I feel so blessed to have been born into a family with “goodly parents” and to have been taught from a young age the importance of eternal families. As I studied this topic of families over the course of the semester, I have renewed gratitude for my parents, my two younger brothers, and my grandparents. I was also reminded of the importance of not only the family that we have here on earth, but also those who have come before us. We have ancestors that are waiting for their temple work to be done, and are counting on us to do that work for them. I also noticed that one thing the prophets and apostles emphasized was having the presence of the spirit in our homes. He is vital to bringing peace and comfort. We need invite him in by holding family scripture study and prayer every day and avoiding contention.
1) April 2017, Thomas S. Monson, “Kindness, Charity, and Love”
"Brethren, we do not honor the priesthood of God if we are not kind to others."
"He wants His children to come to earth, following the eternal pattern of families that exists in heaven. Families are the basic organizational unit of the eternal realms, and so He intends for them also to be the basic unit on earth. Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental love. Families are also the best way to preserve and pass on moral virtues and true principles that are most likely to lead us back to God’s presence."
"Only a very small minority of God’s children obtain during this life a complete understanding of God’s plan, along with access to the priesthood ordinances and covenants that make the Savior’s atoning power fully operative in our lives…. Some may consider this unfair.... But you and I know, because of the truths restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that God’s plan is much more loving and just than that. Our Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family. While He knows that not all of them will choose to be gathered, His plan gives each of His children the opportunity to accept or reject His invitation. And families are at the heart of this plan."
"Unity is necessary for us to have the Spirit in our class and in our family. But you know from experience, as I do, that such loving unity is hard to maintain. … The unity we seek in our families and in the Church will come as we allow the Holy Ghost to affect what we see when we look at one another—and even when we think of each other. The Spirit sees with the pure love of Christ."
"We must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home."
“God the Father is the Father of our spirits. We are His children. He loves us, and all that He does is for our eternal benefit. He is the author of the plan of salvation, and it is by His power that His plan achieves its purposes for the ultimate glory of His children.”
“First promptings are pure inspiration from heaven. When they confirm or testify to us, we need to recognize them for what they are and never let them slip past. So often, it is the Spirit inspiring us to reach out to someone in need, family and friends in particular.”
“The Lord knows the needs of all His children—and He knows who is prepared to help.”
"A crucial element of the parental duty to warn is to paint not only the demoralizing consequences of sin but also the joy of walking in obedience to the commandments."
10) April 2017, Gary E. Stevenson, “How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?”
“It is vital to our physical and spiritual safety that we keep the gift of the Holy Ghost. We begin to do so by striving to keep the commandments, having individual and family prayer, reading the scriptures, and seeking loving and forgiving relationships with family and loved ones.”
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