I believe in the importance of families

I thought this was cute. Here's a link to some other videos from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
















The following is a proclamation given to the world from God through the mouth of His prophets and apostles, about the importance of families. I have deep feelings for my family, as I'm sure you do, too. As you read this, think about what YOU (not someone else) might be able to change about yourself in order to have a happier family life.

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.

 
This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I believe in life after death

Yesterday was my cousin's birthday. She is one of the best mothers and most spirited people I have ever met. Though I remember her this way, my last recollection of her is with tubes up her nose and sunken cheeks, barely able to hold her head up. She passed away last year from cancer, leaving behind a husband and 4 children under the age of 5. Some might blame God for the trials her family has been through. Some may say that He doesn't exist because, "if there was a God, He wouldn't let a thing like this happen."

About 7 or 8 months after she passed away, I saw her kids again. Within 10 minutes of their arrival, one of them looked me straight in the eye and said, "My mommy is dead." At first it surprised me. I wasn't sure what to say, so I tried to be gentle and said, "I know, but she's with Heavenly Father now." Without blinking, he shrugged and replied, "I know," and turned around to play with his twin brother. During the dinner prayer that night, he asked God to bless his "mommy in Heaven." Kids accept the idea of an afterlife more than adults do, I think. They are so willing to believe. When Christ was on the earth, He commanded us to become as little children. When we submit ourselves to the will of the Father and trust that He is in charge, He will make things happen according to His plan. (And we all know that His plan is far better than ours: Isaiah 55:8-9.)

One thing that is very different about the LDS church (Mormon church) from every other religion is the idea of eternal families. We believe that, through sacred temple ordinances and promises, we can be sealed to our families for time and all eternity. We believe that God has again given His priesthood power to men on earth that they may, like Simon Peter of old, have power to bind (or seal) families together into eternal relationships. The Lord told Peter, "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). So not only will my cousin live again because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but she will be united with her family in the resurrection. Our Father in Heaven has so much love for us! He wants us to be happy and has made it possible through the sacrifice of His Son. How much we have to be grateful for!

The following is a video from the Lord's prophet, Thomas S. Monson, about the promise of life after death. This man is a true prophet of God. As you listen to his words, pay attention to the feeling that will come.

I promise that, if you open your heart, God will send His Holy Spirit to testify truth to you. I challenge you to ask yourself:
-Is it possible that this is a man of God?
-Whose message is he teaching?
-What is the Holy Spirit telling me?
-Do I have the courage to act on this prompting from the Holy Ghost?

Where there's a will, there's a way. And if it is God's way, many blessings will follow.



"The spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life..." To read more about the resurrection, go here.

I believe that church should be a place of learning

A Mormon church lasts for 3 hours every Sunday, split into 3 different sections:

1. Sacrament meeting: The whole congregation meets together to sing, pray, partake of the Lord's sacrament (bread and water), and then listen to various speakers, men and women, chosen by the leaders from the congregation. We partake of the sacrament every week in remembrance of the Savior's sacrifice for us. For us, it is a renewal of the covenant we made with Him when we chose to be baptized. We re-promise every week to keep His commandments, always remember Him, and be willing to take His name upon us. In return, He blesses us with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. This has been a huge blessing in my life.

2. Classes: The classes are separated into age groups and all are taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ using a pre-developed lesson outline. Teachers are encouraged to teach with the Spirit and prepare lessons that will be meaningful, relevant, and exciting for the students they teach. No one is paid for their service in the Church. “For the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; ...and they did all labor, every man according to his strength” (Alma 1:26).

3. More classes: This time the classes are split according to gender. All adult women go to a class called Relief Society. Here we learn how to be better wives, mothers, and daughters of God. We teach and learn from each other. The men go to "Elder's quorum", the teenage girls go to "Young Womens", the teenage boys to to "Priesthood", and all children under age 12 go to "Primary" class. Children learn the gospel in this class largely by singing songs and doing activities. They sing, have a short lesson/talk (sometimes by one of the other children), pray, color, and play gospel-related games. The title for this post was inspired by one of those songs:

"I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow Him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll honor His name.
I'll do what is right. I'll follow His light. His truth I will proclaim."

Yes, from the time we are little, we are taught that the Lord has a plan for us and that we have a responsibility to tell others about it. We believe that we have the fullness of His gospel and His priesthood authority to perform His work. I have come to know for myself that this is true.

Visitors are always welcome. There is no collection plate. To find LDS services near you, go here.

I know that God answers prayers.

"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

The first time I remember receiving a real answer to a prayer was when I was 16. My parents had recently been divorced and my mom decided to move to Arizona. Having grown up in Washington my whole life with the same people and friends, I had to make a decision: Should I go with my mom to AZ or stay with my dad in WA? I didn't know what to do but I had learned my entire life that God is my Heavenly Father and He wants us, even commands us, to talk to Him. I decided to try it out.

I went to my room, knelt down by my bed, and began talking to God. I explained the situation to Him (though He already knew it) with an honest heart and sincerely asked what I should do. Having weighed the options in my head, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do. I wasn't happy in my current situation and was ready for a change. I didn't know if moving would solve anything, but I was willing to try. I asked if it would be alright with Him if I moved to AZ. As soon as I asked the question, I felt my heart swell up inside me with such intense heat that I could not deny the "burning of the bosom" that I was feeling. I knew this was the Lord's will for me. My mind was at peace and I couldn't stop smiling. Somehow, I knew this was the answer to my prayer. From that moment on, I was completely content with my decision.

It was hard to tell my dad that I was leaving. It was hard to say goodbye to friends whom I had known since kindergarten. It definitely wasn't easy leaving behind everything familiar. BUT, moving to Arizona was one of the best things that has happened to me in my entire life. My life has had some major high points and none of them would have happened without this move. It was the first step to my becoming a "new creature." This move set the stage for a production put on by God Himself. It's been filled with adventure, excitement, love, heartbreak, and everything else that goes into a good plot. This one answered prayer has given me the strength to trust Him time and time again and to choose His will over mine. He has made my life more than I could have ever dreamed.


Another example of God answering prayers (or just read his account for yourself here):

This one is of a 14-year-old boy wondering which church he should join. His family was very religious but divided in Christian denomination. His mother was a staunch Methodist while his father chose not to join with any church. Both encouraged the boy to pray to find out which church he should join. After studying the scriptures, pondering the words, attending different churches, and offering many heartfelt prayers, he finally received an answer.

In early spring of 1830, this boy went into the woods to pray vocally to the Lord. He had never before prayed out loud and probably didn't want to be disturbed or overheard. He found a secluded place and "began to offer up the desires of [his] heart to God." In his own words, this is what happened next:

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me....When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

This boy, named Joseph Smith, saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He asked them which church he should join and they answered him. They told him that he must join none of them; that they had all been corrupted; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."

He then says, "I had found the testimony of James to be true--that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided."

This man was then led to restore the Lord's church on the earth as it was when Christ Himself organized it. It includes 12 apostles, priesthood authority, a church organization, and the true word of God in its fullness and glory.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's true church, restored to the earth after a long night of apostasy and spiritual darkness. There are prophets and apostles on the earth today, just as there were in the times of the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ is the Head of His church, leading the current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, in performing His work. I know this is true. How? Because the Lord answers prayers. If we ask with a sincere heart, with real intent to act on the answer we receive, He will reveal the truth of all things to us. I have seen this in my life too many times to deny it. I challenge you to test the Lord. He commands us: "Ask, and you shall receive. Seek and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." God does not lie.

(For a more complete version of Joseph Smith's vision, go here.)

A new beginning

Today marks a new beginning for this blog. Last summer I was blessed to go to Ghana, West Africa on an internship with Empower Playgrounds. These pages were filled with stories of cute little African kids and beautiful scenery. This summer will be a completely different story. I made the move from Utah to Boston after graduating from college. If you choose the continue reading this blog, you will find out why.

But first, introductions. I am a single, twenty-something Mormon with an affinity for getting to know people. I love learning and have a passion for teaching. I believe that God has molded me into who I am today in order to accomplish a specific purpose on this earth. He broke me with my parents' divorce when I was 16 years old and has slowly built me back up into something that I hope He can use to perform His work. He led me to Arizona, Indonesia, the Holy Land, Ghana, and even Blanding, UT. He guided me through each of them, introducing me to life-changing people and experiences, creating in me a completely different person at the end than when I arrived. It is because of Him that I am who I am today. The Atonement of Jesus Christ changes people. Individually. As we learn more about Christ and get to know Him as our Savior and friend, our lives change. People become more important than things. We come to know that the love of Christ conquers all. We become truly happy. I'm excited to share my experiences and how I came to know these things.

A favorite quote in the meantime:
"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (D&C 88:118)