Fortifying our Families

Okay, said in yesterdays post that I would put my talk on the blog. I guess it went okay. Wasn't as comfortable speaking as usual but it was okay. I actually was concerned about time as I was the first speaker and didn't want to go over. I spoke as a member of the Elders Quorum Presidency and wanted to make certain that President Fawson had ample time as well as Brother Brown. I had timed it out last night at 10 minutes and did so at a pretty decent clip so I tried to maintain that today. I normally don't get up and read my talk but I pretty much stuck to what I had written today. I did have a few of the older sisters in the ward come up and talk to me a bit about it, not just the good ol "nice talk" but they told me that it really meant a lot to them. One sister had tears in her eyes as she spoke about it and she told me how proud she was of me. I wondered afterwards if these sisters had a history that included divorce. I don't really know. Anyhow, it was kind of sweet. So here is the talk. It is a little long but oh well. Read it if you like.


A young father was home with his kids alone one weekend while his wife was out of State at a Temple Sealing of her younger brother. Despite being a little nervous having his wife away from their youngest child for the first time, everything had gone quite well. At about 3 in the morning the father awoke with a very powerful impression and very clearly in his mind he heard these words “There is evil at the door that is trying to get in and if it gets in it will destroy your family”. His first thoughts were of some immediate danger in the home. He had the baby in bed with him and after a quick examination he knew the baby was fine. He then hurried and checked on his other two children and they were both sleeping soundly. He went on to check the rest of the house and made sure that all of the doors were secure and the home was safe. All was well and after a time the father returned to bed but could not sleep. The impression still lingered in his mind and he wondered what it meant. He began to review his life spiritually and look at things that maybe needed to be improved. The family was diligent in reading the scriptures and saying their prayers. They attended church regularly and served faithfully. Ahh, Family Home Evening could be improved with greater diligence he thought. He also pondered other things, what evil was at the door? What was trying to get in? What were things that the family was doing that would allow that spirit in their home and what could be done to further safeguard against it? Over time changes were made to music, movies and television programming that was coming into the home. Greater emphasis was placed on Family Home Evening. Family scripture reading and prayers continued to be a daily priority. The father felt like he had heeded this prompting from the Lord, his home was strengthened and his family was blessed.

As parents we may not wake up at 3 in the morning with this type of impression. We can however look at the world in which we live and see that the adversary is at work. He does not rest. Much of what he does is loud but his craftiest work is done quietly, subtly. Nephi describes it in these words:

2 Nehpi 26:22
And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

We must be on guard at all times, not only on guard but moving towards the Savior and fortifying our lives. This principle is beautifully taught in Alma Chapter 50:

Alma 50:1-6
1 And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.
3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.
4 And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.
5 And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.
6 Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.


What are the things that we need to do to fortify our homes? Are there things, like the young father, that need to change? We may find it difficult to get some of our family members on board. Our kids may not appreciate our counsel relative to music or tv programming, certainly not video games or computer habits. Making these adjustments may be extremely challenging for many and it will take faith. I am sure that there was some grumbling about crazy Captain Moroni making us dig up earth but look at what happened over time in verse 12, people got on board:

12…Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them…

Moroni pressed forward fortifying the cities with his armies and they did increase daily, why? Because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth. As we go to the Lord and seek his direction we will be strengthened.

President Monson said the following which should be remembered as we press forward

May we also demonstrate kindness and love within our own families. Our homes are to be more than sanctuaries; they should also be places where God’s Spirit can dwell, where the storm stops at the door, where love reigns and peace dwells.

The world can at times be a frightening place in which to live. The moral fabric of society seems to be unraveling at an alarming speed. None—whether young or old or in-between—is exempt from exposure to those things which have the potential to drag us down and destroy us. Our youth, our precious youth, in particular, face temptations we can scarcely comprehend. The adversary and his hosts seem to be working nonstop to cause our downfall.

We are waging a war with sin, my brothers and sisters, but we need not despair. It is a war we can and will win. Our Father in Heaven has given us the tools we need in order to do so. He is at the helm. We have nothing to fear. He is the God of light. He is the God of hope. I testify that He loves us—each one.

In the Church Handbook of Instructions Book 2 we are taught the following relative to Strengthening the Home:
Followers of Christ are invited to “gather,” “stand in holy place,” and “be not moved”. These holy places include temples, homes, and chapels. The presence of the Spirit and the behavior of those within these physical structures are what make them “holy places.”

Wherever Church members live, they should establish a home where the Spirit is present. All members of the Church can make efforts to ensure that their place of residence provides a place of sanctuary from the world…

A Christ centered home offers adults and children a place of defense against sin, refuge from the world, healing from emotional and other pain, and committed, genuine love.

“We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility.

“We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, Feb. 11, 1999).

Family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities; these are the duties we have to perform in our homes. In them is strength and protection from the adversary.

As many of you know I am a single parent. After 13 years of marriage my wife and I went through a divorce and it was the most difficult thing I have ever had to endure. If ever there was someone who felt completely inadequate to be speaking about strengthening families it is me. I am the young father that I spoke about earlier. That experience took place three and a half years ago. I thought that I was doing well and then my life turned upside down. I had received that prompting from the Lord and for a long time I felt that I had failed my family but I have learned some things. When my life was in turmoil and everything seemed to fail the Lord did not fail. All I could do was cling to my children and cling to the things that I knew to be true. There were times when that was extremely difficult to do and there are still difficult times. The things that fortified our family, the things that fortified me and continue to do so are the very things the prophets have counseled us to do: family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. As we learn these duties and perform them to the best of our ability we receive strength. It doesn't mean we are exempt from challenges and times of trial but we receive spiritual power to press forward and make it through.

The Lord loves each of us. As we heed the counsel of the Prophets in strengthening our homes our lives will be fortified and our families blessed. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.