Ezra Taft Benson -

As a watchman on the tower, I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions. President Joseph F. Smith referred to false educational ideas as one of the three threatening dangers among our Church members.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Raising Children - The great adventure!




Lately, I have heard other families ask "how do we spend so much time with our kids". Okay maybe that shouldn't be a direct quote. However, I do get people saying "I don't know how you do it". I translate it as the first quote.

A few Sundays ago at church they were discussing working on the girls Personal Progress in the Young Women Program. It is goals they set and work on from age 12-18. Shelby finished at 14. Taylor has 1/2 done at nearly 13. The girls got comments like "you are home all day. You have more time to do it." Which is funny. I'm not sure what they think we are doing all day. Our curriculum isn't just Personal Progress and we call it good. The kids do school work just like most kids. We have grammar, reading, typing, scripture study, math, writing, science, history, Shakespeare, book club, piano, violin, art...and other activities the kids decide to participate in. We also have swim team every day, baseball practice, cheer practice, scouts and YW to go to as well.

What the key is we make it a priority. Anyone can choose a day or night dedicated to working on their goals. Just like you dedicate time for homework or practice. That is what my girls do. Every week some designated time is spent on working on their Personal Progress goals.

Sports take up a majority of our time at night and on weekends. I hear people say "you shouldn't spend all your time away from the house". I wonder if they are trying to justify what they are doing. They say this and yet send their children away to be taught by strangers most of the day. I find the statement a little hypocritical.

We are at every practice and game/competition. We are there cheering them on, giving them encouragement, giving advice, etc. It is great time spent. My kids have great confidence in themselves. I have seen my daughter want to tumble and set out to learn. In 5 months time she went from just knowing how to do a standing backhandspring, to bounding across the floor at competitions doing multiple backhandsprings. She also learned to do an aerial and almost has a tuck. My second daughter started this swim season not doing the butterfly in swimming. At the final meet this year she won a metal in that event. She worked so hard. We are so proud of both. At home, I wouldn't have been able to teach them these skills.

My son wanted to be a pitcher in baseball. He has a rocket for an arm. He just needed to learn control. This winter he had the great privilege to work with Coach Noels from BYU baseball on his control. He has become a wonderful pitcher. In his first game this season he struck out 5 batters in 2 and 1/2 innings.

We love watching our kids progress in all they do. It is such a joy to see them grow. I truly love going to swimming, baseball and cheer, watching these wonderful kids progress. I love teaching them. Even the bad days I cherish. We learned it and experienced it together. No one else can say they know my kid better than I do. And they are growing up knowing they have us in their corner cheering them on in all they do.

Sure it takes up a lot of time. But what else would I be doing?

Here are a few of my favorite scriptures regarding our children

Psalm - Chapter 127:3

3. Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.


Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and
when he is old, he will not depart from it.


1 Timothy 3:4

One that ruleth well his own house, having his
children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not
how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church
of God?)

Don't be afraid to try. Parents know what is best for their children. Know that you have the strength. Heavenly Father will help you.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Raising boys to serve missions


I heard a shocking number the other day. It pertained to the number of young men serving missions in our stake. 3 out of 60. Yeah I almost fell on the floor, too.

How can we help these young men become active again, is the question circulating throughout the church. I think we are forgetting to teach the primary kids that "holding the priesthood comes with the obligation for young men to carry the message of the Restoration to the world. "

Attitude is the key. Young people need to commit themselves early in life to the idea of a mission. That way, when they get older and begin to face some of the world’s temptations, those temptations will be less likely to penetrate their hearts or minds. They will resist the temptations because they are focused on becoming a servant of the Lord. It helps if they live in a gospel-sharing home. A missionary spirit is generated in a home where parents and children share the gospel with one another. I also recommend that youth study and follow the guidelines in For the Strength of Youth. Missionaries need to be morally clean and spiritually ready. If they live the principles in For the Strength of Youth, they will be spiritually prepared to be great missionaries. - M. Russell Ballard

I remember about 10 years ago the church leaders "Raised the bar" for the youth. Requirements to serve missions was also raised. It isn't enough to just attend church on Sunday and YM/YW during the week. These meetings are great and should be attended regularly, however, work on their own needs to be done. Living cleanly isn't a casual thing. It needs to be the most important. I really love Elder Ballards comment that "They need to avoid the mischief of the world."

I have heard adults give talks in church where they have said "It was alright that I didn't serve a mission because I got married". That is fine for them but that doesn't need to be taught from the pulpit that to forget serving a mission. Instead get married. I have also heard talks about parents who knew their kids were into "mischief". Yet, nothing was really done about it. The kids were still permitted to run around with the same kids they were getting in trouble with. Later, when serious offenses were committed they prayed to the Lord that he help their children return to the gospel.

I would like to share my story here of bad friends in my earlier life. I had a particular friend in Jr. High who was continually pulling me in the wrong direction. My mom and dad decided what to do about it. I was no longer aloud to have anything to do with this individual. It was a struggle for them. I resisted. Hard. But in the end they saved me from a dark path. I didn't make that many new friends. They kept me busy with sports, my mom stayed home with me so I wasn't able to "run around", later I got a job, and I was expected to keep an early curfew.

My husband had a similar situation in High School. He made friends with the wrong crowd and was getting into trouble. The difference in his story is that he removed himself from the situation. He disassociated himself with the group. And because he had a bad reputation it was hard for him to make new friends. He didn't care. He decided to choice the right path. He served a mission in Uruguay.

Hard decisions and choices need to be made is some cases. Sacrifices will need to be made.

Around the world members are sacrificing much for their membership in the church. Family members disown them, employers dismiss them, they aren't getting promotions because they refuse to break the word of wisdom, just to name a few I am personally aware of with friends I have met.

During a Relief Society meeting a lesson on Sacrifice was taught and time seemed to be the one thing most people said they were sacrificing. I think we are missing out on teaching our kids what it is to really sacrifice here.

This to me is the reason so few young men are serving missions in our stake. They aren't asked or required by family or friends to sacrifice immediate "joy" in order to serve a mission.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQIQA6s2_Hw

This is a great video.


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Provo heard our voices! No Daytime Curfews!!!

I have a new found admiration for government.

I got wind of the Provo City Council voting on a city Day Time Curfew and emailed three of my email groups and word spread fast. Before long there was a protest organized and letters written. Our voices and concerns were heard and the Mayor wrote a letter to the council members the morning before the meeting was scheduled and told them he was going to take the vote off the agenda.

I am so happy I could cry! Oh, I am crying!

Her is the link to the news coverage.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=14564753

viewers