Sister Susan W. Tanner
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Advice to a young daughter, newly married and leaving for a distant city:
" . . . make your home a haven of peace and a fortress of strength." Those who follow the Lord's pattern for a house of prayer, fasting, faith, learning and order will find "great peace will dwell within our homes in a world of increasing turmoil.
"Small things make a happy home, things like praying, saying 'I'm sorry,' expressing gratitude, reading a good book together.
"In your youth, you formed habits of praying and reading scriptures. Capitalize on those habits as well as the skills you learned of cooking and budgeting.
"Remember that 'children are an heritage of the Lord.' . . . It is true that parenting is physically exhausting, emotionally draining and mentally demanding . . . Parenting is not only challenging, but it provides life's greatest joys.
"Love is the foundational virtue in building a strong home. Our Father in Heaven exemplifies the pattern we should follow. He loves us, teaches us, is patient with us and entrusts us with our agency ... We demonstrate our love for family members not only in teaching them affirmatively but also in giving them of our time . . . I believe that parents and children need to participate in each other's everyday, ordinary experience. . . . In the eternal scheme of things, the most crucial and fulfilling thing you will do is to build a holy home and rear a strong family."
