My Happy Place: FAMILY HOME EVENING - FOLLOW UP TO GENERAL CONFERENCE

I have made an executive decision at my house that for the next several weeks, we will have a family night from one of the general conference talks. Tonight's lesson is one that correlates with Pres. Uchtdorf's opening talk during the Saturday morning session. I formed it to the needs of my family, but it's taken from his basic subject.

Following the prayer we like to do "Bravo's" (thanks Lani for the idea years ago!!) to highlight specific accomplishments big or small of individual family members, and everyone claps for them cheering "Bravo!"

Lesson: (This will be brief, because the majority of family night tonight will be spent in the yard, doing some cleanup to get ready for winter.)

I will begin by telling them that I have some jobs for them to do. (Cue the whining and moaning, I'm sure.) I'll start with Calli, hand her a small candy bar and tell her to eat it. (She's my sugar-aholic) Then, I'll tell Sheylee to hold and pet the kitty - who she LOVES. Then I will tell Kade to give his dad a big hug. Then I will explain that all those things I had them do, because I knew it would make them happy. To a certain extent, the Gospel is simple like this. God gives us commandments, things that He knows will make us happy. The commandments are not restrictions, in fact, if we do NOT keep the commandments, our life will ultimately become very difficult.

Our happiness in the future all depends on our ability to live the Gospel and do the simple tasks that our loving Heavenly Father has established for us. He knows what will make us happy.

How thankful I am, to have been able to hear from the living prophet this past weekend, and hear what it is God wants us to know that will keep us safe and happy in this future. Where would we end up if we didn't have a course mapped out for us to follow? I will tell them of our plan for the next several family nights reinforcing what the apostles have taught us over this past conference weekend.

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.