At Conference, Elder Ballard reminded us of the series of talks he has been giving us lately. Like many of you, I have forgotten them.\u00a0 This is just another example of why great talks should be remembered, and referred to, often.<\/p>\n
Starting with \u201cDaughters of God\u201d, he talks about motherhood and offers answers to some common questions.<\/p>\n
Q.\u00a0 What can you do to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more?
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1)\u00a0 \u201cLive in the moment\u201d.\u00a0 Love your children at every age.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2)\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t overschedule yourselves or your children.\u00a0 Families need unstructured time together.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3)\u00a0\u00a0 Take time to cultivate your own gifts and interests.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4)\u00a0\u00a0 Pray, study, and teach the gospel to your children.<\/p>\n
Q.\u00a0 What more can a husband do to support his wife?
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1)\u00a0\u00a0 Show extra appreciation and give more validation to your wife.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2)\u00a0\u00a0 Talk to your wife regularly: about her, about kids, about how you can help more.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3)\u00a0\u00a0 Give your wife a \u201cday away\u201d now and then.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4)\u00a0\u00a0 Come home from work and be with the family.<\/p>\n
Q.\u00a0 What can children do?
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1)\u00a0\u00a0 Pick up your toys, and do chores, without being asked.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2)\u00a0\u00a0 Say thank you more often
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3)\u00a0\u00a0 Put your arms around your mother and say \u201cI love you\u201d.<\/p>\n
Q.\u00a0 What can the Church do?
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bishoprics should know their families well enough to help them appropriately.\u00a0 Be wise in extending callings.\u00a0 Make sure that the women in your ward feel valued.<\/p>\n
So, how could we have forgotten THAT talk?\u00a0 Important thoughts and ideas continue:<\/p>\n
In his talk, \u201cLearning the Lessons of the Past\u201d, Elder Ballard cautions us to see and recognize the cycle of righteousness followed by wickedness.\u00a0 \u201cLearning the lessons of the past allows you to build personal testimony on a solid bedrock of obedience, faith, and the witness of the Spirit.\u201d\u00a0 This talk reminds us to check our testimony, check the path we are taking, and bring our children along.<\/p>\n
Next, he spoke to the men, in the Priesthood session.\u00a0 \u201cFathers and Sons\u201d have to nurture their relationship, because all sons look up to their fathers.\u00a0 Elder Ballard offers advice for each party. First to the sons:<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Trust your father.\u00a0 He may not be perfect, but he loves you.
\n2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take an interest in your father\u2019s life.\u00a0 Ask him questions about his youth, his job, etc.\u00a0 Watch how he conducts himself.
\n3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ask your father for advice.\u00a0 That is, ask before he forces it on you.<\/p>\n
Now for the fathers:<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 REALLY listen to your sons.\u00a0 No judgment, just ears.
\n2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Find a way to connect.\u00a0 Share an interest regularly.
\n3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did he mention listening?\u00a0
\n4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pray with and for your sons.\u00a0 Never give up on them.
\n5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dare to have the \u201cbig talks\u201d with your sons.
\n6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I think he said to keep listening again, without giving too much advice.<\/p>\n
I think something that warms the heart of a mother more than anything else is seeing a good, strong relationship between her husband and her children.<\/p>\n
Now, for the \u201cMothers and Daughters\u201d.\u00a0 Face it, men are pretty straight forward and one dimensional (and that\u2019s actually a good thing).\u00a0 Women, on the other hand, can be a little wild and crazy.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 Elder Ballard says, \u201cMy dear young women, with all my heart I urge you not to look to contemporary culture for your role models and mentors.\u201d\u00a0 He begs the young women to look to their mothers for advice, example, and acceptance.\u00a0 In turn, mothers need to keep high standards, and values, of courage and faithfulness.<\/p>\n
Young Women:\u00a0 \u201cLove your mother.\u00a0 Respect her.\u00a0 Listen to her.\u00a0 Trust her.\u00a0 She cares about your eternal safety and happiness.\u00a0 So be kind to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Too many of our girls are blowing their mother\u2019s off as \u201cold fashioned idiots\u201d (thanks to Hollywood).\u00a0 Girls, please recognize that we want to protect you from the flashy lights of false happiness.\u00a0 Of course, the world is attractive.\u00a0 Satan knows exactly how to draw us in.\u00a0 But we love you and want you to feel true joy that only the Spirit can bring.<\/p>\n
Mothers:\u00a0 \u201c(Your daughter) watches you to see if your actions match your words.\u00a0 Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children.\u00a0 Teach your daughters to be faithful daughters of God.\u00a0 Teach your daughters about things of the Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every one of these talks is worthy of our close examination.\u00a0 He warns us\u2026\u201din these last days it is essential—even critical—that parents and children listen to and learn from one another.\u201d\u00a0 Why would that be the case?\u00a0 Because our eternal family depends on our conduct toward each other here upon the earth.<\/p>\n
Elder Ballard\u2019s Talks:<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Daughters of God, Ensign, May 2008
\n2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Learning the Lessons of the Past, Ensign, May 2009
\n3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship, Ensign, Nov 2009
\n4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mothers and Daughters, Ensign, Apr 2010<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At Conference, Elder Ballard reminded us of the series of talks he has been giving us lately. Like many of you, I have forgotten them.\u00a0 This is just another example of why great talks should be remembered, and referred to, often. Starting with \u201cDaughters of God\u201d, he talks about motherhood and offers answers to some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[477,13],"tags":[43],"class_list":["post-1920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family-2","category-family","tag-marriage"],"yoast_head":"\n