There is a G.R.E.A.T talk from Sylvia Allred called Making our home a Mini-MTC from the 2007 BYU Women's Conference. What a concept! I love that!
What are some of the small things we do in our homes everyday to prepare our children to stand on their own-spiritually?
In other words what are we doing to make our home an MTC?
This is the errand of angels given to us as women and mothers in our home. This is the greatest nurturing we can do in our homes-to prepare our children spiritually and physically for what lies ahead.
The MTC (missionary training center)
It is a time of learning and preparation-just like our homes should be-a place of preparation for our children. We are their teachers.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:119
"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer"
A house of prayer
A day at the MTC begins and ends with prayer, with praying throughout the day. Prayers are offered during personal and companion study, in meetings, before meals, in classes. It really is a house of prayer.
Our own homes should also be houses of prayer. It is never too early to start having family prayer, or introducing our children to prayer. One of our greatest teaching opportunities is to teach our children about prayer and about the Godhead. They need to know where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going. With this knowledge, they begin to be taught by the Spirit about that they are a literal child of God with divine nature and divine purpose.
A house of fasting.
At the MTC missionaries learn and practice the true law of fast. They know that fasting and prayer go together and that when they fast and pray with faith, they will be more open to receive answers to their prayers.
Fasting is a difficult principle to teach and to live. I can't say that we are perfect on this in our home. We try to follow the spirit of the law more than the letter of the law with this principle. For us, there are several principles to be taught and learned with fasting. One, is about sacrifice. Fasting is a sacrifice and it will be hard. Two, if we can learn to say no to food once a month, than we will have the strength to say no to other things we should not be doing as well. It disciplines us to put God first.
A house of learning
The MTC is about learning languages, cultures, doctrine, and Christ-like attributes. Our homes are houses of learning.
Our homes are a school for our families. We learn so much about the gospel and the Lord's plan in our homes as we strive to live Christ-like attributes in our day to day lives.
A house of glory
In the MTC they hold worship services, devotionals, and firesides. They sing hymns, missionaries prepare talks, and they bear testimony.
Our homes are like this when we hold Family Home Evenings, family scripture study, and in just living the gospel.
A house of God In the MTC there is an amazing spirit and feeling of love, respect, trust, and confidence. They are aspiring to become true representatives of Christ and share the gospel with others. It is a house of God.
Our homes are the most sacred places on the earth outside of the temple. It should be a place where the Spirit is felt and dwells.
" When a young man or woman enters the MTC, he or she will not suddenly transform into a well-prepared and obedient missionary. That preparation must begin YEARS before, in his or her home. Mothers play an important role in this preparation"I love Julie Beck's comment in her talk Mothers Who Know, that when they get to the MTC it should be a review not a revelation.
"The single most important thing you can do to prepare for a call to serve is to become a missionary long before you go on a mission."-Elder David Bednar
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We have to keep doing it and not give up. The Lord is on our side and He will bless us.
