Establishing the Family Gospel Culture by Randy F. Rubio

ESTABLISHING THE GOSPEL CULTURE IN THE WARD “The bishop holds the priesthood keys to preside over a ward and direct the work of the Church in the ward. He and his counselors minister to ward members in love, helping bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” [Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1, p. 11] “……..and be a bishop unto my people, saith the Lord, not in name but in deed, saith the Lord.” [D&C 117:11] “My servant _____________ also, a bishop of my church, hath need to be chastened, and set in order his family, and see that they are more diligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be removed out of their place.” [D&C 93:50] As the bishop, you have the great privilege of helping families in the ward adopt the family gospel culture in their homes. In fact, a solemn responsibility rests with you and your counselors to achieve this. If all you did throughout your tenure is to teach the “family gospel culture basics” and succeeded in doing so, it would be considered great success. Of course, your teaching will be most powerful by example. If the gospel culture is not being practiced in your home and in the home of your counselors, now is the time to do so. In early Church history even the prophet Joseph Smith and his counselors were chastised for not setting their homes in order. [D&C 93:43] Even the most diligent and obedient among us are guilty of this sin of omission at some point of our lives. Whenever it happens, we repent! If the Church in the Philippines has not been established according to Elder Dallin H. Oaks, it is partly because the basics of gospel practices and church governance have not been sufficiently learned and applied. Ask yourself these questions: how many families in your ward have daily family prayers, regular scripture study, weekly family home evening, monthly fast, etc. Do we really have to know? Don’t you think it is our business to know as ‘watchmen of the tower’? Until we have learned and practiced the gospel culture daily in our homes, then the Church will have not have established a solid foundation in our country. Perhaps this is the reason why Church programs outside of the home (Public Affairs, Family History, Temple) cannot be sustained because we have not acquired the discipline that begins at home necessary to make such programs succeed. We have to persist in the work of teaching the family gospel culture and determine the means to motivate the members. BUILD ON THE BASICS. Any coach will tell you that the means to achieving excellence in any sport activity is the proficiency of the basic skills and competencies of that sport. When one has not acquired the basic skills in the beginning of training, one cannot achieve superior performance. Applying this same concept in the Church – families must first be taught and then challenged to apply the basic family duties before they may be expected to commit and magnify Church callings and in time willingly sacrifice everything that they have for the building of the kingdom of God here on earth. Once the basics are learned, the rest of the gospel culture will be easier to follow. The practice of the family gospel culture in our homes is the foundation of a strong and enduring testimony of the gospel.

Gospel Culture in our Families

Ideas for Helping Families Adopt the Gospel Culture STEP 1. Start in your own home. You cannot require from others what you are not willing to do yourself is a true principle. Our actions will always be louder than our words. If you have not done your family duties as you should, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Read this article completely. Search the scriptures and read the Church Handbook of Instructions for direction. Then apply in your own home the ideas I have suggested for fathers. STEP 2 & 3. Introduce the gospel culture to other ward leaders. You may photocopy the article “Helping Families Adopt the Gospel Culture” and distribute copies to your counselors. After giving them time to read, discuss the implications in your bishopric meeting. Find out what they think and what they are willing to do. If you want to implement these ideas in the ward, it is imperative that your bishopric unite its efforts. Your counselors should also need to practice the gospel culture in their homes. You can expand it later to the members of the Priesthood Executive Committee and the Ward Council. Your leadership base is your foundation. They need to be fortified. For the field is white already to harvest. Consider the reaction of two shoe salespersons sent to the territory of the natives. One said that there was no business for him since nobody wore shoes. The other salesperson could hardly contain his excitement since he looked at every native as his potential customer. So, instead of being sad or depressed about the state of affairs in many of our homes, we can look at it as a marvelous opportunity. There is a large harvest waiting for us. [D&C 4:4] If you strengthen the father (or mother) then you strengthen the family. Fathers hold the key to applying the gospel culture in the home. Where fathers are not available or have relinquished their responsibility, mothers substitute unwilling fathers. Focus your efforts on the fathers. Rally the high priest group leader and elders’ quorum president to teach, train, and motivate fathers. A strong father can strengthen his own family. STEP 4. Diagnose before you prescribe. We can preach until our mouths are dry about holding family home evening, family council, family scripture study but if fathers do not have the skill to apply them in their homes it will not happen. It is not enough that we teach but we must also train. It is possible that even you the bishop may not have been taught towards being competent in some of these areas and you may not apply them yourself in your home. Again, there is nothing embarrassing about this. Ask for help. Surely, there is someone in the ward who knows or among your stake leaders. Do not assume that fathers already know how to perform their duties. You will be surprised that many of them do not especially if some skills are required. That is why they may be reluctant and unable to do so. I have devised the “The Family Duties, Leadership & Resources Survey” form to assist you in determining your training needs. We need to inquire about the father’s level of competence. Let me explain how it might help you. Here’s what I might say to explain the process to the fathers and mothers. Presenter: “As we know there are basic family duties required of us in our homes such as….. I know that many of us desire to fulfill them. However, I also know that there are instances that we do not know what to do. For example, one cannot conduct family home evening if you do not know how. Most of us are converts to the Church and have never been taught these things until we became members. I would like to help and determine what kind of help is needed in each family. I am passing out to you the ……. survey. Let’s take a look at them together. There are three parts.” “The first part is the ‘Family Leadership’ category. In this category we have identified the leadership skills necessary to fulfill your duties. Let’s take family home evening as our example. We would like to know what you know and do not know. There is nothing shameful about not knowing how to do them. All of us started at that point in the beginning. If you underline NH – it means you’ve never tried conducting family home evening and do not have the confidence yet. If you underline RC – it means you’ve been taught before but have forgotten most of it and would like a refresher course. If you underline OK – it means you can do it without assistance. Finally if you answer TO – it means you know how to teach it to others and we could use your help later.” Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Gospel Culture in our Families

FAMILY DUTIES, LEADERSHIP, & RESOURCES SURVEY In order to assist the bishopric to determine how we can help you and your family, please underline the responses that best describe your present situation. NH – Need Help

RC –Refresher course

I. Family Leadership I know how to conduct a Family Home Evening. I know how to teach a lesson. I know how to conduct a family council. I know how to lead a scripture study. I know how to lead a family prayer. I know how to conduct home teaching. I know how to conduct visiting teaching. I know how to conduct parent-child interview. I know how to conduct a meeting. I know how to give a Church talk. I know how to bless the sick. (MP holder only) I know how to perform a baptism. I know how to perform a confirmation.(MP holder only) NYT – Not yet SMT – Sometimes

NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH

OK – I’m okay RC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC

OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK

MOT- Most of the time

II. Family Duties I read the scriptures at least fifteen minutes daily. I have personal prayers morning and night daily. We attend weekly Sacrament meeting. We attend weekly Sunday School. We attend weekly Priesthood & Relief Society Class. Our children attend weekly Sunday School/Primary. Our children attend weekly Mutual Night/SA activities. Our children attend weekly Seminary. We hold weekly Family Home evening. We hold a monthly family council. We hold a weekly scripture study. We hold daily family prayers. We hold daily husband and wife prayer. We hold prayer before meals. We hold monthly parent-child interviews. We perform regular home and visiting teaching. We hold a monthly fast and pay a fast offering. We pay our tithes. We participate in monthly temple activities.

NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT NYT

III. Family Resources All our family members have a copy of the Standard Works. We have a copy of the Family Proclamation. We have a current subscription of the Liahona. We have a copy of the FHE Resource book. I have consecrated oil. (MP holders only)

SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT SMT

TO – I can teach others TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO

ATM- All the time

MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT MOT

ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM ATM

Action Required/Taken __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No

__________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________

Gospel Culture in our Families

[Pause and ascertain if the instructions are clear. Be sure to assure fathers that it is all right to admit if they do not know what to do. You must provide an environment of openness and trust. Once you are confident that the first part is understood, you may now proceed to explain the second and third part] Presenter: “After indicating what you know and what you don’t know, the second part will help us know what you are already doing at home in the “Family Duties” category. Your response is one of four such as NYT – not yet, SMT – sometimes, MOT – most of the time and ATM – all the time. If you already know what to do but do not do it yet, this will serve as a reminder to you. After we have obtained our own copy, we will return this survey to you for your reference. Finally, the last category would be your basic family resources. If you have them, you will answer yes but if you do not, you will answer no. This will help us to determine what resource materials you need to fulfill your duties in the home. The action required or action taken column is for our use only. This will help us monitor what we have done to help you.” Review the survey form results. You will find it revealing and quite insightful as to who needs help. You may be surprised to find out that there are those whom you have assumed to be competent but are not. Now, the picture is clear to you and you have a grasp at the challenge before you. In this case, training for skills is crucial. Teach it by lecture and demonstration. For example, teach the principles that apply to a family council and then demonstrate how to conduct one through actual simulation. Lectures are not enough to teach concepts where skills are required such as conducting family home evening, teaching a lesson, leading a scripture study, conducting a meeting, performing baptism, etc. Your second group represents those who have already achieved leadership competence but do not perform these duties consistently. Re-teach them the doctrines, counsel, and motivate for implementation in their homes. With gentle reminders, this group will be on their way to applying the gospel culture in their homes. Make them a part of your training team. Photocopy the survey results, give the original to the brethren, and keep the duplicate for your reference. STEP 5. Initiate training. With your Priesthood Executive Committee, determine a feasible strategy to initiate training. If mothers are to be trained also involve the Relief Society President as well. Conduct the training on weekdays as a special class, or Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. Make it a special event with special invitations. Let your creativity work together. If you have adopted the ‘unified home and visiting teaching’ concept, you may teach these skills at the workshop portion. Another effective way is calling for a special workshop session of learning family leadership skills in lieu of one of your ward leadership meetings. If you do not have enough resource persons in the ward, you can always invite families within or outside of your stake. People love being invited to share their knowledge and abilities. Be sure to tell them what you require. You would like a brief preview on the applicable principles of each family activity by quoting scriptures. After which you would like the resource person(s) demonstrate the skill with their families or a group of volunteers. After each presentation, you can have an open forum for audience questions. Break them break them up as families with coaches and have them practice the skill. If you do this option, you need some observers to do some coaching. You can even turn this into a traditional annual activity of the ward. Here is a process you can use to for effectively teaching the family gospel culture. If members are new and unaccustomed to the gospel culture, choose one topic to focus at a time. First part. Second part. Third part. Fourth part. Fifth part. Sixth part.

Teach, reflect, and discuss the doctrines and principles Role play, simulate, or dramatize the skills part Hold an open forum to accommodate questions and concerns Have the members practice the skills (with coaches observing and encouraging, if possible) Ask for commitment in applying their new learning Check and follow-up the application in the home (quorum leaders, home and visiting teachers)

One important thing to remember: teach the skills not just once but two or three more times. Or until you know that they have learned and are able to apply the skills. Repetition is a necessary process for heads of families to perform these activities with confidence and competence. Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Gospel Culture in our Families

Family Leadership Skills Workshop 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Saturday Meetinghouse Presiding:

Bishop

Conducting:

Bishopric Counselor

Opening Hymn:

Families Can be Together Forever

Opening Prayer:

Relief Society President

Theme Presentation:

High Priest Group Leader D&C 88:119 D&C 93: 43

Workshop Sessions: Family Home Evening:

15 minutes Open Forum

Rommel M. Fajardo Family

Family Council:

15 minutes Open Forum

Victorino A. Babida Family

Family Scripture Study:

15 minutes Open Forum

Rafael A. Natividad II Family

Parent-Child Interview:

15 minutes Open Forum

Ramon S. Vicente Family

Musical Number:

Young Men & Women

Concluding Remarks:

Bishop

Closing Hymn:

Teach Me to Walk in the Light

Closing Prayer:

Elders’ Quorum President Refreshments

“What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand.” Chinese Proverb This type of leadership training format will work best for members who already know the family gospel culture. This simply serves as a refresher course intended to help them recall the specific skills required for each of these activities. When teaching these practices to the members, please try to avoid lecturing only. Always reinforce your teaching with role-play or demonstration. Then give participants opportunity to practice. By doing so, you will help them see how these practices are being implemented and have the experience to try it. Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Gospel Culture in our Families

Organize a Family Camp. Now here’s a more exciting idea to consider. What about an overnight Family Camp. There might be a place you can rent inexpensively or rent family tents. In the same manner that you organize youth conference, the family camp can be organized likewise. You can designate a Family Camp Committee and sub-committees to divide the assignments and responsibilities. You can find many ways pooling family resources together to minimize expenses. Use the camp to teach the skills of family leadership inviting resource persons as necessary. Then you can introduce the entire program in one setting. Here’s a sample schedule. Sample Family Camp Schedule First Day 6:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 n.n. 1:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.

Second Day Meet in the Chapel Packed Breakfast Departure for Camp Site Registration & Orientation One Hour Devotional Family Outdoor Games

5:30 a.m. 6:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m.

Lunch Family Workshop Sessions Conducting FHE Conducting Family Council How to Teach a Lesson How to Give a Church Talk Break Leading Scripture Study Parent-Child Interviews Family Goal Chart Building Family Unity Break Dinner

12:00 n.n. 1:30 p.m.

Family Talent Presentation Family Scripture Study (I Nephi 1-10) Family Prayer & Lights Out

Wake Up Call Family Fitness Exercise Breakfast Sports Activities Volley Ball Basketball Board Games Lunch Family Workshops Managing TV Wisely Household Management Money Management

3:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Break Family Goal Setting

5:00 p.m.

Family Devotional Testimony Meeting

6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Dinner Departure for Home

Of course, your program will be dependent on your available resource persons, funds, camp location, camp facilities and other factors. If you put your heart to it and invite other families to share in the organizing phase, you will generate many wonderful ideas. The youth and single adults can make major contributions in the committee meetings and during the actual implementation of the program, too. Use the Activity Book to produce many more ideas for family activities, games, and spiritual learning. Training one family at a time. Another option of teaching and training members is do it one family at a time. Let’s say that in your ward there are 30 active families. After conducting the survey, you found out that 5 heads of families including yourself as the bishop know how to teach the family leadership skills. Since these skills are most effectively taught by demonstration, what you can do is to match the 24 other families (students) who need to be taught with the other 6 families (teachers). You can now assign one ‘teacher’ family to teach 2 ‘student’ families each or more. The strategy might be inviting the student family to come to the teacher family’s home and observe how family home evening, family council, family scripture study, etc. are conducted. Of course, the reverse can also work like the teacher family going over to the homes of the student families. Then allow the student family to practice with your help. Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Gospel Culture in our Families

What if only your family (bishop) knows how to teach them? The strategy you can use is to teach your bishopric counselors, high priest group leader, and elders’ quorum president first and their families. This becomes your core group. Once they are taught and have tried to do them for at least a month, then they can be assigned to teach it to other families. This is the process of duplication. As the bishop you should assign yourself the most families to teach. This is part of your calling to minister to the saints. You are, being the bishop, a teacher. What if even you do not know how to do them? Then you turn to your stake leaders. You invite them to come to your unit and teach your core group (PEC). Your core group in turn teaches the other families in the ward. When using this approach you can keep track of your progress one family at a time in the “survey” form in the action taken portion. After teaching and demonstrating the proper skills of family leadership, it’s now time to challenge the families to use them in the home. Remember, the ‘doing of the word’ is the more difficult part compared to the “hearing of the word.’[James 1:22] Our members need all the support they can get. Don’t leave this to chance. STEP 6. You get what you inspect. One teaching session or even multiple teaching sessions won’t be enough for families to learn and then apply the new skills of family leadership. They need your support as they strive to become accustomed to this new lifestyle. They also need feedback as to how well they are doing or not doing. You would like to create awareness of the family’s performance. You would also hope that these new learning will be applied to the point of becoming routine. Routine would then turn it into family tradition. At that point, the gospel culture has been successfully assimilated by the family. But this is a long-term process. That’s why leaders have to forcefully (sustained efforts) and repeatedly teach it. The advent of text messaging system can be helpful in this part of your program. For example, let us say that you have already taught weekly family home evening and know that fathers or mothers already know how to conduct them. You would like to encourage a simultaneous effort on FHE in the ward and would like to know when they are being done in the members’ homes. What you can do is to request every family to send a short text message (or call if telephones are available) to the ward executive secretary on Monday nights when FHE has been conducted in their home. During your weekly bishopric meeting, you will receive a report from the executive secretary and know which families have done them and which families may require further help. I have devised two forms (a) Family Goal Chart (b) Making Our Home a Bit of Heaven for this purpose. My intention is to show you some ideas you can use. You can use them, modify them, or completely try something on your own. Remember this one important principle: “whenever we start with new habits and practices like the gospel culture, we need plenty of reminders.” As we progress and the habits are acquired, these reminders are unnecessary. Think of these charts as the bridge from the old culture that will connect us to the family gospel culture. The Family Goal Chart is more specific to the scheduling of the current unit where we belong. We customized the form to reflect the schedule of activities in the ward. For example, our unit holds once a month “Ward Night” on the 1st Wednesday evening, Seminary and Mutual night also on Wednesdays, SA activities on Saturdays, Home and visiting teaching on Sundays, etc. If we were close to the temple, we could have also decided on monthly temple activities included in the chart. It was decided to hold evening family prayers simultaneously at 9:00 p.m. The bishopric has also decided to designate some scriptural chapters for study. We incorporated scripture study with family home evening. The same is true with family council. We only indicated once a day family prayers. We encouraged couples to pray together once a day in the morning. When implementing these ideas for the first time, expect resistance from the members. There is always opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11) Do not let this discourage you. This is a sure sign that you are doing what is right. Be sure to exercise compassion and do not force people. Push gently and persuasively. Also, remember not to overwhelm the families. Get them to do one thing at a time. You want them to have the initial experience and taste early success to sustain their motivation. When they report their success stories, praise them publicly. Let other members know their progress and celebrate their small victories. Then, challenge them to apply another gospel practice. Repeat the cycle. Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

FAMILY GOAL CHART Month ________ Family Fasting Sunday Attendance FHE Scripture Study Family Prayer Physical Exercise Ward Night Mutual & Seminary Single Adult Activity Home/Visiting Teaching

Sunday Attendance FHE Family Council Scripture Study Family Prayer Physical Exercise Mutual & Seminary Single Adult Activity Home/Visiting Teaching

Sunday Attendance FHE Scripture Study Family Prayer Physical Exercise Mutual & Seminary Single Adult Activity Home/Visiting Teaching

1st SUN [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

MON [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

TUE

[ ] [ ] [ ]

WED

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Year

_________

THU

[ ] [ ] [ ]

FRI

[ ] [ ] [ ]

SAT

[ ] [ ] [ ] [

]

[ ] 2nd SUN [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

MON [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

TUE

WED

[ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

THU

FRI

SAT

[ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [

]

[ ] 3rd SUN [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

MON [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

TUE [ ] [ ] [ ]

WED [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

THU [ ] [ ] [ ]

FRI [ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [

[ ] [ ] [ ]

MON

TUE

WED

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

]

THU

FRI

SAT

[ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [

[ ]

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ _______________________ _______________________ ______________________

SAT

[ ] 4th SUN [ ]

Notes

]

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ _______________________ _______________________ ______________________

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ _______________________ _______________________ ______________________

Gospel Culture in our Families

Making Our Home a Bit of Heaven” Month ________________ Year Activities

___________ 17

Personal Prayer Couple Prayer Scripture Study Family Prayer Prayer Before Meals Weekly FHE Family Council Family Scripture Study Family Recreation Parent-Child Talk Seminary Class Mutual Night Institute Class Single Adult Activity Temple Attendance Husband-Wife Date Home Teaching Visiting Teaching Sacrament Meeting Sunday School AP MP RS Meetings Personal Prayer Couple Prayer Family Prayer Monthly Fast Fast Offering Tithes Others

“Building Zion A Family at a Time” And now a commandment I give unto you……. you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house. [D&C 93:43] Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

You can create your own personalized form using that idea. However, if you don’t know how to use a computer in creating your own, then you may use the other chart “Making Our Home a Bit of Heaven” which is more generic. The main purpose of these charts is to help the family keep track of their progress and to support the implementation of the activities. If the activities are accomplished, they simply check them off. At the end of the week or month the family will see what they have accomplished and what else they need to work on. This is very crucial at the beginning because our usual tendency is to let go through our left ear what we heard in our right ear. In short, when all is said and done there is more said than done. ☺ It’s just our nature. So you want to make sure the family uses the chart and displays it in a visible area in the house where everyone can see. Here’s how I might present it to the fathers and mothers. Presenter: “Brothers and sisters we have just been taught new family leadership skills. Most of us have only been taught these skills only this time of our lives. If we had not become members of the Church we might not have had the opportunity to learn them. I know that you desire to use them in your homes because of the enormous benefits you will receive. But I also know how hard it is to start applying them. We don’t want you to fail. We want you to succeed. So I would now like to present to you the family goal chart concept. Let’s take a look at it together and you will immediately see how this chart will support the application of your new skills.” [Distribute the charts to heads of families at this point] “This chart has been called ‘Making Our Home A Bit of Heaven’ because as we perform our family duties, indeed our homes can turn into a little heaven. On the left column are the specified activities to remind us what our duties are and the right column represent the days of the month. As you perform an activity on the left column, you check it off in the corresponding day. For example if the 1st Sunday of the month falls on the 3rd day and you were able to hold your monthly fast, then you check that off as accomplished. In time you will see what you have been able to do and still need to do. The best part is you know you are progressing. The more you are able to do the greater satisfaction you feel.” “Here’s more help coming your way. During the monthly visits of your home or visiting teachers, I have asked them to review with you your family’s progress. If there are areas where you feel you need more help, this is the time to discuss them. Please submit the completed chart to them at the end of the month. Once we have reviewed them, we will return them to you. Then we will know what else we can do to help you.” STEP 7 & 8. Deputize home and visiting teachers. The Lord has commanded us “to visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties.” (D&C 20:47) This is the part where you utilize the home and visiting teachers to help you watch over every family’s progress. During their monthly visits, request them to review with the family how they have used the family goal chart in helping them in their family duties. After reviewing with the family its accomplishments, have them submit the chart to you. STEP 9 & 10. Review family goal charts. This is the phase of “returning and reporting” so important to holding families accountable. Home and visiting teachers retrieve family goal charts from the families and submit them to the bishopric. You need this to know whether members have been doing their duties or not. This is also crucial because you want to support the application of their newfound skills. If they have not been done, then you can take an appropriate action. You may consider visiting them yourself to see what further help they require. If they have been done, deserved praise is in order. Evaluate, revise and introduce enhancements. When you experiment on these strategies, you will definitely encounter concerns that you have not anticipated. No matter how impressive this might be on paper, it won’t stand against the realities of daily living. This is where your unique talents and perspective comes in. When you earnestly pray for guidance, the Lord will grant it to you. I know that you will immensely improve upon these ideas. New converts intentionally assimilated into the gospel culture. When new converts join the Church, this is our most welcome opportunity to introduce the gospel culture to them. They are receptive and eager to blend with the saints of the Church. Home and visiting teachers assigned should conduct the orientation and demonstrate the family leadership skills to the family. You as the bishop can personally take it upon yourself to teach new convert families. What an honor and privilege that has been bestowed upon you. You have a great opportunity to plant in the hearts and minds of your members the seeds of the gospel. They will inevitably bear fruit. For what we sow, we also reap. The harvest is great that I can assure you and no joy is greater than this. [D&C 18: 15-16]

Gospel Culture in our Families

A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO HELPING FAMILIES ADOPT THE GOSPEL CULTURE STEP 1 Bishopric Plans with counselors teaching ward members to adopt the gospel culture in the home

STEP 2

STEP 3

Bishopric Leads by example by adopting gospel culture in their own homes first

Bishopric Introduces adopting gospel culture in the home to PEC and Ward Council. Suggestions are solicited.

PLAN & ORGANIZE

STEP 4

STEP 5

Bishopric Conducts ‘Family Survey’ to fathers and mothers through EQ and RS

STEP 6 Bishopric Implements ‘Family Goal Charts’ to monitor progress

I M P L E M E N T

Bishopric Implements training for parents with the help of Priesthood and RS leaders

STEP 7 Home & Visiting Teachers are deputized to check family progress during monthly visits

RETURN & REPORT

STEP 8

STEP 9

STEP 10

Parents submit family goal charts to Home & Visiting Teachers

EQ & RS Presidents receive report from Home & Visiting Teachers

Bishopric receive, discuss, and review reports with EQ & RS Presidents

Bishopric evaluates and makes revisions. Repeats Steps 7-10. Follow-thru. Teach and teach and teach. For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. [D&C 4:4]

Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. [D&C 6:33]

Gospel Culture in our Families

Sample Monthly

Family Calendar Sun

Fast Day Sunday Services HT &VT Parent-Child Interviews

Mon

2 Family Home Evening

HT & VT

Family Home Evening

Sunday Services

Scripture Study

HT & VT

Family Home Evening

Sunday Services

Scripture Study

Tue

Mutual Night

Stake Leadership Training

Mutual Night

Ward Meetings

Mutual Night

HT & VT

Family Home Evening

Ward Meetings

Scripture Study

Family Council

HT & VT

Family Home Evening

Sunday Services

Scripture Study

Ward Meetings

Sunday Services

Wed

Thu

Fri

Seminary Weekly Date

Relief Society Homemaking

Seminary Weekly Date

Elders Quorum Activity

Seminary

Relief Society Enrichment Activity

Weekly Date

Mutual Night

Sat

Seminary

Elders Quorum Activity TEMPLE

HT Home Teaching VT Visiting Teaching

Gospel Culture in our Families

THE GOSPEL-CENTERED FAMILY CHECKLIST As Husband & Wife We pray together as a couple daily We council together as a couple regularly We have a regular study time together at least weekly We have a regular weekly date We have a regular temple schedule at least monthly (if applicable) We are worthy of a current temple recommend

Yes

Comments/Required Action

[] [] [] [] [] []

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

As Parents We share common values and goals as parents We have a common understanding of effective child discipline We show good example in our actions and our words We are kind and compassionate over our children’s shortcomings We give appreciation to our children’s small and big successes We discuss the temporal and spiritual welfare of each child We conduct parent-child interviews with each child monthly Our children have individual copies of the Standard Works Our children have regular daily household chores

[] [] [] []

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

[] [] [] []

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

As a Family We hold weekly Family Home Evening We hold daily family prayers We hold a family council at least monthly or as needed We hold a monthly fast We hold regular prayers before meals We have at least one meal a day where we eat together We abstain from alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea and cigarettes Our TV viewing is scheduled and limited to good programs only We have regular family leisure activities

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

As Members of the Church We have church callings and magnify them to the best of our ability We attend Sunday services weekly and attend on time We have completed our four generation family history Our children are enrolled in seminary Our children participate in Mutual Night or Single Member Activities We participate in temple activities regularly We perform home and visiting teaching duties regularly

[] [] [] [] [] [] []

___________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

As a Family Economy We have sufficient family income to provide for our basic needs We have a monthly family spending plan that we follow We save at least 10% of our monthly income We pay an honest tithe regularly We pay a generous fast offering monthly Our children have individual missionary savings program We are saving for a college fund for each child We have adequate life and health insurance

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________