Yesterday in Sunday School we learned about Moses’ last sermon to the Children of Israel. We learned about the advice he gives them, about the phylacteries they wore, and the symbols they placed on their doorposts to remind them of their God.
While we don’t wear these leather bands on our heads and arms, we aren’t so different today. Many LDS people wear symbols of their faith including CTR rings, Young Women medallions or scouting pins, and other visual reminders. Many of us also have visual reminders in our homes of our faith such as pictures, statues, and plaques. But sometimes we don’t take the opportunity to really display our beliefs visually.
Our instructor challenged each of us to do something for Family Home Evening today. She challenged us to take inventory of our homes (specifically the front room that everyone sees) to see what image we project to our family and the world about our lives and our faith. She asked us to go our front door and look around. What do you see?
I have to admit that I didn’t do too well. Of all the pictures and wall hangings and décor in my front room, the only thing that tells people I’m LDS is one of our wedding pictures in front of the temple. The rest are cool photography and sculptures from South Africa that sets the tone for my modern style. But what’s more important?
That isn’t to say that I don’t have other pictures and reminders of my faith throughout the rest of my house, because I have something in almost every room (bathroom and laundry room excepting). But I could definitely place more emphasis on it in my front room.
The second part of the challenge is to make changes if necessary. It need not be expensive or difficult. This can be a fun activity for Family Home Evening whether you have little ones at home or not. If you have a distribution center near by, you can pick up a free copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World or The Living Christ (the testimony of the apostles) to display in an inexpensive frame. Or, it can be as simple as placing a Book of Mormon and Bible on an end table or moving something you already have from one room to a more visible spot.
So next Monday take stock of your house, and let me know what changes you made.
Related Blogs:
Change Up Your Family Home Evening