Have family prayer to help children love God and the gospel

“I am convinced that one of the greatest things that can come into any home to cause the boys and girls in that home to grow up in a love of God, and in a love of the gospel of Jesus Christ, is to have family prayer.”

- President Heber J. Grant, In Conference Report, Oct. 1923, 7., as quoted in "Our Greatest Happiness," The New Era, June 2003, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2003/06/our-greatest-happiness?lang=eng

Article link - Eight Strategies to Help Children Reject Pornography

Excellent article to help protect children from pornography/actively reject pornography.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/08/eight-strategies-to-help-children-reject-pornography?lang=eng

Prayerfully counsel with spouse about family size

"Families today are smaller than they were a generation ago—even LDS families. We can always find reasons to justify delaying or limiting the number of children we have. For example, “We need to graduate first” or “We need to get a better job so we can have more money” or “Why take all the fun out of marriage by having kids?”

"You’ve been blessed with a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. You have the blessings of eternity to offer to your children. Don’t get hung up on the thought that you must provide all things temporal. The greatest gift you have to offer to your children is access to all things spiritual in the kingdom of God.

"When you prayerfully counsel with your spouse about having children, remember that you are the youth of the noble birthright. Please don’t leave God out of your deliberations. Share that right to birth with as many spirit sons and daughters as God is prepared to send to your home. After all, these were His children long before they will be yours.

"With faith in God and His prophetic word, go forward without excuse or hesitation and create your own eternal family."

- Elder C. Scott Grow, Of the Seventy, "Prophetic Principles of Faithfulness," Ensign, January 2017, p. 16

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/01/young-adults/prophetic-principles-of-faithfulness?lang=eng

Marriage creates the ideal setting for children

God "designated the purposes of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfillment of adults to, more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared, and nurtured. Families are the treasure of heaven."

- Elder Neil L. Andersen, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Spiritual Whirlwinds," General Conference, April 2014
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/spiritual-whirlwinds?lang=eng

Children are what God gave you time for

"Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: “[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.” She then adds: “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”"

- Neil L. Andersen, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Children," General Conference, October 2011
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/children?lang=eng&_r=1

"There is no other relationship quite like that which can and should exist between a boy and his dad."


- M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship," General Conference, Oct 2009

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/fathers-and-sons-a-remarkable-relationship?lang=eng

"Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. There may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there; you should truthfully record your real self and not what other people may see in you.

"Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available.

"A journal is the literature of superiority. Each individual can become superior in his own humble life.

"What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?

"Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity.

"Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events."

- Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, “The Angels May Quote from It,” New Era, Oct 1975
http://www.lds.org/new-era/1975/10/the-angels-may-quote-from-it?lang=eng

Approach children with reason, with persuasion and love unfeigned

"Fathers, if you wish your children to be taught in the principles of the gospel, if you wish them to love the truth and understand it, if you wish them to be obedient to and united with you, love them! and prove to them that you do love them by your every word or act to them. For your own sake, for the love that should exist between you and your boys—however wayward they might be, or one or the other might be, when you speak or talk to them, do it not in anger, do it not harshly, in a condemning spirit. Speak to them kindly; get them down and weep with them if necessary and get them to shed tears with you if possible. Soften their hearts; get them to feel tenderly toward you. Use no lash and no violence, but … approach them with reason, with persuasion and love unfeigned."

- Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, (2011), 249–55
http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-f-smith/chapter-28?lang=eng

The way we treat our wives could well have the greatest impact on the character of our sons

"Considering everything else that we do, the way we treat our wives could well have the greatest impact on the character of our sons. If a father is guilty of inflicting verbal or physical abuse in any degree on his companion, his sons will resent him for it, perhaps even despise him for it. But interestingly enough, when they are grown and marry, they are likely to follow the same pattern of abuse with their wives. There is an urgent need in our society for fathers who respect their wives and treat them with sweet, tender love."

- Elder F. Melvin Hammond, Of the Seventy, "Dad, Are You Awake?," Ensign, Nov 2002, p. 98
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/11/dad-are-you-awake?lang=eng

"Fathers, not only do you have the right to know the worthiness of your children, you have the responsibility. It is your duty to know how your children are doing with regards to their spiritual well-being and progression. You need to monitor carefully the issues and concerns they share with you. Ask specific questions of your children regarding their worthiness, and refuse to settle for anything less than specific answers."

- Elder M. Russell Ballard, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "The Greatest Generation of Missionaries," General Conference, Oct 2002
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/the-greatest-generation-of-missionaries?lang=eng

Children are the most significant contribution a woman makes to the world

"I hope that every wife will look to her husband as her dear companion, the star of her life, her supporter, her protector, her companion with whom she walks hand in hand “equally yoked.” I hope that she will look to her children as sons and daughters of God, the most significant contribution she has made to the world, her greatest concern with regard to their achievements, and more precious than any other thing she has or could hope for."

- Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church, “Till We Meet Again,” Ensign, Nov 2001, p. 89
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/11/till-we-meet-again?lang=eng

Every time a child is born, the world is renewed in innocence.

"Children are the past, the present, and the future all blended into one. They are consummately precious. Every time a child is born, the world is renewed in innocence."

- Pres. Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Children," Ensign, May 2002, p. 8
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/05/children?lang=eng

God’s greatest creation is womanhood

“I affirm my profound belief that God’s greatest creation is womanhood. I also believe that there is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.”

- Pres. James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Fathers, Mothers, Marriage,” Ensign, Aug. 2004, p.3

Women's love and talents have greatest significance in nurturing children

“Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children. This is where their love and talents can have the greatest eternal significance. “

- Elder M. Russell Ballard, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Mothers and Daughters,” Ensign, May 2010, p. 20
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/05/mothers-and-daughters?lang=eng

Children close to Heavenly Father leads to little sin

"I submit that where children are brought up in close communion with our Eternal Father that there can not be much sin or much evil in that home.”

- David O. McKay, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, (2011), p. 29
http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-david-o-mckay/chapter-4?lang=eng

Nothing more precious than your children

"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out."

- Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church, "Your Greatest Challenge, Mother," General Conference, Oct 2000
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/your-greatest-challenge-mother?lang=eng

Parenthood one of God's greatest gifts

"One of God’s greatest gifts to mankind is the opportunity to receive and care for His little ones."

- Elder John B. Dickson, of the Seventy, "Lead Me, Guide Me," Ensign, Sep 2003, p. 12
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2003/09/lead-me-guide-me?lang=eng