I began reading this article today. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/family-councils?lang=eng
It is by Elder Ballard in the last conference. I know growing up we tried to have family councils. I think that they are a very important time as a family and they can be used to really uplift and strengthen the family. I have been thinking about how to apply this to my apartment and I am going to talk to my roommates about it. I hope you guys work out times for family councils as well.
I also had a thought that it would be really cool if we did an extended family council with the whole family at least the children and maybe some of the older grandchildren. We could do it once a month or something like that on fast Sunday for example.
What do you guys think?
I really like that idea John!
ReplyDeleteHere are some ideas I have for that.
1. Talk with family members beforehand to set topics and ideas of what to talk about as well as to schedule a time for all people to attend (at least the children and spouses)
2. Mom and Dad can assign someone to conduct (we could do a rotating assignment)
3. The conductor works with Mom and Dad and the collected ideas (could be a survey, email group, etc) to make an agenda for the meeting
4. The agenda is sent out with advance time, so that everyone can come to the meeting with ideas and thoughts
What do you think?
What are some examples of topics?
ReplyDeleteWe have been implementing some of these techniques for a family council. In my FAML 360 class we had a unit on councils. We were assigned to follow the pattern the apostles follow. 1) Distribute an agenda at least the night before 2) Meet in a sacred place (home, temple, outdoors, wherever you feel is a reserved spot, 3) Express love and appreciation for one another. 4) Open with prayer 5) Discuss agenda items - every one gets a turn 6) Council until consensus, 7) Close with prayer 8) Share some refreshment. Usually the 12 have pie.
ReplyDeleteDad and I completed the assignment, with pleasing results, but we didn't keep it up regularly. Then after Elder Ballard's talk, we started again with the family.
We've been trying to have an agenda that we post on google docs that anyone can edit or add to. James got an email especially for that purpose. It's been a little hectic here recently. We hope to get back into a more regular habit.
As far as an extended council goes with all of our grown children I ask with Joseph, what would be some topics?
I need to listen to that talk again. And take notes.
ReplyDeleteI need to listen to that talk again. And take notes.
ReplyDeleteThe family councils could be on problems that we are facing a a whole family, things to protect us, experiences that we have had that others can learn from so that they don't need to make the same mistakes, family members that need help with prayers or otherwise, experiences that we have had that we are grateful we learned gospel or non gospel related, advice in other areas of life like scripture study or goal setting, and so on. We can learn from each other and support one another. We are a family and we can use the great support system we have to help the family. It would be a little different than your immediate families and it wouldn't be as often but I think it would be good.
ReplyDelete