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What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?

  • Ally

    I used to work at a call center where I took calls and answered questions and concerns in the Customer Service department. I would answer calls where the person on the other line would be very angry and would swear at me because they were so upset. It was never really because of what I had done or said or whether the product worked or not, it was usually because they had a lot going on and the inconveniences of many things at once had brought them to the point of letting it out on me or one of my coworkers. This is very similar to my home life. My family members would let out their anger on each other not necessarily because of that person or because of what was going on but because everything seemed to line up all at once and self-control would be lost. At these times I try to remember what I had done when on those escalated calls at work, validate their concerns. Try to understand where the other person is coming from and put your own emotions, pride, and prejudices aside. Listen to them and validate them by saying, "I can see how that would be frustrating." or "I would be upset too if that happened to me." and realize that they are a child of our Heavenly Father too. How would Heavenly Father treat them in this situation? How would Heavenly Father treat you if you were in that situation? With love, endless and enduring love, but also an excellent understanding of right and wrong as well. When I am faced with challenges at home I try to treat others how I hope they would treat me, even if I don't receive that same kindness back because I know that is what God would have me do. Obedience to His commandments brings blessings. And one of those commandments is to love one another. As I try to listen to my family members with a more understanding heart my love for them increases and it is easier to be understanding. Show more

  • Geoff Carmichael

    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. Show more

  • Jennifer

    I feel that the number one thing that has helped to deliver greater harmony in our home is time. We take time to do things as a family each day. So many families have so much going on that days will pass before the family is all in one place. By seeing each other daily we are able to better discern when someone is having a bad day or needs to be uplifted or just needs to talk. Date night with my husband has also been a huge factor in developing greater harmony in our house. Just being able to be with your spouse on a set evening with no kids brings you closer together. You are able to laugh, talk and be together. It is a time when we don't focus on the world or the problems we are facing. Instead we focus on each other and our needs as a husband and wife team. Show more

  • Michael

    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. Show more

  • Mary Kaye

    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. Show more

  • Karen Elizabeth

    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. Show more

  • Andrew

    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. Show more

  • Danielle

    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. Show more

  • Dagny

    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. Show more

  • Tricia

    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. Show more

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