Parenting:
"In these last days it is essential—even critical—that parents and children listen to and learn from one another."
M. Russell Ballard, "Mothers and Daughters," Ensign, May 2010, 21
"Etched in sacred scripture is a commandment to 'set in order thy house' (D&C 93:44). Once we as parents understand the importance and meaning of that commandment, we need to learn how to do it."
Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 69
"If any of you are struggling with contention in your homes, you can change this. Talk with your family. Ask for their help. Tell them you don't want a contentious spirit in the home anymore and discuss what each family member can do to prevent it.
M. Russell Ballard, "The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood," Ensign
“When family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions. We do all that we can to avoid impairing loving relationships, but sometimes it happens after all we can do.
“In the midst of such stress, we must endure the reality that the straying of our loved ones will detract from our happiness, but it should not detract from our love for one another or our patient efforts to be united in understanding God’s love and God’s laws.”
Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 29
“Parents need to draw the children into the problem-solving process by letting them be heard. For example, I came home at times to find that the children had not cleaned their rooms or done other things they were supposed to do. My wife had her hands full with seven children to raise. So I called the children together for a short council meeting. We talked about what needed to be done and decided on a course of action. Talking about the course of action makes all the difference. If it’s mandated or dictated, there will usually be resistance. But if parents will establish a climate conducive to openness, where every person is important and every opinion is valued, they can create a kind of spiritual synergism in the home, where the combined action or cooperation that results is greater than the sum of the individual parts.”
M. Russell Ballard, "A Conversation with Elder and Sister Ballard,” Liahona, June 2003, 15
“The foundation of provident living is the law of the tithe. The primary purpose of this law is to help us develop faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Tithing helps us overcome our desires for the things of this world and willingly make sacrifices for others.”
Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2009, 9
“We should regularly review our family income, savings, and spending plan in family council meetings. This will teach our children to recognize the difference between wants and needs and to plan ahead for meaningful use of family resources. . . . Whenever we want to experience or possess something that will impact us and our resources, we may want to ask ourselves, ‘Is the benefit temporary, or will it have eternal value and significance?’ Truthfully answering these questions may help us avoid excessive debt and other addictive behavior.”
Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May
“Satan, in his carefully devised plan to destroy the family, seeks to diminish the role of fathers. Increased youth violence, youth crime, greater poverty and economic insecurity, and the failure of increasing numbers of children in our schools offer clear evidence of lack of a positive influence of fathers in the homes (see David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem [1995], introduction, 25–48; David Popenoe, Life without Father [1996], 52–78). A family needs a father to anchor it.”
L. Tom Perry, “Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling,” Liahona, May 2004, 70
"We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, 'Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.' Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together."
M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109-11
“Too frequently, women underestimate their influence for good. Well could you follow the formula given by the Lord: ‘Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God’ (D&C 88:119).
“In such a house will be found happy, smiling children who have been taught, by precept and example, the truth. In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved.”
Thomas S. Monson, “The Spirit of Relief Society,” Ensign, May 1992, 101-102
"The Church has established two special times for families to be together. The first is centered around the proper observance of the Sabbath day. This is the time we are to attend our regular meetings together, study the life and teachings of the Savior and of the prophets. 'Other appropriate Sunday activities include (1) writing personal and family journals, (2) holding family councils, (3) establishing and maintaining family organizations for the immediate and extended family, (4) personal interviews between parents and children, (5) writing to relatives and missionaries, (6) genealogy, (7) visiting relatives and those who are ill or lonely, (8) missionary work, (9) reading stories to children, and (10) singing Church hymns' ("Suggestions for Individual and Family Sabbath-Day Activities," Ensign, Mar. 1980, 76).
"The second time is Monday night. We are to teach our children in a well-organized, regular family home evening. No other activities should involve our family members on Monday night. This designated time is to be with our families."
L. Tom Perry, "The Importance of the Family," Ensign, May 2003, 42
