“The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the
eternal destiny of children…in the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters
knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which
His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to
progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs
of eternal life”
God
has a plan for his children. We lived with our father in Heaven before we came
to this earth. We lived with our families. The plan of salvation was presented
and we chose to follow. “From the Beginning, God organized the human family and
revealed that marriage and family relationships are intended to be eternal.” There
was a time when the doctrine of the family and also knowledge of the pre mortal
existence was lost but it has been restored to the earth. Today I would like to
talk about three doctrines that are essential to the plan of salvation. The
Creation, The Fall and the Atonement. Each of these were specific events and they
also have personal meaning in our lives.
“Members
of the Church believe that marriages performed in temples are “sealed,” or
blessed to last for eternity. The concept that the family unit can continue
beyond the grave as a conscious, loving entity, with the marriage partnership
and parent-child relationships intact, is a core belief of members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
The
earth was created as a place for use to come and learn and prepare for eternal
life. The scriptures teach us that “God created man in his own image.” (Genesis
1:27) In our lives, we each experience times of creation, including getting
married and having kids. These creation periods usually bring optimism and
hope.
The
Fall allows us to “obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to
progress toward perfection.” The fall was an essential part of God’s plan. The
fall allowed Adam and Eve to bear children. 2 Nephi 2:22-23 states “and
now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he
would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created
must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were
created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they would
have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of
innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew
no sin.” We will face adversity in our lives but we can be rest assured that it
will be but a small moment.
The Atonement
of Jesus Christ will help us overcome our trials and afflictions. Alma 7 verse
7 states that “…there [will] be many things to come; and behold, there is one
thing which is of more importance than they all.” The thing that is more
important than all is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The atonement encompasses
our saviors suffering in the garden of gethsemane, his death on the cross and
his resurrection from the dead. Because of him we all will be resurrected and
live forever. Christ can help us in our lives in the good time and the bad.
The
restoration of the gospel also brought the opportunity for couples to be sealed
together.
We are
all part of God’s family; families are essential to God’s plan. We have the
gospel of Jesus Christ here today in its fullness. We have the knowledge if the
importance of families and temple marriage. Families can be sealed for eternity.
Our family relationships are the most important relationships in this life.
With Christ at the head of our families we will be after to weather the storms
of life and one day obtain eternal life together. I am grateful for my family
and I want to do all I can to build those relationships.
I know that God lives, I know that we are all here for a
purpose. I know that God has a plan for each one of his children. I am grateful
for my family and the opportunity we have to develop our relationships here,
for the family is eternal. Through our life's lessons, we can prepare now to
live with our families forever. It is my hope and prayer that what I have
shared here can help those who read. I love my family; I am grateful for their
influence in my life. I have an opportunity to grow each and every day and I
know that we can weather the storms of this life and return back to live with
God forever.
