Families Can be Together Forever

How many times has your mother had to repeat something she asked for you to do because you didn't do it the first time? Well, growing up with my childhood she had to do that for me a lot. And why do you think she felt the need to repeat herself? Because whatever she asked for me to do she thought was very important. 

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

One of the many places you will find this verse is in 3 Nephi 25:5. This is the only verse that is repeated in all works of scripture. This includes the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. This scripture is talking about the sealing of families so that when we die we may still live with the people we love for all time and eternity. The fact that this verse is repeated in all works of scripture shows just how important our Heavenly Father thinks families are. He places families as the most important unit for His church. 

Families are here so that as we go through this difficult journey, known as life, we may be able to support and love each other. Our Heavenly Father knew just how difficult this Earth life would be for us and that is why He placed us in families. 

I love my family with all of my heart and I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has placed me in such a wonderful, kind, supportive, and loving family so that I may be able to live this life with happiness and joy. I love my Heavenly Father for creating a plan to where the people we love on this Earth we will still be able to love and live with when we die. I am grateful that God is ever-knowing and that he is aware of my struggles and triumphs. And because of God's plan I know that families can be together forever. 

All He Asks

"And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost..."

This scripture is in 3 Nephi and this is the most sacred part of the whole Book of Mormon. At this point Christ has resurrected and He is visiting all of the Nephites. As he is visiting them he is giving them council as to how they should live their lives once he goes back to heaven. One of the councils/commandments he gives them is he does away with the law of Moses because it has been fulfilled through him. And this scripture is their new law. 

The thing I love about this is that it's such a simple request. No longer is Christ asking them to sacrifice any animals or only eat certain foods on certain days but he is only asking for a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." When something is broken it is torn or bruised or hurt but willing to be fixed. I don't think Christ wants our heart to be bruised constantly, instead I think he means for our heart to constantly be in a state where we are willing to be fixed through the Atonement of Christ. If our heart is in this state then we will be willing to be molded by Christ's hands so that we can better ourselves to become like him someday. 

This gospel is not hard. It's the world that makes it difficult to live. But I know that if we stay true to what Christ has asked of us we will be able to become as Gods someday and we will live with Christ again.