The Meanings and Blessings of Family Work

The Meanings and Blessings of Family Work

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of …work.”

I heard today that they have created a pill that will replace exercise. That pretty much sums up how the world views work. It seems much of the population banks on winning the lottery so they don’t have to work for the rest of their lives. Our free time is spent surfing the Internet or some form of entertainment that only requires watching and not doing.

Gordon B. Hinckley listed families working together as one of the four things that could “in a generation or two” turn society’s “moral values” around. (1996, September) Four simple things to help our families and our nations Ensign 26, 2-8

Attitudes towards work have change through out the years. My mom was required to work on the farm and assist in taking care of her siblings. All the kids had to work and I would say much of the reason the siblings are still connected is because they built relationships while working together.

“The daily work of feeding, clothing and sheltering others has the power to transform us spiritually as we transform others physically. Said Elder Russell M. Nelson: “the home is the great laboratory of love. There the raw chemicals of selfishness and greed are melded in the crucible of cooperation to yield compassionate concern and love one for another.” (1999, May) Our Sacred duty to honor women. Ensign 29, 38-40.

“ Family work is a lifelong opportunity, essential to the process of becoming like our heavenly parents. It was not meant to be consistently easy, convenient, or well-managed. Even parents who appreciate the value of family work get discouraged on the days it seems fraught with tedium and turmoil. Children quarrel, refuse to help, or must be cajoled and persuaded. Parents tire of cleaning the same messes, listening to the same arguments, and folding the same towels day after day after day. No wonder families see a system that will remove these problems once and for all. (Kathleen Slaugh Bahr, Kristine Manwaring, Cheri Loveless, and Erika Bailey Bahr, 2012, p.219 Successful Marriages and Families)

Working together as a family is a key to building relationships, having fun, learning to work, and teaching responsibility to name a few blessings.

King Benjamin admonishes parents to teach their children to love one another and serve one another. (Mosiah 4:15)

“Indeed, the commandment to “love one another” does not carry the caveat, “if you feel like it.” Even though many families today associate housework more often with conflict than with love and service, that is no excuse to yield to societal pressures.” (Kathleen Slaugh Bahr, Kristine Manwaring, Cheri Loveless, and Erika Bailey Bahr, 2012, p.219 Successful Marriages and Families)

Working in the temple for me is being a part of a beautiful work. “President Henry B. Eyring has promised that if we seek opportunities to work in behalf of others, “ the Atonement working in our lives will prudence in us the love and tenderness we need.” (Kathleen Slaugh Bahr, Kristine Manwaring, Cheri Loveless, and Erika Bailey Bahr, 2012, p.220 Successful Marriages and Families)