I heard a quote long ago about teaching and learning the Gospel should always start in our home. The prophet once said -
“the most important of the Lord’s work that you [fathers] will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home. Home teaching, bishopric’s work, and other Church duties are all important, but the most important work is within the walls of your home” (Harold B. Lee - Strengthening the Home, pamphlet, 1973, p. 7).
It leads me to question, what's Special about it? Why not church meetings, ministering, temple attendance, and so on?
But, as I deepen my understanding of it. It came to my mind that the Church and its Teachings or Doctrine were all about family and the Eternal Destination of both Man and Woman and their Children. We believe that we all belong to a Grand Heavenly Family.
Elder Gene R. Cook in one of his messages during the Annual General Conference titled "Home and Family: A Divine Eternal Pattern"
Yet some still say, “I don’t have a family. I’m all alone.” May I remind you that you always were and ever will be a member of the family of God. You are his son or his daughter. It doesn’t matter if your parents or spouse or brothers or sisters are members, nonmembers, living, or dead, they are still your family. And if you are righteous and faithful to the end, no matter what your present status, you ultimately will be blessed as part of a family unit. Thus, it behooves all of us to learn and live, to the degree we can in our present situation, the principles governing family life in preparation for exaltation, whether we’re a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, or a child—whether we are single or married. This is the Lord’s pattern, His expanded view of the word family.
And what's the scriptural pattern? During Christ's visit to the people in ancient America, he says this -
3 Nephi 17:1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand.
2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.
3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
So, the question remains, why did Christ instruct them to return home to ponder every word he said? Why not church meetings, ministering, temple attendance, and so on?
The answer is simple, and one of the Church Bible Dictionary that was made for a simple study says this -
Temple: A temple is literally a house of the Lord, a holy sanctuary in which sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the living and also in behalf of the dead. A place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.
Now you know the reason.
 |
| Bible Dictionary. Taken from my wife's scripture. |