Establishing a Christ-Centered Home - Richard J. Maynes

  Did you know that when you are reading the conference talks on lds.org you can click on the presenters name and learn more about that person? It was helpful to do that with Elder Maynes as I was not familiar with him. He served in Uruguay/Paraguay Mission, the country that we spent a little time in a few days back.
  Right off the bat he brought in the song our family sang so many times. I Am a Child of God was probably sung in our home when our children were growing, more than any other. It was right up there with Book of Mormon Stories. When we talk about our family here they are surprised that we have seven children and many grandchildren. Small families here are the norm and there are excuses made for this fact, but when they think about our family in relation to what we believe about eternity they are pensive. In Brasil as well as throughout the world the battle against families rages on. The attacks using selfishness, greed, and pornography are the same here as at home, but the calm and true principle of family resonates with people when it is discussed.
  While our challenges to hold the weekly Family Home Evening were always there, I think that it was held often enough that the fact that it was held is still in the hearts of our children now as they confront the same challenges. As Elder Maynes relates, the lessons were quickly forgotten but the fact that we held them remains.
  "Learning, teaching, and practicing the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our homes helps create a culture where the Spirit can dwell. Through establishing these celestial traditions in our homes, we will be able to overcome the false traditions of the world and learn to put the needs and concerns of others first."
  I like where he puts the responsibility for establishing a Christ-centered home on both the parents and the children. Sometimes the gentle promptings or remindings of the small children move the parents and older siblings to do what is right. I have to share here that great poem that he used from C. C. Miller "The Echo."

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

  Several times in this talk he used the word traditions. In our family there have been a number of traditions that have bound us in important ways. These traditions have sometimes had short lives and others longer persistence. They include the following in my memories:

• Christmas 
• Thanksgiving 
• Greer Summers 
• California Vacations 
• Gifting to a Needy Family 
• Colorado Hiking 
• Colorado Biking 
• Price Family Reunions 
• Wednesday (or Monday or whatever day) Lunch with Mom 
• Family Meeting on the First Sunday of the Month 
• Ice Cream after the First School Day 
• Taking a Missionary to Provo 

  Perhaps your family has some others that are unique. Each tradition has built in some events that bring out the qualities required in a Christ-centered home. Traditions give parents and children time together outside of the world's attacks. I am thankful for all the traditions we have and continue to have as a family.