Our Refined Heavenly Home

We were honored to have the Alison & Nathan Jensen as guest speakers in Relief Society today.  They gave a great, interactive lesson from Elder Douglas Callister on having a refined heavenly home.  There were a lot of group discussions and great music played by Brother Jensen, an ex-classical music DJ. 

Sister Jensen started the lesson by having us write down any advise we would like to give our kids if for some reason we were not able to be with them.  We didn't share our advice, but take a moment and think what advice you would want to share.

She then pointed out that we all come from different situations and different families.  Our Heavenly Father gave us 10 suggestions to live by.  The ten commandments.  Did any of the advice on your list resemble the commandments given to us by our Heavenly Father?  

She pointed out that as we have lived by the commandments, we have also come to value and love them because we have sacrificed to keep these commandments.  

President Brigham Young taught, "We are trying to be the image of those who live in heaven; we are trying to pattern after them, to look like them, to walk and talk like them."  

We participated in group discussions on the topics highlighted in Callister's lesson:  Language, Literature, Music, Art, Appearance and Attitude.  

Sister Jensen told us of an experiment that a family had participated in.  This family had noticed that while preparing to go to and on the way to a certain weekly event, they would fight the entire time.  The event they were attending had a lot of music and they noticed there was a drastic change in attitudes after the event.  They decided to experiment with having music playing before and on the way to the event.  They noted the difference the music made in everyones attitudes.

Sister Jensen shared that in their family they have decided to not watch movies rated pg-13 and above.  Once their children are old enough, they can decide if they would like to watch movies with a pg-13 rating but it would need to be out of their home.  They want to make sure there living room reflects the highest standards. 

We all have to decide personally where we draw the line to give our homes that feeling of Heavenly refinement.  

The 13th Article of Faith says:  We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.  

Sister Jensen said we need to make refined things our good friends.  

Now, take that article of faith and read:

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, me and my friends, we seek after these things.