MY HOME

Home Is the Heart of All Activity
you bear in probationary time will be the character you will have at
the coming of Christ. If you would be a saint in heaven, you must
first be a saint on earth.
—Society is composed of
families, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart
are “the issues of life”; and the heart of the community, of the church,
and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the
success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon
home influences.
The elevation or deterioration of the future of society will be de￾termined by the manners and morals of the youth growing up around
us. As the youth are educated, and as their characters are molded in
their childhood to virtuous habits, self-control, and temperance, so
will their influence be upon society. If they are left unenlightened
and uncontrolled, and as the result become self-willed, intemperate
in appetite and passion, so will be their future influence in molding
society. The company which the young now keep, the habits they
now form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to the
state of society for years to come.
The Sweetest Type of Heaven—Home should be made all that
the word implies. It should be a little heaven upon earth, a place
where the affections are cultivated instead of being studiously repressed. Our happiness depends upon this cultivation of love, sympathy, and true courtesy to one another.
The sweetest type of heaven is a home where the Spirit of the
Lord presides. If the will of God is fulfilled, the husband and wife
will respect each other and cultivate love and confidence.
Importance of the Home Atmosphere
The atmosphere surrounding the souls of fathers and mothers fills the whole house, and
is felt in every department of the home.
To a large extent parents create the atmosphere of the home
circle, and when there is disagreement between father and mother,
the children partake of the same spirit. Make your home atmosphere
fragrant with tender thoughtfulness. If you have become estranged
and have failed to be Bible Christians, be converted; for the character
you bear in probationary time will be the character you will have at
the coming of Christ. If you would be a saint in heaven, you must
first be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in life
will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come
up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your
home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His
coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily
lives are determining our destiny.
Creating a Pure Atmosphere—Every Christian home should
have rules; and parents should, in their words and deportment toward
each other, give to the children a precious, living example of what
they desire them to be. Purity in speech and true Christian courtesy
should be constantly practiced.
Teach the children and youth to
respect themselves, to be true to God, true to principle; teach them to
respect and obey the law of God. These principles will control their
lives and will be carried out in their associations with others. They
will create a pure atmosphere—one that will have an influence that
will encourage weak souls in the upward path that leads to holiness
and heaven. Let every lesson be of an elevating and ennobling
character, and the records made in the books of heaven will be such
as you will not be ashamed to meet in the judgment.
Children who receive this kind of instruction will ... be prepared
to fill places of responsibility and, by precept and example, will be
constantly aiding others to do right. Those whose moral sensibilities
have not been blunted will appreciate right principles; they will put
a just estimate upon their natural endowments and will make the
best use of their physical, mental, and moral powers. Such souls are
strongly fortified against temptation; they are surrounded by a wall
not easily broken down.
God would have our families symbols of the family in heaven.
Let parents and children bear this in mind every day, relating themselves to one another as members of the family of God. Then their
lives will be of such a character as to give to the world an object
lesson of what families who love God and keep His commandments
may be. Christ will be glorified; His peace and grace and love will
pervade the family circle like a precious perfume.
Much depends on the father and mother. They are to be firm
and kind in their discipline, and they are to work most earnestly to have an orderly, correct household, that the heavenly angels may be
attracted to it to impart peace and a fragrant influence.