How can I strengthen my family?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful … families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 145). As we assist our parents in accomplishing these goals, we can help our families attain the happiness Heavenly Father wants for us.

Resources to Help You Prepare

These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.

1 Nephi 8:12 (Lehi wanted his family to partake of the fruit of the tree of life)
1 Nephi 16:14–32 (Nephi strengthens his family)
2 Nephi 25:26 (We teach our children about Christ)
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “In Praise of Those Who Save,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 77–80
Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Defenders of the Family Proclamation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 14–17
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 145
Fulfilling My Duty to God (2010), 27, 51, 75, 80–82
“Two Brothers Apart” (video)

6:12
“Through Small Things” (video)

2:3
“More Diligent and Concerned at Home” (video)

1:27
“Face to Face: How can I help family members return to church?” (video)

4:40
“Face to Face: What can I do to help ease family tension?” (video)

3:24

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

What are some experiences you have had with your family that have brought you happiness? What blessings have you seen in your family as you have followed the Savior’s teachings?

What do you know about the family life of the young men you teach? How can you help the young men understand that families are happier when they strive to follow the teachings of the Savior?

What can the young men do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

Our quorum: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?
Our duties: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?
Our lives: Remind the quorum of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?

If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a quorum presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the quorum; approximately 25–35 minutes

After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help quorum members understand the doctrine.

In his talk “In Praise of Those Who Save,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught of families: “We may share the same gene pool, but we are not the same. We have unique spirits. … We can choose to celebrate these differences.” What unique traits or strengths does each young man have? How can each young man use his unique strengths to bless his family? Quorum members could also search portions of the talk in small groups, looking for and sharing things that stand out to them. You could also invite quorum members to watch one of the videos in this outline and look for what the family members did to improve their relationships. How can the young men celebrate the differences in their families? What ideas can they share about how they can strengthen their family relationships?
In the talk “Defenders of the Family Proclamation,” Bonnie L. Oscarson taught that “all of us—women, men, youth, and children, single or married—can work at being homemakers. We should ‘make our homes’ places of order, refuge, holiness, and safety” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 17). How else does Sister Oscarson suggest that Church members can defend and strengthen their families? What can the young men do now to help make their homes orderly, holy, and safe?
Consider inviting several quorum members to teach part of this lesson. For example, they could share what their family does to bring happiness, or they could use one of the activities below. Some priests may have completed the “Family” activity in Duty to God (pages 80–82) and could share their experiences.
Invite the young men to write down obstacles that prevent some families from being happier. Provide each young man with a copy of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (see Duty to God, 107). Give quorum members a few minutes to read paragraph seven and underline principles that lead to happiness in family life. Ask each young man to read 1 Nephi 16:14–32 and share ways Lehi’s family applied these principles. Ask them to share experiences they have had that have taught them the importance of these principles in family life.
Invite the young men to read “Family” in For the Strength of Youth and identify and share what they can do to strengthen their families. Invite each young man to open his Duty to God book to the “serve others” section (deacon, 27; teacher, 51; priest, 75) and write what he could do to strengthen his family through serving them (see “My personal plan to give service”). Ask a few young men to share their plans with the quorum.

3. Plan to Act

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Ask the young men to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a quorum to apply what they have learned?
Give the young men a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.
Remind the young men that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.

Duty to God Plans

Allow time at the end of the quorum meeting for the young men to make plans in their Duty to God books or in the online version of Duty to God. These plans are personal, but quorum members can help each other generate ideas for their plans.

Related Youth Activities

Plan a Mutual activity that will help the young men apply what they learned in this lesson.