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By Cheryl A. Esplin
"Strong eternal families and Spirit-filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and they take each member of the family doing his or her part. Every home is different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can make a difference."
We all desire to have a strong family and a home filled with the Spirit. It would be nice if that could just happen, but, as with all things worthwhile, it takes time and effort.
"Satan knows that in order for us and our families to withstand the pressures of the world, we must be filled with light and gospel truth. So he does everything in his power to dilute, distort, and destroy the truth of the gospel and to keep us separated from that truth."
"When filled with the Spirit and with gospel truth, we have the power to withstand the outside forces of the world that surround and push against us." -WE HAVE POWER! "If we not filled with spiritually, we don't have the inner strength to resist the outside pressures and can collapse when forces push against us."
image source and handout idea from HERE
(I'm planning on doing the soda can object lesson tomorrow for our FHE!)
In her talk, Sister Esplin lists three things, that if we do them, will 'fill our homes with light and truth'.
1. Inspiring MUSIC
"Inspiring music is just one of the many ways we can feel the Spirit whisper to us, filling us with light and truth."
Many years ago when my children were little I attended a Homemaking Meeting(remember when it was called that?) where a class was taught on music in the home. The instructor shared a personal story about good music in her home that has stuck with me and made a huge difference in my home as well. She had two sons that were rebellious. They made some bad friends and some even worse choices. Talking to them and trying to correct them had had no effect. She decided that she would try to influence them through music. She filled her home with classical music. She always had a record playing. The music was never loud, but it was always on especially when her sons were home. The Spirit was felt in her home through this music. Through the grace of God, Her boys were able to feel and recognize it, and they eventually settled down, and turned their lives back over to God. That is the power of music!
This powerful experience has stuck with me. I have always tried to have good music playing in my home. In the mornings while my kids are getting ready for the day, I have music quietly playing. There is power in music. The spirit can be felt through inspiring music.
2. PRAYER & SCRIPTURE STUDY
"We are continually counseled to increase our spiritual knowledge through prayer and through studying and pondering the scriptures and the words of the living prophets"
There are many ideas on how to do this in President Uchtdorf's October 2014 talk -"Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth".
3. SHARE your Testimony
"Do not bury your testimony in the ground"
"The answers to our prayers may not come dramatically, but we must find quiet moments to seek greater light and truth. And when we receive it, it is our responsibility to live it, to share it, and to defend it."
". . . As we fill our hearts and homes with the Savior's light and truth, we will have the inner strength to withstand in every circumstance."