Chieko Okasaki

Jared and I had the opportunity to attend a fireside given by Sister Chieko Okasaki, former first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency of the church. It was wonderful! I am so glad we went. She joined the church in her teens in Hawaii, she became an educator (teaching nearly every grade except 3rd!) and later became a principal. She has served on the Primary and Young Women General Boards as well as her seven years of service in the Relief Society General Presidency. She has published many books and speaks to audiences around the world. She is a champion for literacy. She is now 82 years old but is still a passionate, dynamic speaker. She spoke about three things; 1. Strengthening marriages, 2. Strengthening the parent/child relationship, and 3. Reading, specifically reading to children individually for 20 minutes a day. She is known for her object lessons and this talk was no different, using a butcher's cleaver and a bottle of glue to explain the different meanings of the word "cleave". Basing the lesson on Matthew 19:5 "And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?" She explained using other scriptures (Romans 12:9, Jacob 6:5) and through following the word's etymology, that the word had two meanings of quite opposite definition. While one meaning means to split apart, another means to hold together or hold onto. To strengthen marriage, she stated, we need to strengthen individuals. We can be strengthened in Christ and His infinite atonement. She also applied the concepts to strengthening our relationship with our children, at every age and stage they go through. Finally she urged everyone to read to their children individually for 20 minutes a day. This is a program that she supports through the National Children's Reading Foundation that starts parents ready to their children from birth-- sending them home from the hospital with a kit of books, a library card, and other materials (including bibs hand made by Relief Society sisters that say, READ TO ME!") This is definitely the one area that I feel I have been successful as a mother and have a testimony of the value of reading to children individually everyday. I know what a sweet experience this is and the benefits it brings. Sr. Okasaki quoted President Thomas S. Monson's talk entitled "Hallmarks of a Happy Home" in which he outlined 4 things that every home should have : a library for learning, a pattern of prayer, a legacy of love, and a treasure of testimony. She stated that reading forms the foundation for the other hallmarks of a happy home. I agreed whole heartedly with her message and am so glad we are able to attend.

Here's a link to look at : www.readingfoundation.org