The power of family prayer

Two strong admonitions on family prayer in the latest general conference:

Which parent in Book of Mormon times would have let their sons march out to the front of battle without a breastplate and shield and sword to protect them against the potentially mortal blows of the enemy? But how many of us let our children march out the front door each morning to the most dangerous of all battlefields, to face Satan and his myriad of temptations, without their spiritual breastplate and shield and sword that come from the protective power of prayer?              

~Tad R. Callister  "Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of their Children"  October 2014 General conference

Parents, help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a nonnegotiable priority in your daily life.

~Richard G. Scott  "Make the Exercise of Faith your First Priority"  October 2014 general conference

Come Unto Me

I have spent time pondering what it means to take the invitation of the Savior to "Come Unto Me".  As you know, this scripture is one of my very favorites and has great meaning to me. 

Matthew 11:28-30

 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In his latest general conference address, Elder Richard G. Scott gave us some insight on this:

When we are consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to “come unto Him.” 

So when we are doing these things, the troubles we have won't go away, but there will be more strength available, more tender mercies along the way, and peace in the midst of trial.  Elder Scott also said this:

The more we develop these habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us but the less is his ability to do so.

So along with peace and strength from God, it lessens the pull from Satan.

Here is the link to the entire address: Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority

Here is another quote from this gem of a talk:

Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a nonnegotiable priority in your daily life.

I love the strength and inspiration that comes from prophets and apostles at general conference!

Compulsory means

The other morning, I was watching a discussion of BYU religion professors talk about Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  That is a wonderful section and full of so much doctrine and inspiration.  One of the professors made an interesting comment about these verses that has caused me to think about quite a bit:

36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

 37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

The comment that the professor made was that we can't use Satan's tools (that is, compulsion and force, etc.) to do the Lord's work.  That never works.

I wanted to post on this so that I can remember it.  Some food for thought today.