The Meaning and Blessings of Work

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it tells us that work is a solemn responsibility, and a sacred duty.  Our family should be built on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, compassion, and work.  

Teaching our children to work can seem overwhelming.  Most of the time, it seems easier to just do things ourselves, but if we do this, our children will never learn to do things for themselves.  Teaching our children takes time and effort. 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "The divine attributes of love, mercy, patience, submissiveness, meekness, purity...cannot be developed in the abstract.  These require the clinical experiences....Nor can these attributes be developed in a hurry."

One important way that we can teach our children to work, is by our own example.  We can encourage them to help around the house.  Children can be given simple chores such as helping with a meal, cleaning their room, sorting laundry, dusting, or helping to take care of a family pet.  These jobs can get more detailed as our children get older.  We should try not to complain about the work that we have to do.  If we seem happy about working, our children will be less likely to try to avoid working.

We can also teach our children to work hard in school.  We can encourage them to do their best, and give their best efforts in their classes.  We can encourage them to work hard at being good friends, and good people.  When they work hard, they will be able to take pride in their efforts.

We can also teach our children to work hard at their extra curricular activities.  We can encourage them to try their best in their activities, and to be good team members.  We can teach them to work hard at having good sportsmanship, and being dependable.

One of the most important areas that we can be an example to our children in is service.  We should teach our children to work hard in the service of others.  We shouldn't complain about our church callings, or our service opportunities.  We should teach children to have joy in doing temple work.  We should take them to the temple, and help them to gain a testimony of working to serve our Heavenly Father.

"Children devoid of responsibilities risk never learning that every individual can be of service and that life has meaning beyond their own happiness." 

-Bishop H. David Burton