The Three Amigas

The girls are all participating in the Primary program this year. Even my little sunbeam, Abbie. I'm excited to see them wave from the pulpit and blare their singing voices. I know their parts, I hope they do. Aspen is a little apprehensive to give a five minute talk in front of the congregation, but these are good teaching moments. I doubt she will ever have issues about public speaking, like I did. 

Abbie part- I will follow God's plan by following my daddy.

Lib's part- I can prepare now to serve a mission by reading my scriptures.

Aspen's talk:  

The Family

In The Family, A Proclamation to the World, it states:

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Successful families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

What better place in the world can we learn these teachings of Jesus Christ, if not in our families?

Faith means to believe in things that are unseen, or unknown. When I was a baby I kept having seizures in my brain. These seizures were hurting my brain and body. My dad gave me a father's blessing of healing. With my parent's faith that I would heal and become seizure free, and with the help of medicine and medical professionals, I have never had another seizure and have been healthy ever since. Exercising the power of faith can teach and bless us in our families.

Prayer is how we communicate with Heavenly Father. My Great Great Grandfather wrote in his life history, that “prayer was the greatest moving force in his life”. Growing up, he learned how to give prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving when kneeling around the breakfast table with his family. It stirred in him gratitude, and a testimony of the gospel and of the commandments from the time he was young. Through prayer, we can give thanks to heavenly father and we can feel of his love for us, and even receive personal revelation to help guide us.

In our families, we have the chance to learn repentance and forgiveness often. Like when a baby sister breaks our favorite toy, or when we have to apologize for hurting someones feelings, and ask for their forgiveness. When we do forgive we are following the lords teachings when he says “of you it is required to forgive all men”. Sometimes repentance and forgiveness is hard, but it can bless our lives and our families lives when we use the help of Jesus Christ and His atonement.

We can learn respect in our families by following the golden rule. My grandpa Brown said the two greatest life lessons he learned from his father were to treat people the way he would want to be treated, and to be honest with everyone. Learning to respect our family members will help us have a greater respect for ourselves and for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Love requires service, kindness, gentleness and a willing happy attitude. My grandmothers and great grandma are good example of love to me. They are most loved and admired by her families by the love and kindness they have given when others needed it most. They show up happy to help, don't judge and follow what the Savior taught when he said “A new commandment that I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you love one to another". We can all learn to give love and receive love in our families.

Learning compassion in our families makes us have to step outside of ourselves and see anothers need as more important than our own. We can learn and show compassion by praying for or fasting for our family members, by giving them a hug or spending time with them, by listening to them, by helping them and by being there to tell them something kind.

Working keeps our mind and body healthy and moving. Working teaches us new things. Every member of a family has work to do. When a family works together to get things done, family life runs smoother, and happier. Working hard teaches us that “money doesn't grow on trees” and we can find satisfaction in finishing something we have started.

Spending time together as a family builds memories and helps us learn and grow together. My favorite times with my family have been…

In our families we can learn the Saviors principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities. And if we do this, we can find happiness.

*testimony about families.

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