Family

Family:

#1. “Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan.” (L. Tom Perry-The Importance of the Family)

Our Heavenly Father has designed a beautiful and perfect plan of happiness. The core of this plan is families. With that being the core of the great plan of our existence it is so important to keep our priorities in this existence focused around our family. We have the great privilege to be like unto our Father in Heaven and learn to govern and teach ones that are so personally dear to us. It is our responsibility to do our best to let them know that they are loved and important and special. This strengthens families and in turn, strengthens the core of our Heavenly Father's plan. 

#2. “We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.” (L. Tom Perry-The Importance of The Family)

The storms of the world are continuously getting worse and with stronger influences increasing all around each of us, it makes the importance of a righteous home even more pertinent. The commandments of God are not a buffet where we can pick and choose that which is most appealing to us, but we must take upon ourselves to obey all that God asks in order to ensure spiritual safety for us and our loved ones. We either are a influence for good or evil in this life and it is up to us to choose who to be for we will affect every person, especially our families. Some of the greatest tools for protection are family prayer and family scripture reading. This helps ward off the Adversary and fills the home with the Spirit of Christ. 

#3. “Families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents. “(L. Tom Perry-The Importance of The Family) 

I absolutely love this quote. It is a divine privileged to be given a family. Broken or not, it is up to each of us personally to treat them with absolute love and kindness and understanding. To be slow to anger and quick to forgive. To never discourage or degrade but always teach and uplift. We will be great instruments in our family's if we strive to follow Christ and His perfect example. If we try our hardest and do our best, our life and our loved ones will be blessed. It is then, and only then, when we have proven ourselves of being capable of maintaining a good, wholesome and righteous family will we be blessed with the privilege to keep that family forever.  

#4. “In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities.” (L. Tom Perry-The Importance of Family)

I find myself several times trying to patch up the things of the world instead of trying to help maintain a happy and Christ-like family. I feel that this is one of many of Satan's distractions so that he may slowly begin to destroy the family. The priority needs to change to holding together the core of my existence. They raised me and have taught me great things and it should be of great importance to me to positively contribute back. I wouldn't have been born into my family if I did not have great purpose to be done there. Priorities of everyone need to be re-arranged so that family lies at the top of that list.

#5. “The key to strengthening our families is having the Spirit of the Lord come into our homes. The goal of our families is to be on the strait and narrow path.” (Robert D. Hales- Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty)

A happy family is one that is aligned with God. God is truth and light and happiness, right? So if we focus on our families on following His commandments and following the example of Jesus Christ, our families will be blessed and strengthened. I know it to be true that happiness in the family does increase when everyone is striving to be on the strait path of our Heavenly Father. This invites the Spirit in and protects everyone from the snares of the adversary. We must have our families strengthened with daily prayer and scripture reading if we wish to fight together against the ways of the world.

#6. “With the help of the Lord and His doctrine, all the hurtful effects from challenges a family may meet can be understood and overcome. Whatever the needs of family members may be, we can strengthen our families as we follow the counsel given by prophets.” (Robert D. Hales- Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty)

Sometimes trying to understand everything that occurs within the family is difficult. Challenges occur as some may choose to not follow the ways of our Lord and sometimes we become discouraged in our quest to possess an eternal family. When we need direction that specifically applies to the struggles of the family that occur today, we have the guidance of our Heavenly Father through the counsel given by the latter-day prophets. President Thomas S. Monson, our current prophet, gives direct counsel from God. It is wise to follow what he asks for it will strengthen each of us as well as our family. It is our sacred duty to do all that we can to draw near to Him and to help our families get there as well.

#7. “we call upon members of the Church everywhere to put family first and to identify specific ways to strengthen their individual families.” (What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest - M. Russell Ballard)

I think it'd be of great importance now for young people to really sit down and think about their future families; how to build a small kingdom of God on earth. With that as the focus of our lives, we are more likely to make better and logical decisions so as not to tamper with the ideal we conceive of a righteous family. It's the little details that affect the big picture and so we must think of every piece with a focus on creating a home where the Lord's spirit is felt and His principles are taught. 

#8. “There is no happiness without service, and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution, and which promotes and preserves family life” (What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest - M. Russell Ballard)

When we serve, we feel the love of God. Family is so essential to God's plan that our service to them is valued highly. When we continuoulsy serve our families, He strengthens us and is able to assist us better in helping us be an instrument in His hands so that we may help our loved ones. It is His desire that we do everything we can for our families. If everyone begins working from the inside of our family, it will affect others we come in contact with on the outside in a most wonderful and positive way.

#9. “We know of the sanctity of families in both directions of our eternal existence. We know that before this life we lived with our Heavenly Father as part of His family, and we know that family relationships can endure beyond death.” (What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest - M. Russell Ballard)

With this knowledge, we must preserve our family on this earth in every way we can. What greater joy would there be to have a strong family in the gospel on this earth and in the eternities to come. Families are precious to God and He allows us the agency to do our best so let us each take advantage of that and prove to our Heavenly Father how grateful we are for His plan of happiness and eternal families.

#10. “The Church is the kingdom of God on earth, but in the kingdom of heaven, families will be both the source of our eternal progress and joy and the order of our Heavenly Father.” What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest - M. Russell Ballard) 

Families are organized by God in such a way for each of us to be given the opportunity to directly help others. With established families, we become responsible for helping specific children of God to progress. With this progression we receive joy in our souls. The Church has much organization for such is the way of God and so it is with our families. How great will be our joy if we teach those He sent specifically for our benefit and we all return to live with our Father in Heaven again. It's a network system that ties us all together so that we each may help each other obtain the great blessings of our Heavenly Father.