I want the gospel to BE our life, not just a few things on our to-do list each day. So my question is: How do you make the gospel a part of your everyday life - besides FHE, family scripture study and family prayer?
*This question came from Laurie who has a wonderful blog called, "I Have a Testimony". Thanks for your question. You have me thinking...
6 comments:
Your question made me think. I know the gospel is what makes my life what it is and we do do all of the simple things we've been asked to do but what about the day to day moments. Is the gospel a part of my everyday moments?
So the other night I asked my husband what he thought about your question. As we talked our conversation went more toward inner change and growth. The gospel isn't about check-lists although all of things you've listed are ESSENTIAL. I thought it was so perfect when my husband referred to the quote at the top of the blog, "The gospel of Jesus Christ...essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better."
Now as I have thought a bit more about things I think that as we do the simple things like FHE, family scripture study and prayer the most important thing is how we allow those things to change us and help us to become better each and everyday. I think that as we become better the gospel is ingrained in us and becomes a part of our everyday life.
After FHE are you and your family better because of it? (For us sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes sadly I think we miss the mark) I think it is as we apply the things we learn in these wonderful gospel-centered family moments that the gospel BECOMES our life. When a lesson on service leads to service or when a lesson on kindness leads to kindess, I think it is in those simple things that it becomes life. I hope I am making sense.
So each time I leave a post more seems to flow...I think I needed to learn something here.
But here are a few more thoughts:
1 - Every family and every life are different and so I think in small ways the way the gospel works in our lives can be different and thus I think personal revelation can play a big role in creating each individual gospel-centered home.
2 - Setting Goals - both personal and family ones. I think this allows everyones thoughts to be centered on gospel ideas everyday as you are trying to reach a united or personal goal.
3 - I think Elder Bednar's talk from this last conference fits very well with your question but the thing that sticks out the most to me is this:
"Parents should be vigilant and spiritually attentive to spontaneously occurring opportunities to bear testimony to their children. Such occasions need not be programmed, scheduled, or scripted. In fact, the less regimented such testimony sharing is, the greater the likelihood for edification and lasting impact."
To read the whole talk go here - http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-15,00.html
I hope that some of this helps. I'd love to hear some other's thoughts here.
Thank you for your comments!! I definitely agree with what you said about lessons turning into actions. Not just TALKING about service, but actually DOING it. I loved all your thoughts. Thank again!
You know what? I think it actually starts with to-do lists. For me, that means building the essentials into my schedule. The more I'm diligent about it, I internalize it-- it becomes habit, maybe even character. This is a lesson I've learned from several different Julie Beck talks. If I want the outcomes, I need to "force" the things that make it happen. No excuses. Do it. It becomes easier and easier as the blessings flow.
p.s. when I talk about the essentials, I mean things like service, gospel learning, moments where I can really talk to my children, etc. If I focus, I can build those things into my weekly schedule, and I find there are a LOT more opportunities for those "spontaneous" moments Elder Bednar talked about.
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