Counseling Together

     This week we learned more about communicating and counseling together. We have many counsels in the church, Elder Ballard has given many talks about this subject, and one such article is Strength in Counsel

We spoke of how you can counsel together as a family and the importance of that. There will always be conflict in marriage, but that does not have to be a bad thing! We can use that to come together and learn what is best for our family. The church leaders give us a good guide of how we can organize and run a counsel.

·      First you express love and appreciation for the other person. Whether in a counsel with many people, or just your spouse. Doing this brings love and the spirit into the meeting, this will help you feel the Lord guiding and directing you. It will also draw you together.

·      Then you pray, seeking to know the Lord’s will for your family or that decision. If we truly seek the Lord’s help He will guide us and direct us.

·      Next you discuss until you come to a consensus of the Lord’s will. This means that you discuss what the Lord would want, not necessarily what you want. This is not a time for one person or the other to try to convince the other that their opinion is right. This is time to discuss what you perceive the Lord would want.

·      After you come to your conclusion together you close with a prayer, to thank the Lord, and confirm your answers. Doing this will help you feel firm and resolved in your decisions.

·      Then there are refreshments, gathering together for a meal or a snack helps grow closeness and bonding. Also, who doesn’t love food?

    One of the other things they do is always have the council on the same day every week, in the same place (the Temple) and at the same time. If we set a habit of counseling together every week, even about the little things, we will be so much more prepared for when the big decisions come! They also have an agenda that everyone gets the day before, so that they can pray and spiritually prepare to discuss the different topics.

    Now our family councils do not have to be exactly like this, however this model can bring blessings and unity to our family unit and relationships. When we are united together to find the same answer, we will become stronger! These opportunities to come to decisions and find the Lord’s will in our life, will help us be more prepared to deal with all aspects of our marriage and family.

(I do not own images)