Power Relationships/ Family Councils

The word Councils defintion in the dictionary says  an advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly. or an ecclesiastical assembly.

The church has councils for everything. They are essential for functioning like a well oil machine. A key to that is when Elder M. Russell Ballard says in General Councils in the Church Chapter 2 "no man is capable of judging a matter, in council, unless his own heart is pure; and that we are frequently so filled with prejudice, or have a beam in our own eye, that we are not capable of passing right decisions." (Ballard, 1997, pg 41).

I realized this week that we have somewhat decent couple's councils but we have yet to include the children in a family council. Which is something beneficial to teaching our children about open communication. Giving them a voice and having them know our home is a safe place to open up about subject they are dealing with or have concerns about. I had the opportunity to go to Time Out For Women Friday night and all day Saturday and got to feel of the lord's spirit and was fed and given gentle reminders about involving our children in appropriate decesions for their age so they feel welcome to talk about anything in a safe environment meaning we will listen to them with love and concern but no judgement. This gave me the jump start I need to implement in my family.

Power Relationships in Families

In Who Is the Boss Power Relationships in Families by Dr. Richard B. Miller director of School of Family Life at Brigham Young University he gives us some steps as suggestions of how to handle Power Relationships the best way.

1. Parents are the leaders in the family- he says "In healthy, well functioning families, their is a clear hierarchy between parents and children." He goes on to say "parents should not be harsh, domineering, or dictatorial, but they are the leaders of the family, and the children need to follow that leadership."
2. Parents must be united in their leadership.
3. The parent-child hierarchy dissolves when children become adults.
4. The marital relationship should be a partnership
• Husbands and wives are equal
• Husbands and wives have different responsibilities, but they function as equals.
• A husbands role as a patriarch gives him the responsibility to serve his wife and family.
• Husbands and wives work together as partners.

If you don't know what kind of power relationship this questionnaire at the end of Miller's talk will help you so I thought I would include it. No need to share your answers.

That We May Be One

 In his talk That We May Be One Henry B. Eyring gives us advice on how to get to becoming one with our spouse. And he says "The requirement that we be one is not for this life alone. It is to be without end. The first marraige was performed by God in the garden when Adam and Eve were immortal. He place in men and women from the beginning a desire to be joined together as man and wife forever to dwell in families in perfect, righteous union. He place in His Children a desire to live at peach with all those around them." (Eyring, 1998, pg 1).

"The sacramental prayer can remind us every week of how the gift of the unity will come through obedience to the lawa and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we keep our covenants to take His name upon us, to remember Him always, and to keep all His commandments, we will recieve the companionship of His Spirit. That will soften our hearts and unite us. But there are two warnings whichu must come with that promise." (Eyring, 1998, pg 3).

1. The Holy Ghost remains with us only if we stay clean and free from the love of things of the world.
2. The other is to beware of pride.

References

M. Russell Ballard, Counseling with Our Councils. (1997).
Eyring, Henry B. That We May Be One.  https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/1998/05/that-we-may-be-one?lang=eng
Miller, Richard B.  Who Is the Boss? Power Relationships in Families. 2008