The Eternal Family: A Plain and Precious part of the Plan of Salvation

“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.

 

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.

“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.”

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.

 

Defending the Sanctity of Human Life

“We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan”

 

I will start with a few questions to ponder: What is life? Why is life sacred? Why is life important in God’s eternal plan?

Emily Dickinson has said that “To be alive-is power”

Christ has used this title to identify himself: I am the way, the truth and the life, not man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:16)

I love the song that primary children sing all around the world:

 

My life is a gift; my life has a plan.

My life has a purpose; in heaven it began.

My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth

And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth.

 

Life is beautiful, life is so important. We come to this earth to gain a body, learn, grow and return to our father in Heaven. Our bodies are not ours, they belong to the Lord, we matter to him and he wants us to choose life. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be a mother and I am grateful for my own mother, to bring life into this world brings great blessings, learning experience and growth.

When members of the LDS church talk about the sanctity of life, the focus is usually on elective abortion but there are some other life-related topics that are addressed including abuse, addiction, adoption, chastity, cohabitation, fidelity, pornography and purity. These aspects of life are so very important.

Russell Nelson has said “sons and daughters of God, we cherish life as a gift from him…Life comes from life. It is a gift from our Heavenly Father. It is eternal, as he is eternal. Innocent life is not sent by him to be destroyed. This doctrine is not of me, but is that of the living God and his divine son” 

What is Abortion?

The word abortion means to “cut off the existence of someone” and “the natural or deliberate termination of the life or an unborn or partially born child.” There are two kinds of abortion: spontaneous or natural and nonspontaneous or induced. Spontaneous abortion is used to explain a miscarriage and is not considered a moral issue but the deliberate destruction of a life I feel is morally wrong. There are a few instances in which the health of the mother is at stake or the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape, where a mother may need to abort. We live in a world where mistakes are going to happen, we all have our agency. If tempted to use abortion as a means to end life, I would encourage you to reconsider. There are many families out there that are not able to bear children on their own who would love the opportunity to be parents through adoption. LDS family services is a great help to those that need guidance.

Click logo to go to LDS Family Services Webpage

I will close with some appropriate and legal ways to support the sacredness of life:

First is choosing to be chaste as well as maintaining and promoting fidelity is very important. Most abortions stem from unwanted pregnancy; if a person refrained from having sexual encounters, if would eliminate the need for abortion. Second is helping provide guidance and support for unwed parents; there are many organizations who help including LDS family services. Third is becoming better informed. Fourth is discussing the sanctity of life accurately and appropriately, the spirit should be a guide when approaching life related topics. Fifth is recognizing the consequences of abortion; grief and psychological pain accompany many who elect to get an abortion, there are groups that can help with this. Lastly we can strengthen our testimonies of the sanctity of life. I know that the sanctity of life is very important. Life is power; I know that by staying chaste and honoring fidelity can lead to happiness. When mistakes happen, choose life; for your life will be blessed. 

 

Wholesome Family Recreation: Building Strong Families

 “Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities.”

In our world today; many people do not use their time wisely; our time especially our free time needs to be spent in meaningful activities. In preparation for this post, I did some revaluating of my life and this is an area that needs work. The title of this post is not Wholesome recreation, but Wholesome Family Recreation. Adding a simple little word brings a whole new meaning. Yes, there are times when I believe an individual should have their own time for recreation and other things; building families through recreation is important. There really is no end to the amount of work a family must accomplish and getting in that family time is sometimes difficult. Time really is a big constraint when it comes to family recreation; effort must be put forth to be able to get in that quality family time.

An example in my own life is brought to my mind. My husband spent many years in the golf industry. He spent a lot of time on the golf course. Golf is a long sport and takes time; I wanted him to get his time to play but also wanted to spend time together. Once in a while, since he ran the golf course, I would bring the kids up to the course and we would all do a round together. It was kind of a win win situation. He was able to play but also spend time with us. Our son loves golf as well and he had fun too.

Let’s talk about different forms of recreation. The first is parallel activities: this involves multiple doing the same thing but there is no interaction; examples of this is watching movies and television. The second is joint activities: this involves multiple family members who are communicating and interdependent on each other. Examples of this would be canoeing, playing tennis or chess. The last is independent activities: this involves just one person doing an activity alone. It has been said that joint activities are most beneficial in marriage and families. Joint activities promote interaction and can be positive. 

If a child gets a solid foundation in this concept it will carry with them throughout their lives. It is important to teach about finding a balance between work, time and activities. Activities that are fun are important but also activities that help others are also nice as well. Wholesome recreation should include fun as mention above but also can include service to others. Family recreation is promoted to bring families together. I know for my little family right now, just spending time together doing an activity is important. When our kids get older we will definitely reevaluate. We like, going to the park, playing baseball or any other sport, taking walks, going on bike rides, bowling, making cookies and many more.

It is important to note that not all family recreation will be happy. Different family members might have different experiences in a certain activity. I know in my family; we love playing games. I say we but I should say everyone except me. I love playing games on the computer that make me thing or put me up against a clock to complete something but when I am put on a team to play a game, I get clammy and uncomfortable and do not do well. Growing up it was hard, but now I have a nice time just watching them play. I like being part of the group and interacting with everyone, I just don’t like to play the game. For me, that works. There are a few games that I will play, so I like it when get those out =)

above is a favorite family game, that I do not like. I have fun watching them play...below are two games that I do like to play

 

Wholesome recreation in families can promote positive development in children and marriages as well as build strong families. My family’s motto growing up was we work hard, we serve hard, we play hard. I love this, I believe with my whole heart that happiness can be achieved in life when our families are centered in Christ and that successful families are built on solid foundations of “faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities.”

The Meanings and Blessings of Family Work

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of…work”

Successful families are founded upon the principle of work. Work is not always easy and sometimes can cause conflict in families, but I believe when families work together, they can grow and build relationships. When done in the right spirit, family work has a profound potential to strengthen and heal relationships. D. Todd Christofferson has said that “work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God." When Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, they learned the true meaning of work. In our lives today we must leave the ease of Eden and follow our Jesus Christ.

Family work is a lifelong opportunity. When I think about family work, I am transported back to my childhood and teenage years, thinking about what my life was like and then trying to figure out what to do with my little family today. Work can be rewarding and build family relations

My parents and my husband’s parents are great examples to me of hard workers. My father and mother instilled in us at a young age the importance of work and it has been very beneficial in my life. Elder Russell M. Nelson has said that “the home is the great laboratory of love.  There the raw chemicals of selfishness and greed are melded in the crucible of cooperation to yield compassionate concern and love one for another.” Each Saturday we spent time together doing various tasks and working together and I look back and think that those were some of the greatest memories spent with my family. When I was in high school my parents purchased a home that needed a lot of outside work. There were times when my brothers and I would complain about the amount of work that was required of us. But we did it, we worked that landscape until it was beautified. We set goals on what we wanted to accomplish and we did it. Through that work, I came to love the outdoors; I came to love the beauty of the earth and I learned how to work towards a goal. 

I know that at times the tasks that we had to seemed mundane but we realized it had to be done. Family work really is sometimes boring. It has been said that “Family work is prosaic work-commonplace, even tedious or dull.  How many times must we do the dishes and laundry?  But these small, everyday events combine to form the character of a week, a month, a year, and eventually a lifetime.” It would be beneficial to find joy in the simple aspects of work.

Work is also an act of service. I love the example of Jesus washing the feet of his apostles; he is their master but he did it anyway, he said to them “for I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:12–15). In our families are we building relationships by serving others; are we patterning our life after that of the savior. I know that working together can be rewarding, it can be challenging too, but in the end, the blessings will outweigh the hardships and our families can progress together. 

All family members must be active participants in family work; it is vital that all contribute. I know there are times of complaining but when family members work together the work gets done. In my own life right now we are currently teaching our children to work and I am going to incorporate the importance of family relationships more than ever now. “God gave us family work as a link to one another, as a link to Him, as a stepping stone toward salvation that is always available and that has the power to transform us spiritually as we transform others physically.” (Family Work). L Tom Perry states, Teaching children the joy of honest labor is one of the greatest of all gifts you can bestow upon them."

 

Let us make family work a blessing not a burden. We can learn together and grow together when we work as a family.

Sanctification and Cooperation: How Prayer Strengthen Relationships in Good Times and Heal Relationships in Bad Times

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of…prayer”

A happy home is a home filled with prayer. I was taught in my youth to pray but it was not until I was out on my own that I came to love prayer and rely on it. Prayer in marriage is important. When Thomas S Monson who is president of the LDS church was married, the person performing the marriage counseled he and his wife to prayer every night. He said in doing so “any misunderstanding that develops during the day will vanish as you pray. You simply can’t pray together and retain any but the best of feelings toward one another”. I love this advice. It’s something that I need to do better with in my own life.  

Let me first give two definitions of prayer; the dictionary defines prayer as “a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship”. The definition that the LDS bible gives this definition. “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.” 

I absolutely love these definitions. Prayer is so important within couples and families. Prayer and relationships go hand in hand. God must be an active member of our relationships. Every marriage, every couple will encounter trials and conflict but also times of happiness and contentment. We must pray during the good times and the bad. Sometimes when life is going good, prayer is something that becomes rote but in times of trials our prayers become more fervent. President Monson. "Indeed, prayer helps couples in good times and bad times. During the good times, including God in the relationship through prayer helps people to view their partner through God's eyes and come to view the relationship as holy and sacred. This outlook can protect a couple from the fiery darts that the adversary throws at relationships." 

Are we spending the necessary time each day in supplication with God; are we spending time as a couple and a family in meaningful prayer?

 

Prayer is a vital part of our everyday life, prayer in families is so important, prayer within couples is scared. Prayer can help resolve conflict and can help achieve goals. I love teaching my children the concept or prayer and how important it is. We have had special instances with our kids where we have been able to pray for a certain thing and been able to see Gods hand. Our relationships are important, prayer is important and with God we can find peace and harmony in our lives.

 

Modern Fertility Patterns and God’s Commandment to Multiply and Replenish the Earth

“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.”

Let’s first talk about where we came from; before this life we lived in heaven with our Heavenly Father; we lived with our family as spirit children. God presented a plan for us to come to earth, learn and return to live with him. Families are vital to this plan. The Successful Marriages and Families textbook has said that “The earth was designed to be a habitation for spirit children of our Heavenly Father as they come from the premortal existence, are clothed with an earthly tabernacle and ‘gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection’”.  

We have been commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. Genesis 1:28 states “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” He was speaking to Adam and Eve, the first to people on this earth. This commandment that was given to them is still in place today.

Modern fertility patterns show that the size of families is decreasing with some people choosing to have no children at all. There is a fear of overpopulation and the of contraceptive is higher than ever. Some may ask the question: Why Parenting? Why have kids? Does is really matter whether we choose to become parents? I believe that answer to this question yes, it does matter whether we choose to become parents. Brigham Young said “There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?—To prepare tabernacles for them…” There are unique circumstances for each individual and family. Some couples want kids but are not able to bear them, Heavenly Father looks at our heart, our willingness and our acceptability in our circumstances.

Spencer W Kimball has said “Of course, it will be harder to get your college degrees or your financial start with a family, but strength like yours will be undaunted in the face of difficult obstacles. Have your family as the Lord intended. Of course it is expensive, but you will find a way…young people, have your family, love them, sacrifice for them, teach them righteousness, and you will be blessed and happy all the days of your eternal lives."

My little family is in this situation right now; my husband and I decided to go back to school just last year. We have three children, I work from home and go to school full time. It’s hard, but just like Spencer Kimball said our family has been truly blessed. When we had our third child last year, I was worried what others might think; we are not wealthy by any means but we love our kids and if we can be the means by which they can gain a body and progress, we will do what we can to provide for them.  

 

“Honor Thy Father”: Key Principles and Practices in Fathering

The proclamation states that “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness.” This is an important statement. It gives us a foundation on which fatherhood is built on. Today I am going to talk about 5 principles of fatherhood. Boyd Packer has said that “a principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule that you can adopt to guide you in making decisions.” The five principles that I would like to discuss today are to preside, to partner, to be present, to provide and to protect. BUT first let me talk about some fathers in my life.

Going along with my thoughts in the last post, I also have been thinking about some of the fathers in my life. Let me tell you a characteristic on some of the fathers that have affected my life:

There are so many qualities that I love about my own father Bruce. One of the things I love most about him is his dedication to his family and to the gospel. He is someone who’s main goal is to serve those around him.

My father in law Dave is an example of someone with perseverance. The definition of perseverance is “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success” He has shown me time and time again how to succeed in life.

My Grandpa Mackay is such a tender man. He is approaching his 90 year of life and is still full of vigor. He is a dedicated man and I am grateful for his example.  

My mission presidents Dennis and Wright are such amazing men. I am privileged to have served under them and to have learned from them. Two of the greatest qualities I learned from them is compassion and commitment. They taught me and continue to teach me 

 My college bishop Lynn loves with his whole heart. He is charitable to all he comes in contact with; I am grateful that he is part of my life.

My husband Samuel is the father of my children. I wish that everyone could witness our house when Daddy comes home; it is the happiest part of my kids day. My husband is a great father, he loves his children and wants what is best for them. I can’t speak for him but I can guess being a dad is rewarding in so many ways.

 Now lets hit those principles of Fatherhood:

What does it mean To Preside? To think about this, I steer you to our Heavenly Father who presides in Heaven, fathers on earth follow this same pattern. They will lead and watch over their families in love and righteousness. Positive father interactions can lead to better relationships and will aid children’s learning.

To Partner: “Parenthood is a Partnership” Fathers and Mothers need to learn how to work together in harmony and as a team just as the proclamation states, “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” It is good to be able to connect with children as well.

To Be Present: I am a firm believer that someone can be present but not be present at the same time. “Parenting require presence.”  A child needs parents to be there and be aware. Children rely on their parents for practically everything. I like the concept of being present physically and being present psychologically as well; children’s lives will be blessed with parents who are present.

To Provide: All people need provided for; we are in need of so many things daily. “To be a good father is often equated to being a good provider.” I believe that not all providing needs to be money-oriented; it needs to be in all aspects of life. The proclamation states that fathers are “responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families”. I know in my family right now, I need to help provide but I know what my husband provides much for our family and the monetary part will come a little later. We are all doing the best we can and that is all that matters

Last of all is to Protect: It is the role of parents and especially of fathers to help prepare their children for what lies ahead. A father can be a great example to his children; he can show them the way and always be there for them.  

Being a father is such an important calling, it comes with it many responsibilities but also comes with rewards beyond measure. I am grateful for the fathers in my life and what they have taught me.