Rearing Children in Love and Righteousness

 Parenting With Love, Limits, and Latitude:
Proclamation Principles and Supportive Scholarship

In Successful Marriages and Families it states, "In order to promote optimal development and to rear children in love and righteousness, the following are crucial elements for each child, although specific implementations and approaches may be individualized based upon the needs and personality of the particular child:

• Love, warmth, and support
• Clear and reasonable expectations for competent behavior
• Limits and boundaries with some room for negotiation and compromise
• Reasoning and developmentally appropriate consequences and punishments for breaching established limits
• Opportunities to perform competently and make choices
• Absence of coercive, hostile forms of discipline, such as harsh physical punishment, love withdrawal, shaming, and inflicting guilt
• Models of appropriate behavior consistent with self-control, positive values, and positive attitudes"

To Preside- Fathers

"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" states, "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness." A brief examination of this statement makes clear three fundamental realities regarding fatherhood. First, fathers are directed to take upon themselves the responsibility of spiritual leadership in family life as part of a loving Eternal Father's plan for family functioning. Second, a father's responsibility to preside occupies the first and foremost duty among the varied obligations that rest upon men in family life. Third, the manner in which a father is to exercise spiritual guidance among family members is explicitly articulated: "in love and righteousness." These words emphasize that perhaps it is only through the gentle application of love and the consistent example of personal spiritual attentiveness that spiritual persuasion can be appropriately exercised (see D&C 121: 41-42)."

 Bibliography: Hawkins, Alan J, David C Dollahite, and Thomas Draper. Successful Marriages And Families. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, 2012. Print.

Father's Calling- Ezra Taft Benson

Wholesome recreation and adolescents

Wholesome Family Recreation: Building Strong Families

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

"With the onset of adolescence, many children have less interest in recreation with parents and more interest in bring with friends. As teenagers struggle to become independent, a variety of conflicts may naturally arise. Family recreation can create a positive home environment where adolescents feel comfortable discussing conflicts and personal issues. Family recreation can also promote healthy identity development."

"As adolescents develop their own identities, they evaluate personal experiences, interests, and skills. Varied, diverse, fun, and non-threatening recreational experiences help adolescents identify activities they enjoy. This process allows teens to see how their interests and skills are interrelated. It also gives them a sense of personal uniqueness as they differentiate their interests from those of their parents, siblings, and friends. As they engage in specific activities and develop higher levels of skill, the activities and skills become integrated into their identities."

Successful marriages and families: proclamation principles and research perspectives

By: Hawkins, Alan J..
BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
2012

Our Fun Family Vacation - The Importance of Spending Time With Family

Prophetic Counsel on Marital Timing

Prophetic Counsel on Marital Timing

When it comes to counsel about timing related to dating and marriage, our prophetic leaders teach us principles rather than provide precise recommendations. However, this does not mean that the ideal timing of marriage is relative to each person. Prophets and apostles have repeatedly emphasized the importance of marriage in God's plan and the priority that should be given to marriage as young people transition to adulthood. In a devotional with BYU students, President Gordon B. Hinckley (2006, p. 6) said, "I remind you that the association you now enjoy as students is probably the best time of your lives to find your own "Beloved Eternal Companion." Do so with a prayer in your heart. It will be the most important decision you will ever make. It will influence your life from now through all eternity. Elder Dallin H. Oaks (2006, p.13) has also taught, "It's marriage time. That is what the Lord intends for His young adult sons and daughters."

 Hawkins, A., Dollahite, D., & Draper, T. (2012). Successful marriages and families. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

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