Thoughts I was pondering today

So today in church we had some very good lessons in Sunday School and our combined RS/Priesthood meeting. I kept feeling like I wanted to say something in Sunday School but the time did not seem to permit (or I just was not sure if it meant anything to anyone but me). We were studying Jacob in the Book of Mormon and he is one of my favorite prophets to study. I have a quote from Elder Jeffery R Holland where he describes Jacob. "Jacob, unshaken and unshakable, born in affliction, refined in service, triumphant in Christ" I love this! I want to be like Jacob. Unshakable, unshaken, refined in service. I think of his teachings like I do when I listen to our prophets today at conference. He just said what needed to be said and hoped that his words would persuade the people to change and turn their hearts back to Christ. I think about this as I try to teach my children and help them find their way to Christ. Which leads me to my second thought. During combined meeting today we talked about "good, better, best". The bishop spoke to family prayer and FHE (and family scripture study) as the best part. I know of a person who has said that she does not do FHE because all her friends did FHE and they all have children who have strayed or left the church. I have been thinking about that comment. I have children who have made different choices than I would have wanted for them but I believe that it is because of FHE that they still come home. They have said they know that they can come home and feel loved. Even though they might not have done things the way I have wanted them to I know that they feel these things because they were taught every week as a family the value of family. Of course, lots of other things were taught but the basic value that our family is important and that we love each other has been at the core of our family gatherings. In time I know the teachings of the atonement will become real in their lives as they see us model that in our FHE. And that's how the words of Jacob come full circle for me today. in chapter 4 he talks about the difficulty of writing on the plates but that if he does not write the things he is supposed to they will be lost. He says the he rejoices in this "hoping that our beloved bretheren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow" I apply this same principle to FHE. I hope that my children will receive our teachings and see someday that it will lead them to JOY and not sorrow. I am thankful for prophets who teach us correct principles so we can use them to teach and guide and lift our families. After all we are an eternal family and this I rejoice in!