Thursday, January 9, 2014

Heaven on Earth

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we learn to live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us.  We gain this freedom as we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.

                  The liberty principle for today is number fourteen in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book
21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1 “True Principles of Freedom” here.  

                  Principle #14 is the simple fact that when we have a happy marriage we “can transform a house into a place of heaven on earth.”  When God created Adam and Eve, He created them as a man and a woman and performed their wedding ceremony. 

                In September 1995 the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a document known as “The Family:  A Proclamation to the World.”  Copies of this proclamation were taken to leaders in cities, counties, states, and nations. 

                This proclamation begins with a solemn declaration that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and … the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children….”

                The proclamation concludes with a warning:  “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.”

                When we know that God ordains marriage between a man and a woman, we better understand why marriage and family life is under attack by Satan and those who listen to him.  Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and has organized us in families in order to encourage happiness.

                Elder Scott explained that God created men and women differently and gave them “unique traits especially fitted for their individual responsibilities as they fulfill His plan.  In the Lord’s plan, it takes two – a man and a woman – to form a whole.  Indeed, a husband and wife are not two identical halves, but a wondrous, divinely determined combination of complementary capacities and characteristics.
                “Marriage allows these different characteristics to come together in oneness – in unity – to bless a husband and wife, their children and grandchildren.  For the greatest happiness and productivity in life, both husband and wife are needed.  Their efforts interlock and are complementary.  Each has individual traits that best fit the role the Lord has defined for happiness as a man or woman.  When used as the Lord intends, those capacities allow a married couple to think, act, and rejoice as one – to face challenges together and overcome them as one, to grow in love and understanding, and through temple ordinances to be bound together as one whole, eternally.  That is the plan” (p. 69).

                We can find true happiness in our marriages if we follow the plan outlined and taught by prophets of God.  Elder Scott explained that we need to “recognize that spouses need each other” to form a whole.  Spouses need to recognize that both of them work hard for the benefit of the family and each needs to feel appreciated in their roles.  He also explained “there is a difference in how the priesthood is used in the home and how it is used in the Church.  Because the Church is an organization where there are different levels, a hierarchical structure, we sometimes need to make decisions for those who are serving under us.  In the home, the priesthood is not used that way.  It is a patriarchal order… [where spouses] “make every decision together.”  If we cannot come to a decision, we should work at it under we can. 

                Elder Scott suggested that we include prayer in our decision-making process.  “You will find the greatest happiness if you will base every decision on the question, `What does the Lord want us to do?’  Seek together the will of the Lord.  That, I believe, is the way to keep the balance we should.
                “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…” (pp. 70-71).

                I encourage you to study the proclamation on the family and choose some part of it to work on with your spouse.  If we truly desire our homes to become heaven on earth, we will follow the counsel of Prophets and Apostles.  We can obtain more freedom by making our marriages and homes happier.


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