Speaking Love at Home

“With father and mother leading the way, teaching me how to trust and obey; and the things they teach are crystal clear, for love is spoken here” (Love is Spoken Here, Children’s Songbook, pg. 190). As with almost everything gospel-related, we must start in our homes.

In “Love Is Spoken Here“, Elder Gerrit W. Gong discusses three languages of gospel love. As I have studied these words, the thought keeps coming to mind, “How do I and my family implement these three languages of gospel love in our home?” This has caused me to reflect and look at how I am trying to do this and set an example for my family.

The Gospel Language of Warmth and Reverence

“How do you know your parents and families love you?” I have wondered how my children would answer this question. Leading up to Thanksgiving, we hang a long strip of paper on a wall and ask each member of the family to write two things for which they are grateful each day. Here are a few of what’s been written in 2023:

1. I’m grateful to have a dad that always cheers me up and a mom that is always there for me
2. For daughters who are amazing and I love to spend time with
3. For 2 sons who make me laugh
4. Patience
5. Trust in the Lord
6. Scriptures
7. Hearing the kids converse at the table

There are more, but I believe that this exercise shows how our parents and families love us. Not everything is sunny and bright, but deep down, we know that love is spoken in our home.

“Sometimes we need to know love spoken here is heard and appreciated here.” I think our “Thanksgiving strip” does just that.

Warmth and reverence also help us to grow the love in our home. This shows up in our “Come Follow Me” study, Family Home Evening, our Sunday night calendaring, and the next “Line Upon Line” episode. These activities help us to focus on Jesus Christ in our home. Focusing on Him brings love into our home.

The Gospel Language of Service and Sacrifice

This gospel language is about action. We strive to give our children the chance to serve whenever possible. We have done service activities helping set up refugee apartments, packing food boxes, and bringing meals to neighbors. We get them involved in activities that will benefit others and have each child focus on others’ needs instead of their own wants.

The other way we speak this language in our home is by accepting callings and assignments from church leaders. Cheryl and I do our best to magnify our callings and serve with all our might. We let our children know why we do this and how it helps others. We also express gratitude for the trust the Lord has in giving us these callings and how they bless us as a family.

I currently serve as the Elders Quorum Secretary. Our quorum has the responsibility to set up the chairs before services begin on Sunday. Even though we have divided up the responsibility to different groups of Elders, I go early to set up chairs as well. I feel that it is part of my calling to set an example, not only to my family but the members of the quorum.

The Gospel Language of Covenant Belonging

“We live in a self-centered world. So much is ‘I choose me.’ It is as if we believe we know best our own self-interest and how to pursue it.” Covenant belonging changes the “I choose me” to “I choose Christ.” Covenants lead us to loving others as He loves them, and as He loves us.

Cheryl and I have made covenants. Our children know we have made those covenants and that we do our best to honor and keep them. Our children have also made some covenants. As their parents, we strive to help them keep those covenants and understand why they are important. We try to assist them in building a strong gospel foundation they can grow on. We teach them correct principles so that they can choose to make more covenants and live a life of happiness.

Two Questions

Elder Gong asks these two questions:

1. Where and how does Jesus Christ speak to you in love?
2. Where and how do you hear His love spoken here?

By striving to speak the gospel languages of love in our home, Cheryl and I hope that our children can answer these questions with one word: home. Everyone should be able to hear Jesus Christ speak to them in their home. Everyone should be able to “hear His love spoken” in their home.

Conclusion

When we focus on speaking the gospel languages of warmth and reverence, service and sacrifice, and covenant belonging in our homes, we allow those within its walls to grow in love. That growth in love can then extend beyond the walls of our home to our neighbors, friends, and extended family. Finally, everyone in our home should be able the hear Jesus speak in love and hear His love spoken.