Home and Family

By Elder Gene R. Cook

of the First Quorum of the Seventy

(Adapted from an April 1984 general conference address. See Ensign, May 1984.)

Some years ago a fire erupted in the middle of the night and completely destroyed a family’s home. A neighbor came by to console the family’s seven-year-old, not knowing that he (the neighbor) was about to be taught a great principle. “Johnny,” he said, “it’s surely too bad that your home burned down.” Johnny thought a moment and then said, “Oh, that’s where you’re mistaken, Mr. Brown. That was not our home; that was just our house. We still have our home—we just don’t have any place to put it right now.”

What does the word home bring to your mind? To some it is just a building. To others it’s a place to sleep, a place to eat, a place where worldly goods are stored.

To those more spiritually inclined, it is where their family is, where their heart is—a sacred place, a peaceful place, an escape from the world.

When the Lord sent us here for our individual growth, He sent us to live with a family and to be nurtured by it. And you and I always were and ever will be members of the family of God. We are His sons and daughters.

Children, wherever you are, no matter what your failure, problem, or sin, you will always be loved by your family. You will always be loved by your Heavenly Father. And you will always feel at home when you have His Spirit.

Photo by Craig Dimond