Powerful Families Raise Children With Faith And Character Immune To Peer Pressure

Book of Mormon Marriage And Family Study

“And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.”

People in this dream who made it to the tree (which represents Jesus Christ/the Atonement and the fruit symbolizes the gifts of the Atonement) fell away because of opposition. They had a testimony but were not converted.

The Lord needs powerful families who are one in purpose and who are fearless in standing up for Christ. Religious freedom and the freedom of speech are slipping away around the world. Standing as witnesses for Christ will not be easy in a world that is becoming increasingly more secular. Additionally, atheism is becoming its own religion.

Furthermore, your children are being raised in enemy territory. That is why you need to be involved in their lives. This is especially important with school because more radical and dangerous programs are entering the public schools. For example, opening up any bathroom and locker room to any gender is something that cannot be tolerated by any sane person.

In addition, your kid’s friends will have a tremendous influence on them; however, hopefully you can always remain their primary influencer. However, that will depend on how well you love and lead in righteousness.

Peer pressure and the need to be liked and accepted is often overwhelmingly difficult to overcome. What if your children didn’t care what others thought of them? What if your children had the courage and character to do the right thing even if means rejection and humiliation by their peers.

Think of the powerful life they could have if they didn’t care about what others thought of them! They could live a fearless life.

How can you do this?

Faith and character is built in the home that should be a holy place where everyone is seeking after God. In contrast, a home plagued with anger, contention and abuse will never build the faith and character you want in your children.

Instead, they will be fearful and seek out love and friendship from other sources even in the wrong places. Therefore, a dysfunctional home is toxic!

We need to turn our children to Jesus Christ, and that will be very difficult if our homes are toxic. They will have a hard time focusing in their prayers or scripture study because fear will dominate their feelings.

Children face enough opposition out in the world and therefore, they don’t need this kind of opposition in the home. The home needs to be a place where they can return and be strengthened and supported. It must be a place where they increase in faith and character and not become weaker.

If you live in the Salt Lake City valley, I invite you to join us at church on Sunday's at 1 p.m. We are a mid-singles ward; however, if you have a family please don't let that stop you. Please, join us for for our first meeting which is Sacrament meeting, and make sure you ask someone to introduce you to our ward mission leader. Our address is 7155 South 540 East, Midvale Utah, 84047.