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A Week in the Life of a Mormon
Family
LAGOS, Nigeria — It’s early
morning, and Hilary and Patience Ekpo are going over the day’s
plans. After reading scriptures and praying together, they gather
their five children together and go through a similar exercise,
this time with the whole family.
An important part of their family devotional
is the compilation of a “to-do” list, so that everyone
knows what needs to be done and who is doing what for the day ahead.
By 7 a.m. they have left home for school
and work, but the family members also look forward to gathering
later in the day for an evening meal and family-focused time.
The Ekpo family in prayer. © 2008 Intellectual
Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hilary Ekpo says that being Mormon
in his country is most likely very similar to the experiences of
other Latter-day Saints elsewhere.
“The difference is not much,”
said Ekpo. “Whether you are in Russia, Nigeria or Utah, the
gospel, the Church and the responsibility of parents to teach their
children is the same.”
“It is crucial to focus on our
children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with
the Lord’s help, to teach them all we can before they leave
our homes,” suggested Elder M. Russell Ballard, Church apostle,
in a recent general conference address. “This eternally important
work,” Elder Ballard continued, “falls to mothers and
fathers as equal partners.”
The Ekpo family, along with others
in the Church, senses this responsibility and implements activities
every day to teach their children. Morning and evening prayer, family
scripture study and accountability for the day’s events take
precedence in the Nigerian home.
Children learn principles and values
that help them govern themselves, Hilary explained. “For example,
Edidiong, our 13-year-old, takes a ready supply of water with him
to school camp, where others offer him beverages not in keeping
with our standards. We’ve taught him these problems have a
solution and that we can find that solution when we work together.
Good values taught act as a shield to family members and help the
children to make good and right choices.”
Mbuotidem, Edidiong’s 11-year-old
sister, cited another example. “It’s important for me
to keep the commandment to wear modest clothing,” the young
Nigerian girl explained. “Even though some of my friends don’t
understand this principle, they know it’s important to me
and they don’t tease me about it anymore.”
Working together in gospel study is
the Monday night activity for the Ekpo family. Gathering weekly
in a family home evening creates a spirit of love as family members
take turns preparing and presenting gospel discussions. The regular
family time often includes activities and refreshments as well as
prayers and music.
As the week continues, family members
participate in age-related activities with other members of the
Church. They sandwich their schoolwork and social lives between
family and Church priorities. Sunday worship provides further gospel
discussion as well as opportunity to share common ground with friends
and neighbors. Some Sundays may include visiting other members,
researching family history or participating in missionary work.
Despite a loving focus on family togetherness,
Hilary understands that problems arise. “I hope that my children
know that challenges and obstacles are blessings in disguise and
that we can’t be strong if we don’t face and resolve
our challenges.”
“We try to apply the principles
of the gospel to every issue,” Patience adds, “because
we believe that every problem has a solution in the scriptures.
There the children learn to do the things that help them live the
gospel standards.”
Familiarity with those scriptural verses
as well as the loving concern of parents fortifies the Nigerian
children when they are faced with unexpected challenges. A regular
schedule of study, prayer and loving communication serves as the
ideal for Mormon families wherever they reside.
“If our children know where we
stand, and we always stand on the Lord’s side, we know we
are where we need to be,” counseled Cheryl C. Lant, general
Primary president, also in the recent general conference.
“The important thing is that
we consistently work to do these things. We will not be perfect
at it, and our families will not always respond positively, but
we will be building a strong foundation of righteous traditions
that our children can depend on. They can hold to that foundation
when things get difficult, and they can return to that foundation
if they should stray for a period of time.”
This article was prepared by the LDS Newsroom at lds.org.
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