There’s No Place Like Home: this sentiment, along with a more current one, Home is my Happy Place, expresses my feelings about home.  I love having a place that is safe, comfortable, loving, and most importantly, centered on the Savior, Jesus Christ, so it can be filled with the Spirit. For me, the influence of the Spirit in my home is vital to my ability to face each new day.  I enjoy the feeling of peace and comfort I feel when I return home after being away, even for a short time.  More and more the world outside our homes is a place of contention, temptation, and darkness. Although we need to go out and shine our light so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven, we also need, more and more, a haven to return to for filling our lamps, so we may continue to be a light to others.

Recently, I was sad to see the burning of Notre Dame. It brought to mind “sanctuary” and how every soul needs a safe zone, where we can call “time out” and block out negative influences and pressures. I love the image of our home as a sanctuary, not only for those who live there, but also for others seeking a refuge from their storms. I’ve been blessed to have the space and means to welcome extended family members who’ve needed a place to live for a while, to regroup and heal, or long-term help and care.

“Deep inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, and regroup, reenergize to prepare for future pressures.  The ideal place for that peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece.” Richard G. Scott

In our home, I tried to do the things we’re asked to do, by the Prophet and Apostles, to strengthen our families and center our home in Christ. With seven kids, and a 17-year span from the oldest to the youngest, Family Home Evenings were challenging.  I often ended up in tears by the end.  Family council was the worst.  At one point, we had a notebook where we kept track of offenses like interrupting, name-calling, disrespectful behavior towards parents, etc., and fees charged for such offenses. (Hey, money talks.) No matter how hard we tried, or which parenting strategy we were currently using, “organized” family time was often a disaster.  I was totally out-numbered and out-maneuvered. Occasionally, however, we would have a wonderful spiritual experience that made it all worthwhile.  Several of those occasions were Father’s (or Brother’s) Priesthood blessings before a new school year.  The children looked forward to this and were reverent and touched by the Spirit present at those special times. Witnessing those tender hugs to a brother after a tear-filled blessing was the sweet payoff for enduring the rest.

When the older kids were in early morning seminary, we got sleepy little ones and grumpy teens up for scripture reading and family prayer at 5:00 am. We ate dinner together as a family every night, and tried to make it a bonding experience, though it was usually barely civil.  I struggled with my idealistic view of how a family dinner should look versus the reality of rude boys, sassy girls, tears and teasing, parents included. But I never gave up. When my sons were on missions, they knew we were praying for them, as a family, every single day.

Home was the place I gave birth to my youngest daughter. The day before she was born, it snowed in Las Vegas!  The children all bundled up and played in the snow, while I was in labor. They slept in their own beds and woke up the next day to greet their new sister!  Home was also a place to homeschool some of my children. While rocking my sixth baby one night, praying about school for one of my children who’d had a bad experience in her elementary school, the Spirit distinctly (and uncomfortably!) led me to homeschooling. Since that time, 19 years ago, I’ve used many different programs and methods to teach my children, but most of all I’ve loved learning with them and having them with me when they were young. I wanted them to have a place to learn where the Spirit of the Lord could be present. 

This week my daughter asked me about homeschool experiences I’ve had, and it reminded me of the many happy, spiritual, and sometimes difficult times we’ve shared as a family, because of homeschooling. The biggest blessing of homeschooling has been having the time at home with my children.  Time to discuss the gospel together, along with history, science, math, and English.  Time to cook together, sew quilts together, and make music together. We had time to read great books aloud together, to direct and act out plays, to create our own inventions, and to memorize seminary scriptures. My youngest and I memorized The Living Christ together, then she went on to memorize The Family: A Proclamation to the World, as well. We learned, played, and shared that time together in our home.

This scripture refers to the temple, the Lord’s house, but applies to our houses as well, and describes what I strive for in my own home:

“And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

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;

That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.”  Doctrine and Covenants 88:118-120

Home is holidays, traditions, joy, heartache, shared meals, nurturing, laughter, failure, unity, and family—people to teach us how to love. Sometimes people use the term “broken home” when referring to situations of children with divorced parents, however, the Great Healer can mend all broken things. No matter the tragedies, the mistakes, the detours in my family situation, I choose to keep my focus on the Savior and stand in the holy place within the walls of my home.

 “Amidst the bustle of the secular world, with its certain uncertainty, there must be places that offer spiritual refuge, renewal, hope, and peace. There are indeed such places. They are both holy and sacred. They are places where we meet the divine and find the Spirit of the Lord.” Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander

Our homes are holy places, like the church and the temple.  With home-centered, church supported gospel learning as a focus, we have the opportunity to increase our efforts to shape our homes into places where the Holy Ghost is welcome and feels comfortable, offering us more peace and joy in these holy sanctuaries.