During a conversation with a man named Landolphe D'Aquin-B MD, THD, he asked me, "Beyond us, what holds the family together?" He then followed with this statement, "The family must have a higher purpose or mission." I told him our family's mission is to build a foundation anchored in Jesus Christ that we may stand strong against life's troubles.
In an address about families, Dean M. Davies, a religious leader, said, "In order to withstand the tempests, earthquakes and calamities of life, we must build upon a sure foundation." To build this foundation, Mr. Davies recommends prayer, reading scriptures and participating in a sacrament or communion worthily. He said these steps will "anchor our lives to the atonement of Jesus Christ."
The importance of reading scriptures as a family
The scriptures are an important resource for families. They contain the information and tools necessary to build a family's strong foundation. In our family, we spend one night a week together with just the family. One of the activities that we enjoy doing during this time is reading about scripture topics. We then like to discuss what we learned from the passages and how what we learned will influence our choices in the future and how it would have helped with our choices in the past. Understanding these tools comes from daily reading of the scriptures which is necessary to strengthen personal, as well as family foundations against troubles.
Your foundation is sure when its strength comes from obedience to the laws and ordinances found in the scriptures as explained by Jesus Christ.
A passage in Matthew 7: 24-27 says, "Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."
This passage reminds us that family and personal scripture study is an important tool for your sure foundation.
The importance of praying together as a family
The power of prayer is another important tool for building a strong family foundation. Mr. Davies also said, "Sharing our thoughts, feelings and desires with God through sincere and heartfelt prayer should become to each of us as important and natural as breathing and eating." As our children grow, they still look forward to family prayer. And I look forward to daily prayer with my husband.
Search the scriptures for answers and pray for understanding to follow what you've learned from reading scriptures. These steps are an integral part of establishing a strong family foundation.
