When disaster strikes, few of us would refuse a call to serve those in need. In the aftermath of a tornado, hurricane, flood, or devastating fire, many rush to give service to lessen an emergency's toll on human suffering. Members of a ward or stake often ask their leaders: "What would you have me do?"

The reaction to a bishop's direction is often a crestfallen face, for the assignment is simple: Take care of and love your family.

Responsibility and stewardship for one's family does not sound as important as searching rubble for disaster survivors or rescuing victims from a raging river. Yet the importance placed on self-reliance and family strength has been the centerpiece of prophetic counsel for decades.

At the 171st Semiannual General Conference we received sound counsel that will benefit ourselves as individuals as well as our families:

Get out of debt. Prepare food storage. Conduct family home evening. Pray. Spend time with your children. Ensure your homes are in good repair and clean. Seek education. Home and visiting teaching are added to this list.

In the broad scope of activities that have eternal impact, none is as critical as responsibility in the home. How many husbands and wives hardly hesitate to belittle one another and have harsh words for their eternal companions in the intimacy of the home (in front of children) but in public try to put on the "good" face.

Parents desire to have youth with values and principles, but often rely only on school teachers or Church leaders to instill these values. "We're too busy," is often the excuse when the request is made to attend a summer camp or accompany children on an activity. It is not difficult for a bishop to discover root causes for family problems. A first question is often: "Do you sustain and follow prophetic teachings?" "Certainly," is the most common reply.

But answers to specific questions are most often negative. Do you pray as a family? Do you study scriptures together? Do you hold family councils regularly? Do you teach your children through example how to care for what you own? Do you pay a full tithe? Do you keep the Sabbath holy? Are you out of debt?

Counsel regarding these questions is often found during the five sessions of any general conference and most often from our living prophet. In historic times a prophet may have called upon Church members to relocate and begin a new community or effect a rescue of immigrant pioneers stranded on dirt trails en route to Salt Lake City. Today we're asked to do a far greater good — take care of our families and look after each other.

As President Gordon B. Hinckley implored in the Saturday evening priesthood session of conference: "We need to care for one another more diligently. We need to make a little more effort to assist those who are down at the bottom of the ladder. We need to give encouragement and a lifting hand to men and women of faith and integrity and ability, who can climb that ladder with a little help.

"That principle applies not only with reference to our present undertaking in [the Perpetual Education Fund], but in a more general way. Let us open our hearts, let us reach down and lift up, let us open our purses, let us show a greater love for our fellow men."

During conference, we sustained members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve as "apostles and prophets." As we resume our daily activities, let us heed their counsel and be always mindful of their teachings regarding home and family and others.