There are many forces in the world today working against this important element in God’s plan for His children. People are significantly postponing marriage, or not getting married at all. Some want to redefine marriage to include same-sex relationships. Some have limited marriage relationships to not include children. Divorce is rampant, as is abuse and other ills that poison potentially loving relationships. And even the busyness of life can cause marriages to fizzle and fade into the background of other things that just aren’t as important.

We rejoice in the truths that we are taught about marriage and family, and the counsel we receive regarding these eternally-important relationships. Embracing these truths changes our lives for the better, and brings a greater measure of joy than we could ever have otherwise. Defending these truths is something that we have been called upon by our leaders to do.

The church teaches the ideal about marriage, recognizing that not every life fills that ideal. We are encouraged to do all we can toward that ideal, and trust in God along the way. We do all we can, and strive to be obedient and faithful. With that counsel, prophets of God have declared that no blessing will be denied those who receive and are true to eternal covenants. The greatest blessings God has to offer are tied to eternal family relationships. We can all hold to those promises, regardless of what our current family situations may be.

For more information on this topic, please see the following talks and articles:David A. Bednar: Marriage is Essential to God’s Eternal Plan

F. Burton Howard: Eternal Marriage

Russell M. Nelson: Nurturing Marriage

David E. Sorensen: The Honeymoon Trail

Bruce C. Hafen: Covenant Marriage

Richard N. Williams: Loving and Caring for Each Other

A Scott Loveless: International Efforts to Defend Marriage and Family

Spencer W. Kimball: The Importance of Celestial Marriage

Bruce R. McConkie: Celestial Marriage

Spencer W. Kimball: Temples and Eternal Marriage

Wendy L. Watson: Solving Our Marriage and Family Problems Through Celestial Therapy

Matthew O. Richardson: That Form of Marriage: The Divine Design of Marriage and Family

You can also search lds.org, mormon.org, or this site on topics such as the following:

Marriage
Family
Purpose of Life
Temple
Covenants
Eternal Perspective

The post Marriage (includes links to articles and talks) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Because of the ultimate goal of being together as families through eternity, all that we do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints points to the temple. The temple, in turn, points us to the Savior, who makes it possible for us to receive eternal life and to be together as families.

Given the eternal importance of family relationships, a key theme in our teachings is that our most important priorities are our relationship with God and our relationships with our families. As was recently taught in a Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting,

So much of what we concentrate on in mortality—power, prominence, property, prestige—are things that we don’t have any evidence will make any difference in the next life. But family will (Elder Dallin H. Oaks).

Some of the things we are counseled to do on a regular basis are to have family prayer morning and night, to read scriptures together each day as a family, to hold Family Home Evening weekly (most of us do this on Monday nights), and to eat together each day.

This doctrine of the eternal nature of the family can bring great comfort to those who have lost loved ones. It also can provide an anchor of hope and perspective to those whose family life is currently less than ideal. Consider this from Elder Richard G. Scott (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles):

Throughout your life on earth, seek diligently to fulfill the fundamental purposes of this life through the ideal family. While you may not have yet reached that ideal, do all you can through obedience and faith in the Lord to consistently draw as close to it as you are able. Let nothing dissuade you from that objective. If it requires fundamental changes in your personal life, make them. When you have the required age and maturity, obtain all of the ordinances of the temple you can receive. If for the present, that does not include sealing in the temple to a righteous companion, live for it. Pray for it. Exercise faith that you will obtain it. Never do anything that would make you unworthy of it. If you have lost the vision of eternal marriage, rekindle it. If your dream requires patience, give it.

We are repeatedly taught that no person who lives a faithful life will have any of the blessings that God has for His children withheld. We don’t understand all the details of how He will be able to sort through all the trials and troubles that do come to many, but we do believe that the key to obtaining all of the blessings of eternal families is faith and obedience and reception of the saving ordinances and covenants of the gospel. And trusting in the promises of God.

For more information on this topic, please see the following links:The Gospel Blesses Families and Individuals
Elder Bruce C. Hafen: Your Longing for Family Joy
Elder Robert D. Hales: The Eternal Family
President Gordon B. Hinckley: Why These Temples?
Elder M. Russell Ballard: What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest
Elder David A. Bednar: Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan
Elder Henry B. Eyring: The Family
Elder John H. Groberg: Family: The Eternal Perspective (link to audio)You can also search lds.org on topics such as eternal families, temples, eternal marriage, and other related topics, or browse our website on the following topics:
Family
Marriage
Purpose of Life
Temple
CovenantsIf you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to contact us at ‘mormonwoman’ AT ‘gmail’ DOT ‘com’

The post Families Can Be Eternal appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.