In these times, the family is not the highest priority in our lives anymore. What used to be people for you to lean on, are now treating each other, with the uttermost disrespect. In 2000, the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints released this proclamation: "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
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. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
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. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
I encourage anyone who has read this and realize that maybe you could be doing better with something stated above. Start to change today. I know that if we do this and continue to lean on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and keep His commandments, all will be well. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. I know that through the Restoration of the true gospel, we have prophets on Earth today that receive inspiration from God and can lead us down the right path toward exaltation. I love this Gospel and the daily peace I receive through the Holy Ghost, and most of all, I love my Savior, for what He did. For me. I'm not perfect, I make mistakes. And I'm so grateful for His willingness to take upon my sins and perform what I couldn't do, for myself. And I say that in the name of my Redeemer and my Rock, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
He did it, FOR YOU.
During this Easter Season, our thoughts should be focused on the Savior and that HE LIVES. He loves us, He took upon each of our sins personally. So never think for a second that He doesn't understand. Since this is a day late, I'll just show you some of my favorite quotes on Our Redeemer and The Atonement.
"On the eve of Jesus Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane, He issued this benediction to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Of this invitation, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “[This] may be one of the Savior’s commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord’s merciful heart.” Elder Holland added, “I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands.” (Mar. 2013 Ensign, The Enabling Power of the Atonement, By Carolyn J. Rasmus)
"The belief that through our own “sheer grit, willpower, and discipline” we can manage just about anything seems to be widespread these days. This simply is not true. Heavenly Father and the Savior can inspire, comfort, and strengthen us in our time of need, if we remember to cast our burdens at Their feet." (Mar. 2013 Ensign, The Enabling Power of the Atonement, By Carolyn J. Rasmus)
"It was understood from the beginning that in mortality we would fall short of being perfect. It was not expected that we would live without transgressing one law or another." (Nov. 2012 Ensign, The Atonement, By President Boyd K. Packer)
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Book of Mormon, Mosiah, Chapter 3)
President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Men cannot forgive their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins. Men can stop sinning and can do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of consideration. But who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves? By the atonement of Jesus Christ the sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool [see Isaiah 1:18]. This is the promise given to you.” (Nov. 2012 Ensign, The Atonement, By President Boyd K. Packer)
"That is the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement: to take anyone who comes, anyone who will join, and put them through an experience so that at the end of their life, they can go through the veil having repented of their sins and having been washed clean through the blood of Christ." (Nov. 2012 Ensign, The Atonement, By President Boyd K. Packer)
I Know that My Redeemer Lives and is watching over us. I know that if we listen to the Holy Ghost we will receive the blessings of Heaven. I know that this is the true Church upon the Earth today because I have prayed to my Father in Heaven and I felt the Holy Ghost confirming my question. I cannot wait to go on a mission and proclaim this great and happy message unto the world. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
"On the eve of Jesus Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane, He issued this benediction to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Of this invitation, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “[This] may be one of the Savior’s commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord’s merciful heart.” Elder Holland added, “I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands.” (Mar. 2013 Ensign, The Enabling Power of the Atonement, By Carolyn J. Rasmus)
"The belief that through our own “sheer grit, willpower, and discipline” we can manage just about anything seems to be widespread these days. This simply is not true. Heavenly Father and the Savior can inspire, comfort, and strengthen us in our time of need, if we remember to cast our burdens at Their feet." (Mar. 2013 Ensign, The Enabling Power of the Atonement, By Carolyn J. Rasmus)
"It was understood from the beginning that in mortality we would fall short of being perfect. It was not expected that we would live without transgressing one law or another." (Nov. 2012 Ensign, The Atonement, By President Boyd K. Packer)
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Book of Mormon, Mosiah, Chapter 3)
President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Men cannot forgive their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins. Men can stop sinning and can do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of consideration. But who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves? By the atonement of Jesus Christ the sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool [see Isaiah 1:18]. This is the promise given to you.” (Nov. 2012 Ensign, The Atonement, By President Boyd K. Packer)
"That is the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement: to take anyone who comes, anyone who will join, and put them through an experience so that at the end of their life, they can go through the veil having repented of their sins and having been washed clean through the blood of Christ." (Nov. 2012 Ensign, The Atonement, By President Boyd K. Packer)
I Know that My Redeemer Lives and is watching over us. I know that if we listen to the Holy Ghost we will receive the blessings of Heaven. I know that this is the true Church upon the Earth today because I have prayed to my Father in Heaven and I felt the Holy Ghost confirming my question. I cannot wait to go on a mission and proclaim this great and happy message unto the world. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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