Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Making My Home a Sanctuary From Evil



Position Statement:
     Our homes can be, and should be, a refuge and a sanctuary from the troubled world we live in.  I want my children to come home from school and feel peace when they walk in the front door.  There are many things that contribute to this.  A clean and organized home helps keep frustrations at bay.  A Christ centered home with daily prayers and scripture study keeps the Holy Spirit dwelling within our walls. And minimal electronic use helps make special family bonding time that seems so important in these days.  I want to strive for a strong barrier to the outside world that seems to be upside down in many senses.


QUOTES:


Living Prophets & Apostles:
1. The ultimate purpose of the adversary, who has “great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time,” 1 is to disrupt, disturb, and destroy the home and the family. Like a ship without a rudder, without a compass, we drift from the family values which have anchored us in the past. Now we are caught in a current so strong that unless we correct our course, civilization as we know it will surely be wrecked to pieces.

2. We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.

3. “As you continue to center your mind and heart in Him, He will help you have a rich and full life no matter what happens in the world around you. Paul wisely taught, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
4. Avoid worldly wickedness. Know that God is in control. In time, Satan will completely fail and be punished for his perverse evil. God has a specific plan for your life. He will reveal parts of that plan to you as you look for it with faith and consistent obedience. His Son has made you free—not from the consequences of your acts, but free to make choices. God’s eternal purpose is for you to be successful in this mortal life. No matter how wicked the world becomes, you can earn that blessing. Seek and be attentive to the personal guidance given to you through the Holy Spirit. Continue to be worthy to receive it. Reach out to others who stumble and are perplexed, not certain of what path to follow.

5. Peace can be settled in the heart of each who turns to the scriptures and unlocks the promises of protection and redemption.

6. We live in perilous times; nevertheless, we can find hope and peace for ourselves and for our families. Those living in sorrow, despairing at the possibility of children being rescued from where the world has taken them, must never give up. “Be not afraid, only believe.”6 Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness.  Children taught an understanding of the scriptures early in life will come to know the path they should walk and will be more inclined to remain on that path. Those who stray will have the ability to return and, with help, can find their way back.


Any Prophet, Apostle, or General Conference Address:

7. Self-reliance comes by complying so completely with the principles of the gospel that each individual and family are added upon by the Lord’s strength, making them able to stand strong against the blows of adversity and the changing winds of time and growth.

8. Our Heavenly Father has organized us into families for the purpose of helping us successfully meet the trials and challenges of life. The home also exists to bless us with the joys and privileges of family associations. Our family is our safety place, our support network, our sanctuary, and our salvation.  Our homes should be “the strong place to which children can come for the anchor they need in this day of trouble and turmoil,”

9. “It is not an easy thing to make God the center of our being. To do so we must determine to keep his commandments. Spiritual attainment, not physical possessions, not the indulgence and the gratification of the body, must become the chief goal.
Reference: James E Faust- Acting For Ourselves- October 1995

10. As we gain experience in this demanding “real world,” we sometimes fail to see the sacred nature of our seemingly routine daily tasks. Fundamentals of daily living—scripture reading, prayer, family home evening, the conversation at dinner—these provide the experiences that make faith a reality.

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