Family Councils

I loved reading “Counseling with our Councils” by M. Russell Ballard and am such a fan of family council, especially!  M. Russell Ballard said, “This is the miracle of Church councils: listening to each other and listening to the Spirit!  When we support one another in Church councils, we begin to understand how God can take ordinary men and women and make of them extraordinary leaders.  The best leaders are not those who work themselves to death trying to do everything single-handedly; the best leaders are those who follow God’s plan and counsel with their councils.”

I have witnessed this firsthand within my family.  When we hold regular family councils, it is transformative.  It puts us all on the same page and unites us, but it also gives our children a voice and some power within our own family.  Even this week, our second daughter asked if we could hold family council a day early because she had some issues she wanted to tackle.  I think it helps them all with whichever stage they are at in their own life and reminds the older kids (and us!) of what it was like to be younger or how we can help the other kids.  

Elder Ballard also said in that article, “Let us remember that the basic council of the Church is the family council.  Fathers and mothers should apply diligently the principles I have discussed in their relationships with each other and with their children.  In doing so, our homes can become a heaven on earth.”  My family definitely feels the difference throughout the week when we have held family council.  We typically do it on Sunday nights and we call it “Family Sundaes Sunday.”  It’s a trick we learned a few years back to keep the kids at the table and to keep the little ones quieter, ha!  We dig out loads of ice cream toppings and just let everyone have at it.  It’s a really great family tradition and helps the kids to love family council.