What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

Geoff Carmichael answered…

While video games are not necessarily sinful, the addiction that one can develop can often be troubling in a family. Simple addictions to media can often take time away from focus on our Heavenly Father, the Savior Jesus Christ, and the Spirit. When my wife suggested that I cease my developing addiction to video games, after some struggle, I started to find that I had more time for my family and service. After coming back from Afghanistan, I saw the blessings of not wasting precious time on social networking, video games, or media. Moderation is encouraged however, I recommend avoiding the habits that form addiction.

Michael answered…

With three teenage children as well as two grade-schoolers, it can be challenging to find harmony. Everyone is so busy all the time, that we often do not have time to spend together. However, we always reserve Monday nights for Family Home Evening. This is a time set-aside in which we play games, discuss our busy lives, have a gospel-related discussion or lesson, and just enjoy one another's company. We also take time every day to read scriptures together. Although we aren't always together every evening, the children know that we always read scriptures together in our home at an appointed time.

We also make a special effort to recognize our children's accomplishments. At the end of every school year, we have a special night out as a family in which we have a nice dinner, and celebrate what each child has done during the school year. We take time to set goals for the summer, and simply take the time to be together.

At the beginning of each school year, I have the privilege of giving a special blessing to each of my children. As a holder of the Priesthood, I am authorized to bless others, and as a father, this is a wonderful experience. After a visit with each child, I place my hand upon their head and call upon the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven to give them the strength and the courage to face the many challenges that come in a school year. Through this experience, I learn to rely upon inspiration to perceive Heavenly Father's will towards them, and I find that I learn more about each child's strengths, weaknesses, and their hopes and dreams.

Without the blessings that come from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I would find it much more difficult to develop harmony in the home.

Mary Kaye answered…

Knowing that our family can be together forever gives an eternal perspective on trials in the home. There is greater harmony when you feel that you are all working together for a common purpose. We are human and we all have failings, but knowing the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement has helped us to change and be patient with other family member's mistakes. The Atonement makes it possible to forgive others and for them to forgive me. I think this is the greatest help to harmony in the home.

Karen Elizabeth answered…

The first thing that has helped my family develop love and harmony is prayer. Every morning, my family gathers together to pray. We start the day with prayer, asking for help throughout the day to feel the Spirit touch our lives. We pray for each member of our family, and their various needs for the day. We pray again at mealtimes. We again bow our heads in prayer to thank our Father for helping us throughout the day.
Next, every evening, we gather to read and study the Scriptures. As we do this, we try to look for the lessons that apply to our days here on earth. We read personally, but every day we make it a point to read the Scriptures together.
Every Monday evening, we try to have Family Home Evening. This is something we are working on becoming more regular with. We take turns teaching a gospel based lesson to the rest of the family. Sometimes, we just gather together as a family to have fun.
Right now, we have something new we have added. Since I was just called to be the organist at church, I like to practice the more reverent hymns at night after family prayer, and it helps the children fall asleep faster with fewer little squabbles. In the morning, before sending them off to school, I like to play certain other hymns. The addition of music in our house has increased the harmony nin our home in the past few weeks.

Andrew answered…

When you grow up in a practicing Mormon home, you learn the importance of strengthening family relationships and learning how to get along with each other. God's plan for the family, after all, is to have it continue in the next life, never to end. I grew to love all the members of my immediate family dearly, even if I didn't understand them completely or get along with them all the time. The teachings of the gospel-- of repentence, love, service, prayer, forgiveness-- over time helped us to put aside most of our differences and work in relative harmony.

My parents always did their best to teach us right principles, to love God and everyone else around us. Most importantly, they taught by example. My mother was (and is) an ideal model of charity, service, and sacrifice. She listened. I could talk to her about anything or ask anything of her. My father was a staunch advocate of integrity, hard work, and frugality. He taught me the value of eating the fruits of your own labor and the importance of budgeting. I can count on one hand the number of times I saw my parents argue.

Danielle answered…

My husband and I never raise our voices to each other. We always strive to build each other up with encouragement, love, and funny nicknames instead of tearing each other down with blame and nagging. We keep pictures of Christ and of the temple in very visible places in our home; displaying our faith helps us remember to treat each other kindly, like Christ would treat others.

Dagny answered…

I have found that we have the most harmony in our home when we make time for one another. We try to have the TV turned off as much as possible during the day. We find ways to go outside and spend time together. We also make it a goal to have dinner together every night, read scriptures together every night, and finish off each day with family prayer.

Tricia answered…

When our family reads The Book of Mormon together on a daily basis we have more peace in our home. There is a reverence that comes into our lives Even our young children can feel it. We treat each other with more love and understanding. We speak nicer to each other. It is amazing the power that this book has.

Derek answered…

Although we are not perfect at this, my wife and I try to read from the scriptures and pray together every day. It brings us closer because it gives us the opportunity to read about and discuss the truths of the gospel as a couple.

Beyond the daily routine, we try to plan memorable activities that we both enjoy. We have been able to go on some fun, interesting, and educational trips over the past few years we have been married. In addition to enriching us as individuals, this has been a source of harmony in our relationship.

Emerson answered…

Our family is a priority, and we make time to be together. We pray as a family every day, we hold family night every Monday to talk about the Savior and Gospel Principles and my wife and I go to the Temple each month. We have an eternal perspective, and as a result, the decisions we make as a family are made to put ourselves in the best position to serve the Lord now and throughout our lifetime. We try to be the best example for our son, so he can make the same decisions as he gets older.

Rose answered…

I'd always been a little hot headed, type A, red personality that left a wave of destruction in my path. As I matured and realized that I had never been taught that this was TOTALLY inappropriate controllable behavior - I started to work on it myself. It was a rough road, trust me, but with mantra's like "this issue is not worth wrecking my marriage" and "So what if I don't agree, we can just disagree on this." Calm compromise, and saving the strong feelings for important issues I slowly calmed the waters in my life and try hard to be the eye of the hurricane.
Reading many books written by wonderful LDS women was very motivating for me. Here a favorite I Didn't Plan to be a Witch by Linda Eyre. Great book and funny too!  

Kirk answered…

We are a blended family with 10 children. The blending of a family of this size can be very challenging. They are all grown now, but when they were younger we followed the council of a living prophet. He instructed us as church members in how to strengthen our family. In following that council, we found that a daily 10-15 minute period of reading in the scriptures every morning altogether as a family, combined with family prayer, were sources of great strength and comfort. Sure we had our disagreements and even arguments sometimes, but when we followed this simple approach we had greater harmony in our home.

Jance answered…

What has helped develop harmony in my home is service. If you serve others you grow to love them. So when you serve you family it brings more love and that brings more harmony. We have service projects that our entire family participates in. It is realy hard to deslike some one you serve. When you serve your family in little ways, like cleaning the kitchen or taking the garbage out, it shows that you love them. One other thing helps bring harmony in the home and that is time, time is love. When you spend time on some one it shows that you love them. So what does that mean when you spend more time at work or on your car? I have noticed that I grow to love those I serve and spend time with. These are two things that you learn in the Gospel and that I have been raised with.

Joan answered…

I am a strong believer in family home evening, family scripture reading, and family prayer. Of course our children had sibling squabbles growing up. They have grown to be best friends, good citizens, peacemakers, loving spouses. I fully believe this is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that we clung to it, believed it, and tried to live it the best we could.

Brady answered…

I believe that happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Striving to live the teachings of Jesus Christ has unified our desires and goals. Because Jesus Christ is the epitome of all godly virtues, we can look to Him to be our example in all things. Thinking of Christ allows us as a family to be merciful, patient, loving, gentle, and kind. We all have our faults, but the grace of Christ allows us to love one another despite those faults. One specific thing that has brought harmony to our home is family prayer. We pray together as a family multiple times every day. That act alone has made us feel a great sense of love and unity.

Austin answered…

Following the gospel plain and simple. My wife and I are in no way perfect, we have our differences and disagreements. But we have seen as we both follow the gospel of Jesus Christ and and strive to do what He wants us to do, our differences have seemed to fade away and our love has flourished. As we set our family goals on eternal things and not just the things of the world, the spirit has been able to dwell in our tiny little apartment and harmony has developed.

Daniel answered…

For my wife and I the knowledge of the gospel has brought us closer together. We know that because we are sealed together that we will be with each other after this life. This makes us try harder to show love in this life towards each other. As we kneel in prayer together we feel the Spirit of God which increases the peace in our home and the love we share.

Michael Joe answered…

The specific teachings of our modern prophet Joseph Smith found in Section 121 of the Doctrine & Covenants especially verses 41 to 44 have helped me greatly to develop harmony in our home. Previous to my understanding these teachings I was very controlling and manipulative of my wife and children. I attempted to 'make them' be obedient in whatever I thought was right, to follow God and to even go to Church. They rebelled against this and the result was the opposite of what I desired.

I sought God's help in following His teachings. It took much heartache and many years of work. As He has changed my heart so that I only persuade with long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love and kindness, a wonderful harmony has come about in our home.

D&C Section 121
41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—
43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

John answered…

Knowing that my marriage is not just for this life, but can last through eternity, has brought more harmony into my home than anything else.

Dianna answered…

I have found that to have greater harmony in my home it helps to be on the same page with my family. We try as a family to be informed about what is going on in each others lives. We try to support each other in everything we're doing. Also I've found that if my husband and I have daily couple prayer and scripture study it really helps the Spirit in our home.

Mike answered…

Our home is very busy with four growing boys, a busy career, community activities, etc. We are working towards having harmony in our home. Working being the operative word!

However, one of the great passages found in the Book of Mormon that gives us a "sure" foundation from which we can build harmony, reads: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).

Jane answered…

Now that I am married and learning to create a home of my own, I have found that studying the scriptures and praying with my husband each night has been one of the greatest sources of peace and unity for us. It not only increases my understanding of the scriptures by reading aloud, asking questions, and sharing our thoughts and testimonies. It invites the Holy Ghost into the home; it encourages reverence; it helps us refocus after a stressful, busy, or super silly day; and prepares us to communicate honestly and respectfully with one another as well as with Heavenly Father. I was honestly surprised how much it would increase love and unity between us, since I did not pay much attention to how it affected my family while I was growing up. I know now that it is wise advice to pray and study scriptures together as a family.

Fritz Griffioen answered…

With six young children, our home is sometimes chaotic. But we love it, we love each other, and we really do get along more often than not.

I'd say it begins with an understanding that our family can be together forever. When you know that your family relationships can be eternal, you look at each other differently. You're not just passing the time until your children grow up and leave. Instead, you want to build relationships that can last and last.

We have a photograph of the Toronto temple, where my wife and I were married not "until death do you part," but forever. We're grateful for this blessing, and try to treat each other accordingly. I think the kids can tell that mom and dad are in it for the long-haul!

We attend Church together, we play together, and we eat dinner together each day. They are simple things, but over the months and years, they really add up and make a difference.

We also have a Monday Family night, as encouraged by the Church. We usually have a lesson. Sometimes we play a game, or go to the park together. Everyone's glad when there's some kind of treat too.

Again, it's a simple thing, but the message to our children is clear Our family comes first.

And that knowledge, in action, helps us to to love each other through thick and thin, and to live more happily together than we otherwise could.

Bryan answered…

Although our children are young, everyday we read scriptures and pray as a family. This brings peace and greater love to our home.

Tom answered…

Spending time as a family, even if it's only doing family dinner together. This gives you an opportunity to share your experiences, interests, and talents with one another, and brings you closer together.

Guillermina answered…

When it seemed that my family had no choice and was in the line of disintegration, really knew that God loves us and wants us, He helped me get my family and we know we can strengthen it be an eternal family and that is the best gift!!

Cuando mi familia parecia que no tenia mas remedio y estaba en la linea de la desintegracion, conocimos realmente lo que Dios nos ama y quiere de nosotros, el me ayudo a recuperar a mi familia y fortalecerla ahora sabemos que podemos ser una Familia eterna y ese es el mejor regalo!!!!

Ike Tippetts answered…

We have been blessed to have a marriage and children that are centered in Jesus Christ. Everything we do has a basis in our faith in Christ and what we believe to be His church. This is our glue -- our best kept secret for harmony. In this we hope for, pray for and work for an eternal family.

Susie answered…

We pray together and stay together. Even when someone can't be there, there is always prayer in our home. We pray together when we can. We pray individually. There isn't any raising of voices against each other. There is peace that dwells in our home. Keeping a house of order is a great help in doing this.

Brad answered…

Talking to my mother a lot about the gospel and watching her example has helped me to stay strong in the gospel. She is such a wonderful example. She has a solid belief in Jesus Christ and in his role in helping us. She has been a wonderful example to me.

My mom from an early age has strived to gather our family in prayer and scripture study. I know that it is so important to have a family that prays together and learns from each other. I love my family. Because of the gospel, I want to be better. Serving others and reading the scriptures as a family and individually are also instrumental in keeping families strong.

Jason Freeman answered…

I have three very active children and I spend a lot of time in school which makes things hard on my wife. We have been in the habit of reading the scriptures every day. When we started reading regularly my kids were against the idea, but now they enjoy it and look forward to reading their verse. We used to read other kids books and The Book of Mormon sometimes but reading the scriptures consistently has made a valuable impression about the life of the Savior on my children as well as helping them learn new vocabulary. Reading the word of God brings power into our lives.

Emily answered…

Prayer and family scripture study brings peace in our home. It's obvious when we are not doing these things regularly enough because the atmosphere in our home is not as pleasant as we are used to.

Derek answered…

In our home, we have always had a good time laughing, playing and joking with each other. A few years ago, we realized that our relationships with one another were becoming strained as we would say hurtful things in our joking. We quickly began to pray together that we would be mindful of others' feelings, and say helpful and uplifting things to one another. Since then, we have had the blessing of the spirit of God filling our home, minds and spirits.

Valerie Jean answered…

When we strive to have patience with one another's weaknesses. When we try to forgive each other, because we all have imperfections. The more we live in harmony with the gospel, the happier we are. When we read the scriptures and pray together as a family, it brings the spirit into our home. When we have meaningful Family Home Evening each Monday night, go to church each Sunday and participate in other church activities, all of these events are calculated to help us. When my husband and I go to the temple, our entire family is blessed.

Sue answered…

When my children were young we had family home evening on Monday nights where we spent time together. We studied the gospel, played games, and always had refreshments. We had family scripture study and prayer in the morning before the boys went to school.

Now that it is just my husband and me, we continue to read together and have family prayer.

It's important to forgive and forget often. Focus on each others good traits and not on their weaknesses.

James answered…

Love, patience and kindness are the three points that bring harmony into the home. We have these traits to some degree but we live in a fallen world. Daily scripture study, time with the family and prayer are the three best ways to develop these behaviors. I promise that as you do these things individually and together you will rise above the petty things of this world.

Steve answered…

Daily Family Prayer. We strive to pray as a family at least once per day. This helps us invite the influence of the holy Ghost into our home and form stronger family bonds.

Jon answered…

I have no idea where I would be without the Gospel in my life. My family would certainly be different. The Gospel has become one of the major similarities that bind us together. It's hard to say which aspect of the Gospel really has helped create harmony in our home. It would be more accurate to say that the Gospel has created us entirely which has affected the harmony at home. No, perfection has not been reached. But understanding, forgiveness, hope, and purpose have been vital to our unity.

Daniel C. Barnes answered…

To develop greater harmony in our house, we have pictures of the Saviour Jesus Christ. We also have nice inviting invironment in our home which makes it good to be there.

Julie answered…

Greater harmony was created in our home as my parents gathered all of us children together on a daily basis to read from the scriptures and to pray together as a family. We came to know God, and were united in our struggles and challenges. My parents also gathered the family on a weekly basis to just have fun, and to learn from each other. Spending time together as a family made us happy, and created harmony in our home.

Christine answered…

Having harmony in our home is a struggle. I have 5 children ages 2, 4, 7, 11, 13 each child comes with their own unique challenges...such as ADHD, Autism, and learning disibilities. It can be hard to balance things for us. I tell you though I see heavenly blessing pour forth as I live the principals of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When I am reading my scrirpture daily, I find that I have much more patience with my husband and children, and I find answers to the prayers of my heart.
When I am kneeling in prayer, I find I have more strength to face the physical challenges demanded of me during my day.
When I do acts of service for others, I find more happiness in my heart, and grow in the spirit of love and trust.
When I attend church regularly, I grow in my love for Jesus and all those I'm around.
When I attend the holy temple of the Lord, I am able to leave the filth and influences of the world and feel peace in my heart and a clarity in my mind
When I pay a full tithing I find I always have more than sufficient for my needs.

Though I am imperfect in the use of my time, and often fail to do all the things our loving Heavenly Father would have me do, he still blesses me as I TRY to do his will. I have truly seen His hand in my life and the blessings poured out on me and my families in ways I never could have imagined. God lives. Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. The Spirit of God is real and can direct us in all aspects of our lives. Miracles are not just for those of Bible times. Miracles are happening in the world today.

You will find peace and harmony in your home as your turn to your God and maker. Although life will always have problems, pain, and sorrow, God has the answers to help you and I make it through the dark times and the unhappy times of family life.

Here is a wonderful article about healing strained family relationships!! http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2012/04?lang=eng&vid=1541950013001&cid=4

Matt answered…

Living the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy has helped us develop a stronger bond as a family. From the time our children were very young, we have made Sunday a "day-off" from the regular world. We turn off the TV, set aside regular leisure activities, and focus on developing our family relationships. It may seem old-fashioned, but we make it a point to gather round the dinner table and enjoy our Sunday meal together. We spend time singing hymns, playing family games, or just having discussions about life in general. As parents, it has helped us build a loving and trusting relationships within our family.

Holly answered…

One of the great comforts and testimonies, for me, of the LDS faith is what it has done for my family. My parents both came from families that, while full of decent people, had been troubled for generations. When those two beautiful people married, they consciously decided that their marriage would last and that their family would be grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mom and Dad kept their commitment, and forty-odd years later, they are still together and still serving as examples to their children. Isaiah 58 reads, "The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, .... And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." That is what Jesus Christ has done for my family through covenants, through the teachings of the church, He healed the "waste places" of "generations."
How can I not love the gospel? 

Meagan answered…

After visiting with missionaries and having a few lessons on the standards Mormons uphold, my husband and I challenged ourselves to put into practice what we learned. I couldn't believe that my husband stopped drinking coffee after one lesson and I was so inspired that I followed suit. We have never turned back.
As we read scriptures daily, pray as a family daily, and keep the Sabbath day holy by staying together as a family and focusing on the Lord, we have experienced a complete change in the atmosphere of our home. After seeing parents and families end in divorce and experiencing anger and impatience in our homes growing up, we now have 100% assurance that we will not follow in the footsteps of those tragedies.

Elizabeth answered…

Simple, family unity. We put family first, pray and have scripture study together. As we do this it creates a sweet spirit in our home that makes us happy and loving towards one another. It creates a happy place to be. 

Katie answered…

As we have learned and grown together over the years, we have started to make better decisions and be better examples. As we go through trials as a family, we are strengthened unto even better things. If we humble ourselves enough to realize our weaknesses and try better approaches to caring for our family, we have been blessed with a strength of love kindness in our home.

Catherine answered…

When we study together each week about our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what they would have us do it helps to strengthen our family. It reminds us of how we should treat each other as a family. Also praying together helps so much. Hearing someone pray for you by name melts away any contention you may have been feeling towards them.

Meredith answered…

 Reading the scriptures together. We talk about what we think the verses we've read mean, and how we can apply them to our lives.

Brad answered…

The more consistent we are with having purposeful scripture study and prayer as a family, the more peace and joy we feel in our home.

Marc (Bo) answered…

Daily prayer with my family has helped maintain a loving, caring environment where the Holy Ghost can abide. We find that if we start and end every day with a family prayer we are more caring, more loving, less contentious and argumentative. In short we have a happier home.

Julie answered…

Every week we attend church together, and on Monday nights have a Family Night. An evening we do a spiritual lesson, play a game, or go on an adventure together. My kids LOVE family night. One of my favorite things is to watch a fun movie together on the weekend. We pick out a special treat, then sit, snuggle, and munch! I love it! Every morning and night we say family prayer. After our evening prayer we do a family cheer. We want our kids to know we are united. We are a team!

Dustin answered…

As we eat dinner together as a family, have a "family night" 1-2 times a week and practice family prayer and scripture study i have seen an increase of love and respect in our home and with our family. we love each other and support each other. this has greatly increased the love and harmony in our home. we are all hear for a purpose and will help each other be the best that we can be. that is why family love is all about.

Paul answered…

My parents were not very active while I was growing up, in fact my dad did not want to have much to do with the church at all. As I was married and "sealed" to my wife for time and all eterniy, and later adopted a newborn daughter and had her "sealed" to us my dad saw how important the temple is. I had several discussions with my dad about the temple, to which he really started to open up to me and admit why he was hesitant about going to the temple. A little more than a year after our daughter's sealing my parents went to the temple to be married "for time and all eternity," and four of their five sons sealed to them. The not so good relationships that my brothers and me had growing up were becoming a thing of the past. We now have a wonderful relationship with our dad and enjoy spending time with him, whereas we didn't enjoy being in the same room with him growing up. The eternal marriage of my parents has brought their children closer to them, and them closer to their children. I wouldn't trade my parents for anything in the world!

Bryce answered…

Compassion for others has always been a very important lesson in my house. We as a family have a family home evening once a month where we sit in a circle and take turns telling every person in the circle why we love them and what they mean to us. We call it the circle of love.

Spencer answered…

Leo Tolstoy summed up the purpose and power of having a home centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "All happy families resemble one another, but all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way."

There is no greater foundation for success, growth, happiness and lasting love than the principles restored to the earth that can now be bound forever.

Erin answered…

Well, I've found that if Mom if off her spiritual rocker, everyone is. To help prevent this, I have been putting the talks from General Conference on my cell phone and listening to them throughout my day. It keeps me more centered and grounded and helps me get perspective everyday. Everyone benefits from a more calm and peaceful mom.

Toetu answered…

Even with the different personalities in my family, having the same spiritual goals help us to help each other's progress in Life.

Michael answered…

The Church teaches us to read the scriptures and pray daily with our family and to spend one night a week together as a family. As a Family Therapist I have noticed that those clients that are so torn apart with various busy schedules experience a very difficult time maintaining harmony, peace and often love in the home. I help them reduce their schedules, spend family dinner time each night at a dinner table in the home and dedicate one night a week to be together with their families. This has increased harmony in my own home with my own family, and has helped numerous client families increase love, peace and harmony in their homes as well.

Danilo answered…

Family Home Evening, Family prayer, regular attendance to Sunday Services and magnifying our calling in the church developed harmonious relationship in our home.

Drake Brown answered…

One Sunday at church when our oldest children were nearly teenagers, the teacher proposed that when parents set really clear family standards and then support the standards with regular family meetings where the kids can share their ideas too, that parent/youth relationships during the teenage years can be really sweet. We tried that and it worked great!

Laury answered…

Each night we kneel together as a family and discuss the day's activity's before we close the day with a prayer. We also try our very best to eat dinner together at the table each night. I do most of the cooking for our family so I can guarantee that what I prepare is not Food Network quality. It's not burned, though, either, and I can promise you I will never serve cauliflower or spinach. But there's always plenty to eat. Our dinnertime conversation is lively, whether we're talking about work, school, politics, the latest movie we've seen or our religious beliefs. Our dinner table, because of the lively conversation, is not a quiet place. But it's peaceful, and there is no place I would rather be at 6 p.m.

Mike Murray answered…

We have found that the closer each of us is to the Savior the better we get along as a family. Some things that help to develop greater harmony in our home are attending church together and reading scriptures as a family.

Another thing that helps develop family unity is family prayer. I believe in the saying, "The family that prays together, stays together." Each morning and evening we kneel and pray as a family. Hurt feelings tend to soften quicker when we pray together. My wife and I also say evening prayers as a couple.

We reserve Monday evenings as a family night and have “Family Home Evening”, a program encouraged by the church. We usually start with a hymn and a prayer and then have a brief religious lesson. We then do a family activity, such as a board game, and enjoy a dessert. It is usually not too extravagant but the children look forward to our family nights each week.

We also believe in working and playing together as a family. The older children have job lists and receive an allowance. The jobs don't always get done perfectly but we feel that at least we are moving in the right direction. For recreation, we like to go on bike rides and go to parks. We try to take a family vacation at least once a year, go on quarterly mini-trips, and sometimes do 1-on-1 activities with the children.

Something that has helped us to have a more positive atmosphere is to manage the types of media we allow in our home. A few years ago we were worried about the content of some of the television shows our children were watching. So, we decided to get rid of cable and opted not to get satellite. It was one of the best decisions we have made. We still have DVD's and old VHS tapes but no one seems to miss the other shows. Sometimes instead of spending hours in front of the television the children will play together, practice the piano, or read. We are also careful to only allow "family friendly" music in the home and have limited video games.

Charlie Shipp -- with Lynnette answered…

Everyone has ancestors and by INDEXING we help everyone find theirs. We find joy in indexing in our spare time and as we watch TV and netflicks together. "You will thank us later."

Aaron answered…

Reading the Scriptures with them. When we read and learn from the scriptures as a family, I can see a distinct change on how the rest of the day turns out for the better.

Paige Nicole answered…

I'm a newlywed. Its just my husband and I. To create a feeling of peace and harmony in our home I need to think more about my husband than myself. My husband and I have decided to put Christ and Heavenly Father first and each other second. When God is my first priority, my husband always closely follows. The little things add up: Helping each other with problems, making dinner together or for each other, surprises, kisses, smiles, praying together, and the list could go on and on. There are a million ways to make our days more harmonious and our lives more joyous!

Andrew answered…

Many people don't understand how a belief in Christ and obedience to his teachings can make an impact on our family relationships. I have found that marriage can become incredibly rewarding when I approach my partner with charity - the type of love that Christ has for me. By this, I mean that when I show unconditional kindness toward my wife regardless of how she happens to be acting or treating me, a miracle can happen. It can soften her heart and mine. Those inevitable misunderstandings and offenses that we stumble upon seem to smooth out and we experience an amazing harmony. You should try it. It takes faith to try this experiment, and you have to be committed to try it for several consecutive days. But believe me, it's WORTH IT!

Priscilla answered…

The harmony in our home starts at night time when we say our prayers at night. My husband and I cannot go to bed angry ever because who feels angry after saying a prayer? We pray at night and during breakfast, have a morning prayer. With a prayer in our hearts, our home feels peaceful and you can feel the spirit of Christ more often.

Carli Mary answered…

We have greater harmony in home because we are committed to living the principle of the Gospel and because we are committed to each other.

Brandon answered…

In a marriage, reasons to get upset, feel hurt, and hold grudges can be many. That being said, there are a lot of helps available to us through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Marriages are intended by God to last forever. This is the first thing that gives me a proper perspective when I feel angry or hurt in my marriage. I know that my commitment to my wife is not something I should easily disregard. It is not even something that ends with death. We have promised to be faithful to each other and to be companions for all time and eternity. It is harder to stay upset with someone when you know the deep level of commitment you both entered into at the start of your marriage.

Something else that certainly helps is the support we have for each other based on our common goals. We may be different people, but we both want to follow Jesus Christ and to teach our children to follow Him as well. The unification that comes from this common goal helps us when we discuss our plans and our priorities.

Jeff answered…

Creating and maintaining harmony in the home is much harder today than I suppose it was when I was growing up – family members busier, demands of school more intense, and the workday longer. Then add all the electronic doodads (earphones in and thumbs a texting) to the mix and a family today could coexist without much interaction with one another. Interaction with one another is paramount in developing harmony in the home. Limiting schedules and distractions are key in maintaining the harmony created.

I think we maintain a reasonable amount of harmony in our home. I think what we do works for our family so I can only share what I know. Here’s what we do to maintain the sanity and, of course, harmony in our home:

• Pray together: we arise fairly early (5:00 am) due to me teaching an early-morning seminary class and two teenagers who also attend seminary. We also strive to have family prayer at night before we retire to bed. We are not always successful at night due to scheduling but we manage to do it four to five times a week.

• Read scriptures together: We also do this as part of our early morning routine. I read while everyone else listens, or at least, I hope they are listening as they are bundled up with a warm blanket. Before the prayer we also recite one of the thirteen articles of faith from our church.

• Family Home Evening: We designate one night a week (Sunday or Monday) where we come together as a family (without electronics) to do something together. We call this Family Home Evening (FHE) which many members of our church do. Our FHE usually consist of a song, prayer, calendaring, a lesson, someone falling asleep, some bickering at times, a game, someone losing the game and getting mad, texting (forbidden but somehow the kids can text without looking at the device or much muscle movement in their hands and arms), a closing song and prayer, and then, hopefully, something chocolately delicious.

• Dinners together: This is hard due to schedules; however, my wife does a great job at preparing a meal almost every night of the week. We don’t allow electronic devices (see bullet point above as some try and subvert the rule) but we do allow as much conversation as we can before we hear the quick, “That was great. May I be excused?” and then it’s over. Thank goodness the two year old is locked in the high chair or they would all be gone.

• Music: I have the privilege of being married to a very talented musician who has past that gene on to our kids. We hear lessons or practicing going on every day whether it is a piano, cello, viola, violin, or a voice. Music plays a huge part of bringing our family together and creating an atmosphere of harmony and harmonic sound.

Shannon answered…

Growing up my parents taught us to serve. If my siblings and I would argue, we'd have to do service for each other. Naturally, when I was young I didn't fully appreciate that, but now I can see that it truly built love in our home. Showing love through service, spending time together, communicating, and just being there for each other has made a huge impact in our home. Those are things the Savior did too, so when we truly seek to follow His example, harmony in the home will come as a result.

Courtney answered…

I have always put my family first. I have done little things for my husband and always told him I love him every chance I get. We read and pray together. I make his birthday a special day and always make sure that he knows that I love him. I know that when our marriage is strong, our family is strong.

Ashley answered…

Prayer for peace, service for family members, and having an "attitude of gratitude" for the many things I have been blessed with.

Leah answered…

Right now I live in a home with other lds girls and we have found it very helpful to pray together as roommates as often as we are able.

James answered…

One way that our family has developed greater harmony at home is by changing our perspective on completing household responsibilities. Growing up, like most children, I dreaded doing chores. I rarely considered them fun and it felt as though they would never end.

Part of the way in which we manage the household responsibilities is by volunteering to fulfill stewardships rather than being assigned a chore. The change in perspective from chore to stewardship is subtle, but quite dramatic. Chores are frequently construed as compulsory service to parents and home. Fulfilling a stewardship means that an individual takes on the responsibility to improve an aspect of the home for a week such as collecting garbage, washing walls, windows, and wood in the house, tending to the lawn, or cleaning bathrooms. Additionally we each take one or two days of the week to ensure that the kitchen is maintained and cleaned.

In recent years, our home and family has become a three generation home. In order to ensure that all of the individual desires and attitudes of each member of the family are conducive to the Spirit dwelling in our home and ensuring harmony in the family, we have made a commitment to each other to voluntarily take a stewardship and fulfill it each week. Our stewardships no longer feel like chores and the Spirit is able to dwell in our home as we happily complete them and work together to improve the quality of our home and family.

Vanessa answered…

Realizing that I really do set the tone of the home...even when I really don't want to admit or hear that. That as a mother it is my job to create a warm, loving, safe and positive home for my children to grow up in. How important my role is as a daughter of God and raising THREE other daughters of God. That I need help in doing this...I really really do. Talking to God through prayer, staying close to the spirit so I can receive personal revelation and studying talks from our leaders and the scriptures. These save me. And when I mess up...which is daily...that I have repentance and that I can learn and try try again the next day.

Donna answered…

The best advice I can give that will change a family for the good is first to have daily payer as a family and to read the scriptures as a family but also to have family night once a week.Call your family together one night a week and teach your children an important subject or life lesson.Make it fun and involve everyone but pick things that will help make your family a happier one. Its a good place to start the talks about drugs and the pressures of growing up.Make it a place where the kids are free to ask honest questions and get honest answers.One night we talked about gifts we each have and shared 3 positives things we liked about each member of our family.At the end of it all there was such a warm loving spirit in our home and a closeness. Another time we talked about our faults and we all picked one to work on for the following week.It opened up a dialog of things that bothered us about each other and as a family we worked together to improve them. You may choose to play a game as a family for the night or watch a movie.The nights we talked open and honestly were the ones that brought us together the most.Pick a topic, research it and get everyone involved.Pretty soon it will become the best night of the week. Oh and don't answer the phone during family time.

Riley answered…

Listening to the council of the living Prophet and Apostles has strengthened my resolve to be a better husband, father, and provider. When I am faced with difficulty, I turn to their words. From their words, I find peace. I find the courage to be kind and gentle and loving to my wife and children when I might not be otherwise. I find strength and courage to be honest and hardworking in providing for my family, whether at school or at work.
The words of the living Prophet and Apostles bring me closer to Jesus Christ. When I put Jesus Christ at the center of my life, I feel an increased desire to withhold judgment, to serve others, and to exercise charity in my thoughts, words, and actions.
Reading the Holy Scriptures brings peace into my home. When I read the Bible and the Book of Mormon with my family, our children quarrel less; or at least, if they don't quarrel less, I handle it better. I feel comfort and reassurance from the Holy Ghost when I would otherwise feel stressed out from the weight of my fatherly responsibilities. I am more patient.
When I am writing on the computer at home late into the evening and my boys are begging my attention, my natural tendency is to raise my voice and tell my children to go play in the yard; but then I remember the scripture we read that morning; it weighs upon my mind; and I see a little more clearly. I remember what and who is most important. I can spare a few minutes. And I kneel on the floor, hug them tight, and start a rowdy fight with pillows, tossing them at one another on the couch and laughing as they roll and roar with laughter, leaping at my back for more.
When I read the Holy Scriptures and the words of the living Prophet and Apostles, I remember to pause in my rush out the door on my way to school. I remember to thank my wife for the lunch that she packed in my backpack. I remember to tell her that I love her.

Kendal answered…

A commitment to having daily family prayer! All of us. All together. Kneeling, united in faith, expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father. Every day.

Amber answered…

Praying together as a family every single day has helped us become stronger. We are able to come together at least once a day and thank Heavenly Father for our many blessings and asking for help and guidance. When our son has a problem or a question we are able to help him pray about it and then seek answers as a family.

Kasidy answered…

My husband and I have tried to cultivate a deep feeling of trust and love. We spend time together. We talk openly and honestly about our feeling and disappointments, our goals and our dreams. We try to serve each other without care for our own wants. But, most importantly, we try to center our marriage around the teachings of Christ and apply His teachings every day.

Melinda answered…

It is so easy to take members of our family for granted or to take out our frustrations on them. I realized years ago that the person I should be kindest to is my husband. I try to be considerate of his feelings and patient with his shortcomings. I am also supportive of his work and try to help him relax at home. Both of us are careful not to raise our voices and discuss differences with love and patience. Neither of us is perfect, but we keep getting better at treating each other like the most important human being in our life.

Ande (Andrea) Badger answered…

There have been several days when I have woken up and could feel that the spirit in our home was not harmonious. We were all snippity with eachother, no one wanted to help anyone else, and patience had worn thin. On those days, I go into my room and say a prayer. I ask Heavenly Father to please help me to be more patient and to be more forgiving. I ask him to help me remember that these are beautiful children of God whom I love and could not live without. When I am done, I go back into the family room and turn on soft church music and the spirit instantly changes. It is really hard to be angry when songs of the Savior are playing. It is even harder to be angry and say unkind things when you are singing along with the songs.

Nancy answered…

Every Monday night is set aside as a special family night. We call it Family Home Evening. By being consistent in spending this evening together as a family, we have increased love and harmony in our home. We spend the evening learning about one specific topic, singing songs, praying, reading scriptures, playing a game, and having refreshments. When our children were little, they sometimes argued and were unkind to each other. We decided to implement "warm fuzzies" where each person was given a compliment. It does make the person receiving the compliment feel "warm and fuzzy," but we wanted the person giving the compliment to really think about the good characteristics of their siblings.

Another thing that is important to me as a mother is for all the family to support each other in our various activities and special occasions. Ideally, we attend each others functions, or if that is not possible, we make sure to ask each other how it turned out.

Praying together as a family also increases harmony and unity in our home. Never underestimate the strength of kneeling together in heartfelt prayer.

Jonathon answered…

While I was on my mission, I was serving in Salt Lake City while waiting to receive my Visa in order to serve in Mexico City. My companions and I had me a family who saw the name "Jesus Christ" on the outside of our ward building, so they decided to peak in to see what it was all about.
We started teaching this family and eventually most of the family members were baptized. We taught this family about Family Home Evening, which is a time the church asks each family to set-apart for the opportunity to strengthen family bonds and help build harmony into a family's home.
After the evening with the family, one of the women of the family told us how happy she was how she was so glad that her family could have fun together and that she felt more love for her family during that time than she had in a very long time.

I know God puts us into families for a reason and one of those reasons is so that we have people in whom we can trust and who will lift and guide us up. I know through the Gospel of Jesus Christ our family bonds will strengthen and grow and you also will feel and increase of love, and closeness to your family.

Barry answered…

My wife and I have done our best to teach our children principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to follow the council of the prophets. Part of this council includes daily scripture reading, family prayer, and family home evening. Every night before we go to bed, we make a point to gather together in humble prayer--to offer thanks for the blessings we have been given and to ask for help for our family and those around us. We also gather daily with the scriptures and take turns reading God's word--each child reads what he or she is able, and we discuss the principles and liken them unto our own lives. Finally, every Monday night we reserve for time together as a family. We have a brief devotional or spiritual lesson, and then have an activity that brings us closer together. Sometimes it's as elaborate as a trip to the mountains, other times we just sit around and play a board game. The most important part is that we always have the time together, and develop the bonds between us. I believe these simple principles have drawn our children closer to one another and strengthen our family beyond measure.

Brooke answered…

Having family prayer has helped so much as we have began to establish our little family. Also, studying the scriptures together helps us understand each other and understand the doctrine. Having someone else's opinion and insight is wonderful and we always know that we will have that time without the TV, computer, music or any other distraction fighting for our attention. It is just us and we have each other's attention. We also have goals that we are trying to reach together. One of these is to keep our finances in check. We don't want to have debt, so that is something we can talk about and move forward together with. it feels good to accomplish things together.

Gina answered…

My husband and I have found that our relationship and even our marriage as a whole has found much harmony when we include nightly scripture and prayer together before we go to bed. We have found by doing this our attitudes toward one another are much more positive and in harmony with the Gospel's teachings.

When we incorporate attending church weekly together as a family, reading personally our scriptures and praying, and reading and praying together, we find that our home is more peaceful and inviting of the Holy Spirit and we find that the atmosphere is more happy and relaxing. We are more nicer to each other and more interested in the other's feelings and needs.

It wasn't easy at first to try to incorporate extra spiritual activities together like nightly scripture and prayer, however, we have found that it richly blesses our marriage and our personal lives!

Maureen Stuckey answered…

My husband and I were married very young. Everyone said it would not last a year, well we have fooled them it has lasted fifty years. We have had our bad times; marriage is a work in action. I believe reading the scriptures and praying together as a family then as a couple has made our marriage grow. Our home has a sweet spirit, which changes if there are harsh words spoken, that sweet spirit will fly right out of the door. How do we get that sweet spirit back, by playing MormonTabernacle CD’s, or kneeling in pray when everyone has calmed down.
We were sealed in God Holy House, this is a great influence on our marriage, we realize if we want to live in harmony after we are dead then we need to live in harmony while we are alive.
If we were not members of the church, I do not think we would still be married. Your values change once you are a member of The Church of Latter-day Saints.

Stacy answered…

We do our best to read from the Book of Mormon every night and have family prayer. We try and teach kindness and love to our kids and to show it to each other. Having the spirit of God in our home helps us to have an eternal perspective and helps keep us from getting caught up in what might be stressful right now. Family is important and being together is important. We say 'I love you' alot and give lots of hugs and kisses too!

Ixchelle. answered…

Family and personal prayer and scripture study, forgiveness, repentance, Family Home Evening, and serving one another.

Adam answered…

harmony in my home, and in my life, have come through daily prayer and scripture study, and a sincere effort to keep the commandments.

Malina answered…

The best thing I have ever done in my home is to start reading daily with my kids from the Book of Mormon. We didn't start doing that until the end of last year because I thought they were too young. We would read picture versions of scripture stories, but it wasn't the same. We started just reading a few verses before bed. I believe it has changed everything. The Holy Spirit is stronger in our home and we have had wonderful discussions about gospel principles.

Ezra Taft Benson, a Latter Day Prophet made a promise that reading daily from the Book of Mormon would increase the spirit of reverence in the home, that mutual respect and consideration would grow and that the spirit of contention would depart. I believe that over the past 6 months I have witnessed this in my own home.

Willis answered…

We have had th greatest peace in our lives when we put others needs before our own. I like to call it "service before self".

Drew answered…

While raising my children I have found the greatest principle of the gospel is that of love and prayer. When I pray for my children and seek to find ways to resolve conflict I am constantly amazed by the love and insight I receive from the spirit in trying to help train and educate my children to be better people.

Rosalee answered…

Positive thoughts! Think the best of each other. Strive to understand one another. And make your relationships special by doing special things.

When a choice is placed before us - we choose love. Love drives us to do most things that help like healthy foods, healthy entertainment, healthy schedules, and healthy outlooks.

Harmony requires sharing.... sharing your time, your beliefs, your trials, and more.

We do things together as often as possible especially the important things like prayer and religious services or worship, special events, holidays, work, vacations,and challenges. When we are apart we do things that keep us together in our hearts like letters, phone calls, and more. We communicate in healthy and positive ways. And we say we are sorry and we say why and we forgive each other.

When we are not in Harmony, we don't give up, we get back on track. And we believe we can.

With young children being together at the grocery store can be a challenge, but as we learn how it is possible to do this chore and enjoy it too then we find we come closer together and more in harmony. In the past my husband would avoid such outings because it was easier to do it apart. But I insisted (nicely) that it can be a good experience and overcoming the challenge would be good for our family. And it has after much persistence and unwavering effort become a much better experience. When we work together in the store to get what we need and try to avoid what we don't then we feel and become more of a team. Even these simple opportunities are abundantly around us to help us become closer together.

Isaiah Luatua answered…

To create harmony in my home, everything begins with me, to start my day on my knees acknowledging my father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ, through prayer, and for the children to see that as an example I made for them and to do the same every night before bed brings closeness to me and my Maker.

I do believe that to begin my day on my knees and to end that day on my knees as the Latter Day Prophets of God have counsel me, gives me the inner peace and hope, then the rest of that day "takes care of itself"

Ben answered…

As a family we pray together at night, and read scriptures together. With three little kids sometimes this is not an easy activity to carry out, however repetition and consistency have made a difference. As we kneel together as a family it's much easier to have harmony, and as I listen to my sweet children sincerely pray my heart melts and our home feels at peace.

Aaron Klapheck answered…

My spouse and I work to keep gospel principles, both taught and demonstrated, in our household. The one principle we have found the most successful is love. Hurting words and anger are now replaced with discussion and understanding. When we pray and invite the spirit into our home before discussing critical matters we have a sense of peace and our discussions are much more fruitful.

Rodney answered…

The teachings of Jesus Christ applied in the home bring harmony and love. The Gospel provided for me a time each Monday to have Family Home Evening. This is where we gathered as a family and taught a lesson on a Gospel principle and had fun too. I would have a personal interview with my children and wife each month, where we would talk about their goals and troubles. Each week I would take my children to church and learn the principles of righteousness. Everyday we would read a scripture or thought and then have family prayer and our couple prayer. This is how we would each day. These are the things that bring harmony in the home.

Leslie answered…

Reading the scriptures always reminds me of what is truly important in this life, and gives me more love and patience in my family relationships.