To Improve the World

It is often said that to improve the world we must improve our families first.  Therein lies the opportunity to repair all the damage done by any misdeed done by men and women of past or present.  If we eat together, pray together, play together, laugh and learn together; that bond will do more good than any system created my men and governments.  In a recent article it was said:

"In no known human society, past or present, have children generally been raised outside of an intact nuclear family. The nuclear family is one of the most basic of all human institutions, a system of doing things so fundamental that until this century it occurred to very few people that life could exist without it." (James Lincoln Collier, The Rise of Selfishness in America, (1990), 246. Quoted in, Bruce D. Porter, Defending the Family in A Troubled World,  Ensign June 2011. Italics added).

The Family is frankly under attack, and society isn't getting any better.  There all kinds of large and small things that are now thrown at the family in an effort to destroy it.  A few of which include unwed couples living together, homosexuality, and an ever increasing list of laws to govern society.

"Today, however, the world is in danger of abandoning all sense of absolute right or wrong, all morality and virtue, replacing them with an all-encompassing "tolerance" that no longer means what it once meant. An extreme definition of tolerance is now widespread that implicitly or explicitly endorses the right of every person to choose their own morality, even their own “truth,” as though morality and truth were mere matters of personal preference. This extreme tolerance culminates in a refusal to recognize any fixed standards or draw moral distinctions of any kind. Few dare say no to the "almighty self" or suggest that some so-called "lifestyles" may be destructive, contrary to higher law, or simply wrong.


"Curiously enough, this new modern tolerance is often a one-way street. Those who practice it expect everyone to tolerate them in anything they say or do, but show no tolerance themselves toward those who express differing viewpoints or defend traditional morality..." (Bruce D. Porter, Defending the Family in A Troubled World,  Ensign June 2011. Italics added.)

We do not want what you see above, we want unified happy families and socities.  Let us work a little harder to improve the world.

"There is no substitute for a righteous home. That may not be so considered in the world, but it is and ought to be in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The family is the unit in the kingdom of God. . ." (Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 2, pg. 67; Joseph Fielding Smith. Italics added).

The Importance of Temples and Forever Families

Temples are the doors to eternity.  Through the temple we can receive all the necessary ordinances and become sealed to our families forever, that we may live with God again.  Many may ask what sealing means; according to Merriam-Webster: a : to confirm or make secure by or as if by a seal.  That's essentially what it means, that we connect our family members together never to be separated, except temporarily by death.  This is a wonderful concept that, husbands and wifes, brothers and sisters (as much as we may not so now) can live together in eternity.  But we must remember that this is only possible through marriage in the temple.

D&C 132

15 Therefore, if a ^aman marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.

Former President Joseph Fielding Smith tells us:
"The Lord has commanded us, as it is recorded in the revelations, that marriage among members of the Church should be performed in his holy house, and not for time only, but for time and all eternity. Therefore, those who are satisfied to receive a ceremony for time only, uniting them for this life, and are content with that, are ignorant of this fundamental principle of the gospel and its consequences, or they are in rebellion against the commandments of the Lord." (Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 2, pg 60-61; Joseph Fielding Smith).

D&C 132:19

19And again, verily I say unto you, if a man ^amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ^beverlasting covenant, and it is ^csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of ^dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the^ekeys of this priesthood... and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their ^jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the ^kseeds forever and ever.



Beginnings: The First Mortal Family

Adam and Eve, our progenitors and the two choosen to get the ball rolling on Heavenly Fathers plan.  Many of us have heard the story of our first parents (Genesis 2-3; Moses 2:26-31,3-4) how they were placed in the garden and after partaking (eating) of the fruit they were cast out.  This was vitally important; as we learn from the scriptures that life could not go on without a fall.
2 Nephi 2
22And 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.

 23And they would have had no ^achildren wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no ^bjoy for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no ^csin.

(For more on the subject Genesis 3:16(1-21); Moses 5:11).

And so Adam and Eve began the all too familiar pattern of families: a father and a mother that help bring children into the world, and raise them to adulthood, being taught proper morals and truths.

(Raising the first family: Moses 5:1-3,12; 6:5-6)

 "When Eve was given to Adam, the union was an eternal one. There was no death in the world, for the fall of man came later. When the seeds of death were sown and man was  banished from the presence of the Lord because of his transgression, the union previously formed was not severed." (Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 2, pg. 69; Joseph Fielding Smith).

Families Came From Before

Before we entered this life we were spirits living as a family in Heaven with our heavenly parents (Moses 6:51).  This is one of the fundamental truths we learn from the restored gospel, that we lived before this life, and that family organization of a Father, Mother and children was created long before the foundation of this world.

Jeremiah 1
 5Before I ^aformed thee in the belly I ^bknew thee...(Italics added.)

The Purpose of Families

Families are one of the most important part of our lives.  We play together, we learn togther, sometimes even sing together (most grudgingly though).  It is the fundamental unit of society, and it's what builds us and the generations to come.  In the next several posts this month we will discover the different gospel principles revolving around families.  Please watch this short video to kick of The Family: A Mini Blog Series.

If the video is requires more power than your computer will put out, here is a link http://lds.org/media-library/video/homefronts?lang=eng#2009-04-046-swashbuckler to the video, which should work better.