Post 9.5 -- Carve Out Specific Niches in Your Home.

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth."

The Savior often visited special places throughout His mortal life -- the mountaintop, the garden, the Sea of Galilee. The setting was integral to His purpose.

You can create special places in your own heaven on earth. Whether your home is large or small, something as simple as dedicating a certain time in a particular chair sets the stage for meaningful purpose.

The following ideas might help to eliminate contention from your home by solving the problems before they arise.

-- Make a designated quiet place for study with comfortable furniture, good lighting, a desk for writing or computer work, book cases filled with a variety of books, lap desks, pens and paper. Make it a place where the kids will love doing their homework.

-- Set up a hub for creativity (music room, craft room, sewing room) featuring a spacious work table. In our home, one room fulfills all these purposes.

-- If possible, set up a table in your laundry area for folding clothes. Trying to fold laundry on the sofa or the bed just leads to massive clutter and a sore back. Include an overhead rod with clothes hangers to hang clothes directly from the dryer. Include a basket for stray socks to keep them organized until their mates are found. Assign each capable family member a specific laundry day for their clothes, sheets, and towels. This ensures the washer and dryer are always available for everyone's needs.

-- Assign a dedicated place for all your "stuff." If it doesn't have a home, it'll turn into clutter. If there is no home, throw it out or give it away.

-- Make a convenient place to hang coats, backpacks, and purses when you enter the house. Otherwise, they'll end up on the floor.

-- If your custom is to remove shoes when you enter the house, put a shoe organizer by the door which can double as a seating bench.

-- Add a few extra hooks or racks for wet towels in the kitchen and bathroom.

-- Create a filing system for all your paperwork. Include an "in" box to easily drop off the mail and one for the kids' school papers.

-- Bring security to your family by having a "preparedness" area. Start small with 72 - hour emergency kits for each family member. (If you had to leave your home at a moment's notice, what will you need to get by for 72 hours?) Then add to that as money and space allow.

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Go to the Source -- What Do the Scriptures and Respected Teachers Say?

“This house shall be a healthful habitation if it be built unto my name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.” (D&C 124:24)

“…He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (BOM 2 Nephi 8:3)

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (D&C 88:119)  

"And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." (Bible. Isaiah 32:18)

"Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." (Bible. Proverbs 24:3-4)

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