprit also with e-mail, facebook, or catching up on TIVO?
President Bednar says
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33 Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes.
- We all can do better and schedule wholesome time just like anything else. Plan for a family meeting once a week and schedule the fun family time we will have, also schedule couple time you will have weather it just be a trip to the grocery store or a uplifting movie night.
Elder Joe Christansen states Keep courtship alive and make time to do things together. As important as it is to be with your children as a family
, you need weekly time alone together. Take that commitment, planning and scheduling.”
We live in a time with a lot of distraction and I think that this is Satan’s way to tear down the family unit. Think of the old days where playing kickball in the cul de sac with neighbors, or a block BBQ, or camping out in the backyard were all so fun and memorable. What has taken us away from these basic things? Time is love remember and so valuable! We need to be accountable to make time for what is important. We can change today and turn off that tv or silence that phone for the afternoon.
Dance in the rain
have a bubble blowing contest
play hopscotch
build a fort
make homemade pizza
have a treasure hunt
be creative!!!!
THE STORY
BY ELDER MARION HANKS
“Elder L Tom Perry states
If I were cast again in the role of having a young family around me, I would be determined to give them more time...... Saturday would be a special activity day divided into 2 parts first a time for teaching children blessings of work, how to care for and improve the home, the yard, the garden, the field, second, a time for family activity, to build family heritage of things you enjoy doing together. A strong family spends a significant amount of time together while playing working eating or recreation. Although family members all have outside interests they find adequate time to spend together.”
President monson says in closing
Our house is to be a house of order. To everything there is a season and time to every purpose under the heaven. Such is true of our lives. Let us provide time for family time for work, time for recreation, time for self, but above all time for Christ.”
Testimony
Amen
