We lived after the manner of happiness- from a parenting perspective

(I chose this picture because it reminds me of when J. and I were married- after the wedding breakfast, we hiked up to this viewpoint of the temple and talked about goals. Today is our 9th anniversary, and I am so grateful for those covenants and the blessings that have come in my life because of them.)

I was talking to a friend last night about making decisions about what is best for our kids. She has in-laws who are mission presidents and said they had stated that from their perspective, the two most important things to teach your kids are

1. to be responsible
2. to work hard

That sounds pretty good to me, but I would also add the first and greatest commandment, to love God, and secondly, to love others.

Today, I was reading 2 Nephi 5, and Nephi explaining their lives, building in a new land, he says, "we lived after the manner of happiness."

If you assume our main goal is happiness for our children in this life and the next, you can study Nephi's method of living to arrive at "the manner of happiness." Following is a list from the chapter of the things they did:

1. Build a temple. (vs. 16) We should have as our ultimate goal to help our kids arrive at the temple ready to make and keep covenants.
2. Sow seed and reap again in abundance. (vs. 11) Nephi means gardening, but I think it could apply to all types of projects these days- keeping in mind that the seeds we sow must be worthwhile, meaning, we reap the rewards in abundance.
3. They listened to a prophet who kept them safe (vs. 6) and they believed in the warnings and revelations of God.
4. They separated themselves from wickedness (vs. 7).
5. They kept the commandments (vs. 10)
6. They had kids (vs. 13)
7. They prepared for the future and to protect their families from the dangers facing them (vs. 14)
8. They built buildings and learned trades- working with wood, iron, copper, brass, steel, gold, and silver. They were industrious and learned to "labor with their hands" and have jobs. (vs. 15, vs. 17) Nephi always amazes me- he was an incredible craftsman on top of all other things.
9. Soften their hearts toward the Lord (like the Lamanites didn't in verse 21).
10. Marry well (vs. 23, looking at the cursing as a spiritual cursing)
11. Keep records from which to learn (vs. 31-33)

So, working hard and being responsible work pretty well with Nephi's version of "the manner of happiness." This chapter reminds me of something Joseph and I were inspired to teach our family. We were in the temple for a special ward temple session and a member of the temple presidency was speaking to us. He said this phrase in his talk, and that's about all I remember: Come to become.
We talked about it and decided to make that the theme of everything we invite our children to participate in with our family. Come to prayer and scripture study to become an eternal family. If we are teaching something, we invite them, reminding them to come to become. Nephi didn't force anyone to join him as he left Laman and Lemuel, but he invited them.
My vision (which isn't yet complete) is to have in our living room a beautiful picture of the temple and underneath it the phrase, Come to become, inviting my children to look to the temple covenants as their goal that they may become the Children of Christ, and not just mine. And I hope to teach a little hard work and responsibility along the way.