Families are forever

Roasting marshmallows, playing games, eating together, snowball fights, hikes, trips to the lake, Christmas traditions, telephone calls, sitting together in church, sleepovers, road trips; the list goes on and on of family memories. I am so grateful for all these wonderful times of laughter with my family. I cannot imagine a time without them in my life.

 

 

 I have a family here on earth.

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Families can be together forever

Through Heavenly Father’s plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

 -Families Can Be Together Forever, LDS Hymns 300

 

 As I was growing up this was my favorite song to sing in church. I loved the thought of getting to be with my family forever, that our relationships with one another did not end after this life. Now, this song has come to mean even more to me as I have gained a stronger testimony of the truthfulness of that message. Heavenly Father designed a wonderful plan so that we can have the blessing of being with our families for eternity. He never meant for us to go through this life or the next alone. As we strive to live by His gospel, and attend the holy temple with our families, we WILL be with them forever. That is a promise we recieve from our loving Heavenly Father and a blessing we recieve from the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I KNOW that I can be with my family forever, and I know you and your family can receive this same blessing. This I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

My parents were sealed for time and all eternity in this, the Oakland, Ca temple, on Dec. 28, 1975

 

 To learn more about strengthening our families, visit: http://mormon.org/family

 

 

 

 

My Angel Mother

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

 -Abraham Lincoln

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday, and I wanted to write a blog explaining all that she has taught me, and expressing my gratitude to her. It is because of her that I am where I am today, just as President Lincoln expresses. I refer to a well-known story in the Book of Mormon. It is the story of the Stripling Warriors. They step up to defend their families in a war-stricken world. They show great strength and courage even though they had never fought before. "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." (Alma 56: 47-48)

 Because of the way they had been taught by their mothers they exercised great faith and not one of their lives were lost in battle. I know that because of the way my mother taught me, I too can stand my ground when life's battles come my way. My mother has taught me how to exercise faith, how to pray, how to seek answers, how to study, how to rely on God, how to develop charity, the importance of the temple and many more vital lessons. I consistently look to her example and strive to be more like her. I am so grateful for all she has done and continues to do for me and for all those who stand in need. Thank you, mom for all you do for me and the Christ-like example you are.