Parents

One idea that really stuck out in my mind from Richard Miller’s (2008) talk was the need for parents to “support each other”.  As parents work together as “one,” they are learning to create a home that is filled with “love and respect”.  I can speak from experience, that there will be times when you, as parents, will disagree on something.  You will need to find a way to work together to solve a problem without letting the problem become a wedge between you.  Miller (2008) quoted Marion G. Romney by saying, parents “should be one in harmony, respect, and mutual consideration. Neither should plan or follow an independent course of action. They should consult, pray, and decide together…Remember that neither the wife nor the husband is the slave of the other. Husbands and wives are equal partners”.   By praying and deciding together, you will put power in your relationship.  When your marriage is strong there will be no way that children can come and try to take sides with one of the parents to form a coalition against the other.

Counsel Together

It is important to me that my husband holds the priesthood and presides over the family.  As a wife, I also bring distinct and unique qualities into the marriage and together we have the opportunity to counsel together often. It is here that we can learn from each other and strengthen each other.  By counseling together we can listen to each other and find the best possible solution for our family.  We can also receive inspiration for our family and be able to set rules or expectations that we expect our children to follow.  We want our home to be a place where the spirit can dwell and a place where love is always present.  Henry B. Eyring, (1998) tells us, “Where people have that Spirit with them, we may expect harmony. The Spirit puts the testimony of truth in our hearts, which unifies those who share that testimony”.

References:

Eyring, H. B (May, 1998). That We May Be One. Ensign. (p. 66).

Miller, Richard. (2008, March 28). Who is the Boss? Power Relationships in Families. BYU Conference on Family Life. (p.4).