The Spiritual Benefits of Work (Handouts)

“The Spiritual Benefits of Work”

“Raising Up A Family To The Lord” by: Gene R. Cook
(Taken from Chapter 8: “Teaching Your Family about Work and Finances”)

“…Verily, be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many thing of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.” (D&C 58: 26-27)
“The commandment to work was one of the first commandments given by the Lord to his children. I believe the Lord knew that if we were idle, we would be more prone to discouragement and temptation.” (pg 226)
“We must be careful not to provide an easy life-style for our children; rather, we must help them provide a life for themselves.”

Teaching Children to Work At Home
“Where will children learn the principles of work? They must learn them at home. These principles are not necessarily learned because parents try to teach them. They must be experienced by children in doing the work itself.”
“Parents must take the lead in determining what work must be done around the home and then dividing that work among their children according to their age and abilities and any special needs. This division of responsibilities will change over the months and years as the family grows older and as needs at home change, and it will depend on the children’s physical, mental, and emotional ability.”
“Why is it necessary for children to work, and work hard, around the home?” (see pages 230-232)

1. Work causes children to be more disciplined.
2. Work causes children to feel a part of the family, part of a team.
3. Work helps the family fulfill family objectives. Keeping up a home requires lots of work: cleaning, repairing, painting, gardening, and so on. Children benefit from that work, and they also have a responsibility to help accomplish it.
4. Work teaches children responsibility. It teaches them that they must do their part in the family as well as in society. Work will also help children become responsible Church members, and it will be of great assistance to them when they must go into the workplace and sustain themselves in the world.
5. Work teaches children to be disciplined enough to “finish the job.” They learn patience, perseverance, discipline, and many spiritual characteristics that cannot be learned otherwise.
6. Work allows children to have a job inspected and approved and corrected if need be. Proper follow-up from parents allows children to give an accounting of their work. “Work is more than producing a result; it is a discipline.” The true outcome is what the children learn. They are building attributes and characteristics in their children that cannot be built in any other way.
7. Through work, children learn to be independent and self-reliant. Parents will not need to worry about them. They will do their responsibilities without being asked, nor will there be a need to follow up much.
8. Work teaches children to have confidence in themselves. They will know they can work, and work effectively.
9. Work teaches a family to be together, work together, and accomplish good things together. We must be sure we don’t just send our children out to work but that we work with them. Besides getting the work done and building good relationships, spending this time together provides an opportunity to discuss prayer, scripture reading, and other important principles. Time spent together with children provides many “teaching moments.”