“Prophets Teach Me to Strengthen My Family,” Friend, Oct. 2004, 40

Poster Article:
Prophets Teach Me to Strengthen My Family*

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, … whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38).

Jesus Christ directs His church through prophets. In D&C 21:5 we read, “For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.”

We can read the words of ancient prophets in the scriptures. We should also listen to the words of our latter-day prophets during general conference and read them in the Church magazines.

President Gordon B. Hinckley teaches us many ways we can help our families, such as praying as a family each day, morning and evening. He says: “Pray together. There is no substitute for family prayer when all kneel together before the Lord” (Ensign, May 1999, 89).

President Hinckley and the other leaders of the Church teach us what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to do to become better people. We show our love and respect for Heavenly Father, for His Son Jesus Christ, and for our leaders by following their teachings.

Activities and Ideas

Remove page 41 and mount it on heavy paper. Cut out the squares, and match each prophet with his statement about families.
For a family home evening activity, play a prophet matching game with your family. Mix the cards up, and turn them face down. Take turns choosing two cards. Try to match each picture of a prophet with his statement about families. When you finish playing the game, glue or staple each statement card to the back of the correct picture card and save them to use in talks or lessons.
For a family home evening lesson or Primary talk, discuss the statement by President Hinckley. Set a goal to listen to and follow the prophet.

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Presidents of the Church

“Slack not your duties in your families.”
Joseph Smith (1805–44)

“We should commence our labors of love and kindness with the family to which we belong.”
Brigham Young (1801–77)

“Make your homes joyous.”
John Taylor (1808–87)

“Obey your parents in all things and comfort their hearts.”
Wilford Woodruff (1807–98)

“Family unity must prevail in Zion.”
Lorenzo Snow (1814–1901)

“To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman.”
Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918)

“The Lord has called upon us to pray with our families.”
Heber J. Grant (1856–1945)

“Children are worth more than all the treasures of the world.”
George Albert Smith (1870–1951)

“It is possible to make home a bit of heaven.”
David O. McKay (1873–1970)

“The family is the most important organization in time or in eternity.”
Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972)

“The most important of the Lord’s work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.”
Harold B. Lee (1899–1973)

“We know the family to be eternal.”
Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)

“It is crucial that the family draw closer together in righteousness.”
Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)

“The Church has the responsibility—and the authority—to preserve and protect the family as the foundation of society.”
Howard W. Hunter (1907–95)

“The greatest joys of life are experienced in happy family relationships.”
Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–)

Note: If you do not wish to remove pages from the magazine, this activity may be copied, traced, or printed from the Internet at www.lds.org. Click on Gospel Library.

Family photograph by John Luke

Detail from Jesus Knocking at the Door by Del Parson