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Show Home evenings Pres. Kimball advises 'To stay home and teach the children the gospel, the scriptures, and love for each other and love for their parents is Fortify homes, turn from sin charge to Church members everywhere to renew their efforts to strengthen the home and to shun immorality and other sins prevalent in the world today was given by President Spencer W. Kimball in his opening conference address. A As he opened the 147th Semiannual Conference session Saturday morning, Oct. 1, President Kimball counseled Church members on a wide spectrum of topics including family home evening, patriarchal blessings, keeping cleaning up yards, choirs, education, vandalism and growing permissiveness in s, todays society. Speaking of the family home program, he said, Merely going to a show or party or fishing only half satisfies the real need, but to stay llUlue and tcaCii the Children the gospel, the scriptures, and love for each other and love for their parents is most evening We have recommended that most important." Qwn scriptures "We have recommended that so far as possible all the children have their own scriptures and learn to use them." Growing permissiveness Patriarchal blessings "Social acceptance does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality, the practice would still be a deep, dark sin." great hope that every person, including youth, will be given the opportunity of having a patriarchal "It is our blessing." so far as possible, all the children have their own scriptures and learn to use them. He said, It is our great hope that every person, including youth, will be given the opportunity of having a patriarchal blessing . . . The promises which (a patriarch) makes under his special authority and calling will be fulfilled, providing that the recipient of the blessing is faithful and true. It is the right and duty of every father to give a fathers bleauig to lua children, especially as they are leaving home for school, a mission or marraige, President Kimball added. We urge every person to Photo by Gerald W. Silver Pres. Spencer W. Kimball gives counsel on a wide spectrum of topics at opening session of conference. keep up their diary or journal from youth up all through his life, he continued. The prophet noted he was highly pleased with the response from Church members on the planting of gardens. We hope this will be a permanent experience of our people, that they will raise much of what they use on their tables, he said. In addition to the garden, we hope our people will straighten up their fences and clean the fence lines and tear down the old unused bams and outbuildings. He expressed gratitude that many bishops have established excellent choirs for their services. It is splendid and we encourage it, he said. The Church from the beginning has been committed to the principle of the glory of God is intelligence, President Kimball continued. We therefore encourage our people to study and prepare to render sendee with their minds and also with their hands. He encouraged members to receive the kind of training which is most consistent with their interests and talents, be it in the professions, the arts or the vocations. Where it be university or vocational training, we applaud and encourage both, he said. Expressing alarm over increasing reports on vandalism, he said, Our faith in the youth and adults recently has been strained as we learn of the profligate stealing in some commmunities where millions of dollars are taken by shoplifters from our merchants. And great losses are sustained with the incredible amount of vandalism. We can hardly understand the makeup of one who will destroy for the satisfaction of doing it. Certainly we could have more pride in ourselves than to wreak havoc on property. He continued, Brothers and sisters, we hope that we will all live frugally and within our means and that we will pay our Continued on page Keeping journals 'We urge every person to keep up their diary or journal from youth up all through their lives." Planting gardens be a permanent experience our people that they will raise much of what they use on their table." 'We hope planting gardens will of Cleaning up yards 'We hope our people will straighten up their fences and clean the fence lines and tear down the old unused barns and outbuildings." Having choirs 'We are grateful that numerous of our bishops have established excellent choirs for their services. It is splendid and we encourage it." Education 'We encourage our people to study and prepare to render service with their minds and also with their hands . . . whether it be university or vocational training, we applaud and encourage both." Vandalism 'We can hardly understand the make up of one who will destroy for the satisfaction of doing it . . . Is it possible that some of us have that little respect for ourselves?" 4 WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 8, 1977 CHURCH 3 |
