Allison's Talk

Jeremy, Sarah, and Allison ALL spoke in church sacrament meeting last Sunday (August 12).  We were all given the same topic.  Allison researched and wrote hers all on her own.  She then practiced it and timed it, too.  She was done with it a week in advance.  Here it is:

            Hi. I’m Allison Dastrup and I was asked to talk about how principles of work help strengthen family relationships.

         Building a strong family takes hard work, and part of that work is teaching children how to work. In The Family A Proclamation To The World it says: One of the principles that establish and maintains a successful marriage and family is work. It also says, Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in righteousness and teach them to love and serve one another. It also says in For Strength of youth, your righteous example can make a difference in strengthening your family. Brother Dieter F. Uchtdorf  quotes,  “Work is not a matter of economic need alone; it is a spiritual necessity. Those who are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and lose themselves in the pursuit of worthwhile goals are a blessing to their families, communities, nations, and to the Church.” Bishop H. David Burton quotes, “The Lord doesn't expect us to work harder than we are able.” Someone else quoted, “Work is always a spiritual necessity even if, for some, work is not an economic necessity.” Robert D. Hales quotes, “Work together as a family, even if it may be faster and easier to do the job ourselves. Talk with our sons and daughters as we work together.” And D. Todd Christofferson quotes, “Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God.” Now I have a story to read from the New Era.     

 Harmony at Home

By Nettie H. Francis

I will never forget that family night. My dad taught the lesson. He sat down at the piano, raised his hands in the air, and then brought them down hard on the keys, banging out a terrible sound. We all covered our ears and frowned. The noise was terrible.

After a moment, he lifted his hands to the keys again. This time he played a beautiful melody. The sound was lovely and refreshing. Then he turned and faced us.

“Harmony,” he said, “is a group of notes working together. It creates a beautiful sound.” We all agreed. He challenged us to make our home a house of harmony—working together, avoiding contention, and creating beautiful music. That lesson left a profound impact on me.                                                   Even today when I hear quarreling among family members, I remember the terrible noise he made on the piano and the beautiful contrast of harmony. Then the New Era says, Think about the role you play in your family. Do you cause contention or harmony in your home? Then it lists some ideas of how you can strengthen your family. You can:

• Obey family rules and curfews. Obedience may seem restricting at times, but it can actually build your parents’ trust in you and help your family and your life function more smoothly.

• Respond with respect. Be polite in conversations with parents and siblings. Even if you feel that you are right, decide to disagree without being disagreeable. Honor your parents through love and obedience. When family members are treated with respect, they will listen more willingly to you.

• Go the extra mile. Everyone loves to have some unexpected help. You could do the dishes when it’s not your turn, volunteer to run an errand, help someone with homework, and do your chores cheerfully. Even simple acts of service can make a big difference.

• Attend meals. Even if school, church, and extracurricular activities keep you busy, make every effort to be home at mealtime. When families eat together, it gives them a chance to converse, laugh, and build relationships. Besides, it’s more fun than eating alone!

• Talk often. Parents and family members want to know what’s happening in your life. Make it a habit to tell them about your day. Share your successes and sorrows, and listen to theirs. Open communication develops trust and friendship.

• Be a peacemaker. Make a conscious decision to be positive, and your influence will be far-reaching. Whistle, hum a cheerful tune, or even sing around the house. Help find solutions to family problems and concerns. Your family may not be a symphony yet, but you can still help to create a beautiful melody.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.