One Lifetime Just Isn't Enough

One of the things that has influenced my life greatly and given me much guidance and direction regarding family is the teachings found in the inspiring document, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”. This proclamation is given to us by our Heavenly Father through The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This proclamation tells us how families can be successful and love and be together forever. In the proclamation it states, “Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities”. How true this is! I have witnessed the happiness that comes to families who follow these principles. I have a testimony that families are of God and that while immortality is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter. I love my family so much and I am so grateful for them. I have a testimony that families can be together forever. And because I love my family so much, one lifetime with them just isn't enough! 

What is Love?

Our desire to bridle our passions will become easier as we begin to focus more on true love that will last and endure through time rather then lust that will become corrupt and eventually be lost forever. This week, I can’t help but feel grateful for the knowledge that I have been given regarding the law of chastity and the sanctity of life. I was recently taught an analogy regarding bridling a horse and controlling one's passions.When you first begin to work with horses you feel like they are useless, you can’t control or handle their actions. Once you begin to learn about the “bridle bit” that is placed in the horses mouth, you begin to see how just this extremely small piece of metal can control the whole horse. As you apply pressure to the bit the horse will stop or as you lift the bit towards the left with the slightest touch the horse will begin to turn. 

We as sons and daughters of God need to learn the same principle that the young horse learned, to respond to the promptings of the holy spirit and bridle our passions or in other words keep them under complete control for when the time is right. Love is something that grows over time and develops as we continue our relationship with each other. During this process we must learn to be completely diligent in bridling our passions, responding to every touch or feeling the spirit tells us. The adversary would want us to go against our bride and give into the natural man and fulfill our lust full hearts. This will only bring heartbreak and misery. We must endure to the end. Faithfully. As we do so we will feel of God's love for us and He will see our faithfulness and bless us for keeping His commandments. The Procreation power is divine. We must treat it that way. We have a great power within us to create life and bring forth Gods children. We play an important part in the plan of salvation in helping Gods children to receive a physical body. We can’t take this responsibility lightly. As we recognize the depth of our responsibility our desire to bridle our passions will become easier and we will begin to focus more on true love that will last and endure through time rather then lust that will become corrupt and eventually be lost forever. 

Finding Joy Through The Gospel of Jesus Christ

I was recently asked the question, "Can a Utopian society be created on earth without the Gospel?" I believe that it cannot. What is the Gospel? The gospel is what brings hope, love, and light. Without this we would have no desire to push on. The Gospel contains 5 basic parts. Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, baptism, receiving the holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It supplies us with hope as we make mistakes. Mistakes create feelings of guilt and shame. As we feel these feelings the gospel gives us a way to receive repentance and get rid of the feelings that bring us down. Only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ can we find true happiness and joy in a society. 

Forgive and Forget

This week for my blog I want to focus on forgiveness. Elder Oaks once stated, “In a marriage relationship festering is destructive, forgiving is divine.” I have been able to witness the power of forgiveness in my own life. My parents are such a good example on focusing on this. In my own life, I know that I feel so much lighter and happier when I forgive those around me, especially my family and loved ones. If I expect to be forgiven of my wrong doings then I must also forgive others. I know that as I apply the doctrine of Christ and forgive others, I will feel of God’s love for me and for my family.

I love to see the Temple

One of the highlights from my week was reflecting on the lessons that I was taught regarding temples. I have a strong testimony of temples and temple work. I have a testimony that temples make it possible for me to be sealed to my family forever. I love the quote by Elder Richard G. Scott that says, “Come to the temple now. It will greatly bless your life and provide essential ordinances for those beyond the veil that they cannot obtain by themselves. I testify that with unimaginable suffering and agony at an incalculable price, the Savior earned His right to be our Intermediary, our Redeemer, our Final Judge. Through faith in Him, and receipt of the requisite ordinances and covenants, you will earn your right to the blessings of eternal marriage made possible through His infinite Atonement.” I testify that these teachings by Elder Scott are true. I hope that I can always be worthy to enter the temple of the Lord and to receive the blessings that the temple has to offer. 

We Must!

If we desire to have a happy and successful family there are several things that we must do. We must all remember that we are striving to be more like the savior Jesus Christ and that he was perfect in every way. We must try to be “perfect” in all of our doings but particularly in our marriages. We must be kind. We must always make sure our families know that we love them. We must not insult. We should be full of faith and hope and charity so that we can set an example for those around us. I know without a doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that if I live by the teachings that I have been taught I will be happy and I will be a better wife, mother, daughter, and friend to all those around me. I look forward to the day that I get married and start my own family with much hope and happiness. 

Some Things That I Know

For today's message, I want to share some simple truths that I know be to true. I know that Jesus Christ lives and he loves me. I have a testimony that the family is central to God’s plan. I know that the Plan of Salvation is eternal and it has been in effect forever. I know that our life experience was never designed to be an individual experience. “While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter.” The plan was set from the very beginning. It is a plan of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a plan by which if I follow, I can someday return to live with my Father in Heaven again in the glorified state of exaltation. I have a testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the Earth; it is complete. I know who I am and I know God’s plan. I’ll follow it in faith. I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ and I will honor His name. I’ll do what is right, I’ll follow His light. This truth I will proclaim! I am so blessed in my life to have been taught these truths ever since I was born. I want others to know of this amazing truth and therefore I must do as I have been taught and proclaim this great message to all those around me.