"Our Refined Heavenly Home"
Memorable Monday Moments
Lessons from BYU Devotionals
One of the main purposes of having family night every week is to help prepare our family to be together forever. Jeff reminded us of this in his email home today. (You can read the email here.) In it, he mentioned finding an article by Elder Douglas L. Callister in the June 2009 Ensign. A year or two before that issue came out, we had a lesson on the original talk, which was a BYU devotional. In fact, Wayne was so impressed with the talk, that it became the subject of a very effective Bishop's Youth Discussion. (As part of the evening, he played a snippet of an old 70's rock song and a young Beehive covered her ears and kept saying "turn it off, turn it off!" I'm glad she got the message, and hopefully the others did as well.)
Here's how the talk begins: "The nearer we get to God, the more easily our spirits are touched by refined and beautiful things. If we could part the veil and observe our heavenly home, we would be impressed with the cultivated minds and hearts of those who so happily live there. I imagine that our heavenly parents are exquisitely refined."
I was blessed to have a grandmother that was the epitome of refinement, and so I learned very early how important developing that quality is. Just like we're trying to do, she raised a houseful of boys. That was very encouraging to me as we tried to help energetic young men realize that it's okay to appreciate beauty and culture.
Elder Callister covered several aspects of this in his talk -
Language - "God speaks all languages, and He speaks them properly. He is restrained and modest of speech. . . . We will feel more comfortable in Heavenly Father’s presence if we have developed proper habits of speech."
Literature - "I don’t know whether our heavenly home has a television set or a DVD machine, but in my mind’s imagery it surely has a grand piano and a magnificent library. . . . If we know the books located at the bedside, we know much about the man."
Music - "If we could peek behind the heavenly veil we would likely be inspired by the music of heaven, perhaps more glorious than any music we have heard on this earth. . . . Brigham Young said: 'There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven.'”
Beauty, Order & Cleanliness - "We must not 'let ourselves go' and become so casual—even sloppy—in our appearance that we distance ourselves from the beauty heaven has given us. . . . Need you dust, clean, and rearrange before you invite the Spirit of the Lord into your apartment [or home]?"
"You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, art, music, and order of heaven. I close with the words of President Brigham Young: 'Let us . . . show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.' Even more, that we may enjoy the refined society of heavenly parentage, for we are of the race of the gods, being children of the Most High."
Coincidentally, in our last Sunday School lesson, we were given the following assignment to complete in a family home evening:
List paintings, pictures, posters, musical recordings, books and other objects that you have in your home. Label each item with a "+" or "-" indicating whether it is likely to lead your heart closer to God or further from him. Discuss the result and make changes as needed in your home environment.
When our oldest was a young teenager, his best friend's family did a similar activity. They were amazed at the things that were thrown out and the difference it made in their home. Just her sharing that with me made a great impact on our family. We have total control over the books and music and pictures we allow in our home. We can enjoy a refined and lovely atmosphere. Having the practice and experience now will make our celestial home seem warm and comfortable and familiar.
One final note: This seems like a good place to record a quote I love, and used often when trying to convince our children to make their beds and clean their rooms. I'm always reminded of it when I read Jeff's story (referenced in his email link above).
“And while he is about it, he should learn that the dusty, ill-kept room with its unmade bed is the devil’s best means of discouragement.” S. Dilworth Young
Lessons from BYU Devotionals
One of the main purposes of having family night every week is to help prepare our family to be together forever. Jeff reminded us of this in his email home today. (You can read the email here.) In it, he mentioned finding an article by Elder Douglas L. Callister in the June 2009 Ensign. A year or two before that issue came out, we had a lesson on the original talk, which was a BYU devotional. In fact, Wayne was so impressed with the talk, that it became the subject of a very effective Bishop's Youth Discussion. (As part of the evening, he played a snippet of an old 70's rock song and a young Beehive covered her ears and kept saying "turn it off, turn it off!" I'm glad she got the message, and hopefully the others did as well.)
Here's how the talk begins: "The nearer we get to God, the more easily our spirits are touched by refined and beautiful things. If we could part the veil and observe our heavenly home, we would be impressed with the cultivated minds and hearts of those who so happily live there. I imagine that our heavenly parents are exquisitely refined."
I was blessed to have a grandmother that was the epitome of refinement, and so I learned very early how important developing that quality is. Just like we're trying to do, she raised a houseful of boys. That was very encouraging to me as we tried to help energetic young men realize that it's okay to appreciate beauty and culture.
Elder Callister covered several aspects of this in his talk -
Language - "God speaks all languages, and He speaks them properly. He is restrained and modest of speech. . . . We will feel more comfortable in Heavenly Father’s presence if we have developed proper habits of speech."
Literature - "I don’t know whether our heavenly home has a television set or a DVD machine, but in my mind’s imagery it surely has a grand piano and a magnificent library. . . . If we know the books located at the bedside, we know much about the man."
Music - "If we could peek behind the heavenly veil we would likely be inspired by the music of heaven, perhaps more glorious than any music we have heard on this earth. . . . Brigham Young said: 'There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven.'”
Beauty, Order & Cleanliness - "We must not 'let ourselves go' and become so casual—even sloppy—in our appearance that we distance ourselves from the beauty heaven has given us. . . . Need you dust, clean, and rearrange before you invite the Spirit of the Lord into your apartment [or home]?"
"You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, art, music, and order of heaven. I close with the words of President Brigham Young: 'Let us . . . show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.' Even more, that we may enjoy the refined society of heavenly parentage, for we are of the race of the gods, being children of the Most High."
Coincidentally, in our last Sunday School lesson, we were given the following assignment to complete in a family home evening:List paintings, pictures, posters, musical recordings, books and other objects that you have in your home. Label each item with a "+" or "-" indicating whether it is likely to lead your heart closer to God or further from him. Discuss the result and make changes as needed in your home environment.
When our oldest was a young teenager, his best friend's family did a similar activity. They were amazed at the things that were thrown out and the difference it made in their home. Just her sharing that with me made a great impact on our family. We have total control over the books and music and pictures we allow in our home. We can enjoy a refined and lovely atmosphere. Having the practice and experience now will make our celestial home seem warm and comfortable and familiar.
One final note: This seems like a good place to record a quote I love, and used often when trying to convince our children to make their beds and clean their rooms. I'm always reminded of it when I read Jeff's story (referenced in his email link above).
“And while he is about it, he should learn that the dusty, ill-kept room with its unmade bed is the devil’s best means of discouragement.” S. Dilworth Young
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