10 Prophetic Counsels for Mothers:
With love in my heart for the mothers in Zion, I would
now like to suggest ten specific ways our mothers may
spend effective time with their children.
Be at the Crossroads.
1. First, take time to always be at
the crossroads when your children are either coming
or going—when they leave and return from school,
when they leave and return from dates, when they bring
friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your
children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read, “A child
left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” ( Proverbs
29:15 ). Among the greatest concerns in our society are
the millions of latchkey children who come home daily
to empty houses, unsupervised by working parents.
Be a Real Friend.
2. Second, mothers, take time to be a real
friend to your children. Listen to your children, really
listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing
with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them,
honestly praise them. Yes, regularly spend unrushed
one-on-one time with each child. Be a real friend to
your children.
Read to Your Children.
3. Third, mothers, take time to
read to your children. Starting from the cradle, read to
your sons and daughters. Remember what the poet said:
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be—
I had a mother who read to me.
(Strickland Gillilan, “The Reading Mother.”)
45. You will plant a love for good literature and a real love
for the scriptures if you will read to your children
regularly.
Pray with Your Children.
4. Fourth, take time to pray with
your children. Family prayers, under the direction of
the father, should be held morning and night. Have your
children feel of your faith as you call down the blessings
of heaven upon them. Paraphrasing the words of James,
“The . . . fervent prayer of a righteous [mother] availeth
much” ( James 5:16 ). Have your children participate in
family and personal prayers, and rejoice in their sweet
utterances to their Father in Heaven.
Have Weekly Home Evenings.
5. Fifth, take time to
have a meaningful weekly home evening. With your
husband presiding, participate in a spiritual and an
uplifting home evening each week. Have your children
actively involved. Teach them correct principles. Make
this one of your great family traditions. Remember
the marvelous promise made by President Joseph F.
Smith when home evenings were first introduced to the
Church: “If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that
great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience
to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the
hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to
combat the evil influence and temptations which beset
them” (James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First
Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, 6 vols., 4:339). This wonderful promise is still in
effect today.
Be Together at Mealtimes.
6. Sixth, take time to be
together at mealtimes as often as possible. This is a
challenge as the children get older and lives get busier.
But happy conversation, sharing of the day’s plans
and activities, and special teaching moments occur at
mealtime because mothers and fathers and children
work at it.
Read Scriptures Daily.
7. Seventh, take time daily to read
the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture
reading is important, but family scripture reading is
vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family
will especially bring increased spirituality into your
home and will give both parents and children the power
to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their
constant companion. I promise you that the Book of
Mormon will change the lives of your family.
Do Things as a Family.
8. Eighth, take time to do things
together as a family. Make family outings and picnics
and birthday celebrations and trips special times and
memory builders. Whenever possible, attend, as a
family, events where one of the family members is
involved, such as a school play, a ball game, a talk, a
recital. Attend church meetings together and sit together
as a family when you can. Mothers who help families
pray and play together will stay together and will bless
children’s lives forever.
Teach Your Children.
9. Ninth, mothers, take time to teach
your children. Catch the teaching moments. This can
be done anytime during the day—at mealtime, in casual
settings, or at special sit-down times together, at the
163 Family Foundations Reading Packet
foot of the bed at the end of the day, or during an early
morning walk together. Mothers, you are your children’s
best teacher. Don’t shift this precious responsibility
to day-care centers or baby-sitters. A mother’s love
and prayerful concern for the children are her most
important ingredients in teaching her own.
52. Teach children gospel principles. Teach them it pays
to be good. Teach them there is no safety in sin.
Teach them a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a
testimony of its divinity.
Take time to truly love your children.
10. Tenth, Mothers, “Our young people need love and attention, not indulgence,” he added. “They need empathy and understanding, not indifference from mothers and fathers. They need the parents’ time.”
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