I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I can make my home more of a haven for my family. I want it to be a place apart from the world. You know—in the world, but not of the world. It’s a thought that’s been running through my head for a long time, not only to make my home more of a haven and a sanctuary, but to learn what a difference it can make for my family, and then to share what I’ve learned with everyone else.
I know that I’ve made a start. I had a number of friends visit and comment on how nice and peaceful our home feels. I always kind of laugh because in my mind, it seems like my home is often anything BUT peaceful. With two teens and a college student still at home—and all of their activities and pets—it is certainly rarely quiet. Over the years, though, I have come to learn that there is a BIG difference between quiet and peaceful. One does not necessarily include the other.
I know that soon enough my home will be quiet and that isn’t what I wish for. Sometimes when they’re all gone off to school, it’s very quiet—maybe even too quiet for me. But peaceful is another thing. I love it when my home has a peaceful spirit. I want it to have that peaceful feeling that makes people want to come and want to stay.
And so I’ve been working on some thoughts and some plans about what it would take to have that kind of home all the time. I’ve been studying the scriptures and looking for the elements that a peaceful home would have, for inspiration about what should be there and what should not. So far, the best blueprint I have found for creating the type of home I want is in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
It’s one of my favorite sections, full of wonderful wisdom and revelation about light and life and learning and being prepared. Verse 119 is the one that stands out to me.
Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
This is what I want my house to be like. I know that these phrases are repeated in section 109 at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a home that has peace like a temple? I’d like to have just a fraction of that feeling in my house, and know that I am living in a place where the spirit dwells.
That’s my goal. And I’ll be sharing here as I work on it. So be sure you’re following, and you can make this journey with me. And so you can help give me feedback and suggestions along the way.
This subject is something that has been weighing on my mind a lot lately, too, so I will be interested to read the rest of this series and hopefully pick up a pointer or two!