This week in my family relations class I learned a lot about the importance of family counsels. There are many different ways a family makes a decision. Sometimes the dad just decides, the mom decides, the kids say what's supposed to happen, and there are so many other ways. I believe that not all situations have to deal with the entire family, but I do believe that the mom and dad need to be on the same page when a decision is made. Whether the parents decide and then tell their children what's going on or they have a family council and then make the decision.
I love that we have a wonderful example of how to counsel correctly in a family. The First Presidency of the Church and also the Apostles get together every Thursday in the Salt Lake Temple and they have a council. First they are given an agenda before the council starts. This gives them an opportunity to think and pray about what decisions need to be made or what needs to be discussed. Then in the council begins. They tell each other how much they are grateful for one another and how much they love one another. This helps the room to not have any negative feelings. Then they say a prayer to invite the spirit. Then they discuss the agenda. When they are done they say a closing prayer and then eat chocolate or pie together. This last part always make me laugh, but it's so true!
When they are counseling the whole idea is to find out what the Lord wants and then decide if they agree with it. The whole point is to do as the Lord wants in this Church so they have to come up with a consensus because it needs to be unanimous. They start somewhere in the circle and everyone goes around and says what they need to, and the council is not over until they all agree.
I love looking at this as an example because they are portraying what the Lord wants us to do. He knows that the family is the fundamental unit of society and wants us to get along. Use this pattern in your home when you need to have a council with your family. If it gets out of hand stop in the middle and have your family pray again, because there can be no negative feelings when the spirit is present, or decide as husband and wife if necessary. You decide what's best for your family.
I love that we have a wonderful example of how to counsel correctly in a family. The First Presidency of the Church and also the Apostles get together every Thursday in the Salt Lake Temple and they have a council. First they are given an agenda before the council starts. This gives them an opportunity to think and pray about what decisions need to be made or what needs to be discussed. Then in the council begins. They tell each other how much they are grateful for one another and how much they love one another. This helps the room to not have any negative feelings. Then they say a prayer to invite the spirit. Then they discuss the agenda. When they are done they say a closing prayer and then eat chocolate or pie together. This last part always make me laugh, but it's so true!
When they are counseling the whole idea is to find out what the Lord wants and then decide if they agree with it. The whole point is to do as the Lord wants in this Church so they have to come up with a consensus because it needs to be unanimous. They start somewhere in the circle and everyone goes around and says what they need to, and the council is not over until they all agree.
I love looking at this as an example because they are portraying what the Lord wants us to do. He knows that the family is the fundamental unit of society and wants us to get along. Use this pattern in your home when you need to have a council with your family. If it gets out of hand stop in the middle and have your family pray again, because there can be no negative feelings when the spirit is present, or decide as husband and wife if necessary. You decide what's best for your family.
RSS Feed