Sacred Home?

In his talk entitled, "Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples," Elder Gary E. Stevenson gave a checklist as to what a sacred home is and asks questions for each of us to answer about our homes. I thought it was a great checklist and thought I should lists those questions in order to take inventory of what I need to do to make my home a sacred place. It's funny because I always ask in my prayers for the spirit to be in our home but after that request I don't really ever think about what I need to do to make that a possibility. This checklist is definitely something that will improve the level of the spirit in our home.

Elder Stevenson says, "Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home.

1. What do you see, and how do you feel?

2. Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple?

3. Is it clean and orderly?

4. As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior?

5. Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer?

6. Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time?

7. Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together?

8. Can you find your personal gospel study space?

9. Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit?

10. Is the conversation uplifting and without contention?

I see many places that need improvement.

Another thing he said that I really liked was "You are never lost when you can see the temple."