Home: a place of Belonging

I was very touched by Elder Carl B Cook’s talk from priesthood session. He spoke of strong quorums but I saw a description of what this family need to become. If like to make the following statement prominent in our family culture:

The Lord would have you establish a place of belonging for each and every person, a place where the Lord’s Spirit is present, a place where all are welcome and valued.

After work I say down with all the kids and reviewed that talk and discussed the need to create that. I told them all their actions would be judged by two standards:

1. Do their actions demonstrate that they are part of something larger than themselves?
2. Do their actions make others feel welcome and valued?

I’m hoping that even after kids move out we can have this feeling in our hearts:

We may be separated by distance but we are still there for each other.

Sadly I am confident that any child leaving home now would not feel that way.