Families Are Forever

                    Families are strengthened by the knowledge that family life is meant to last for eternity and when priority is put on the family.  The Proclamation on the Family tells us:  "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God….  The family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." (See "The Family:  A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 102.)

                    We know that Heavenly Father brought Adam and Eve together in marriage and then commanded them to have children (see Genesis 1:28).  He revealed to them that one of the purposes for marriage is to provide physical or mortal bodies for His spirit children still in heaven.

                    President David O. McKay said, "With all my heart I believe that the best place to prepare for … eternal life is in the home" ("Blueprint for Family Living," Improvement Era, April. 1963, p. 252).  It is in our homes that we learn to love, to share and to serve each other.  It is in our homes that we learn self-control, sacrifice, loyalty, and the value of work.

                    I recently purchased a small placard that I really like.  It says, "Family:  Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."  I found this same thought in the posting of a friend on Facebook:  "FriEND, BoyfriEND, GirlfriEND, Best FriEND.  Every close relationship has an END except FamILY!  Family has three letters that say I LOVE YOU."

                    This is so true.  I always make time for family whenever I return to my home area, but I seldom have time to visit friends.  In fact, in the past fifty years, I can remember only a few visits since graduation with my very best friend from junior high school and high school.  Even our letters and telephone calls have become infrequent.  Yet I stay in close contact with family.

                    One of my very favorite songs is about families.  It is entitled "Families Can Be Together Forever" and was written by Ruth M. Gardner.

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.

While I am in my early years,

I'll prepare most carefully,

So I can marry in God's temple

For 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.

                    Families gather in circles for many different reasons - blessings, confirmations, ordinations, etc.  Families gather to share reunions, weddings, baby showers, and other happy events.  Families also gather together in difficult times such as serious accidents, fatal illnesses, deaths, funerals, and the reading of wills.  Sometimes friends become as close as family, but usually "blood" is thicker than friendship.  Friends are very important in lives, but we must put our priorities on family.

                    Marriage as ordained by our Heavenly Father was not meant to end in divorce or at death.  It was meant to last for all eternity.  I firmly believe that husbands and wives, fathers, mothers, and children can be together for eternity because love lasts for eternity.  Prophets have taught that heaven is only an extension of an ideal home, and I believe this is true.  Families are forever!

                    

Everyone Is Important

                    Families are strengthened when every member feels important to the whole.  Each member of a family has something important to add to that particular household.  Children, teenagers, and young adults all need to understand that they each fill a certain need in their family.

                    I recently received a really cute fund-raising letter from Brigham Young University.  The letter was basically just a story about a little raindrop. 

                    "Once upon a time there lived a family of raindrops.  They were a happy bunch, bouncing about in a fluffy, gray cloud that floated over the big world below.

                    "Squirt was one of the youngest.  He liked to play games with his fellow raindrops.  But one day Squirt didn't feel like playing.  Instead he sat on the edge of the cloud, head drooping, feeling downright glum.

                    "`How come you're not playing with your friends?' an old raindrop asked, coming up behind him.

                    "Squirt sighed.  `I want to make a difference in the world.  But I'm just one little raindrop, and I'll never amount to anything.'"

                    The old rain drop thought for a moment and explained that a farmer couldn't grow his wheat without raindrops.  Squirt didn't think that one little raindrop could make a difference to the farmer.  The old raindrop explained, "You know, Squirt.  I've been around this earth a few times, and I've learned that while each of us is only one drop of water, something special happens when we all get together in a rainstorm."

                    Just like many raindrops cause our rivers to flow, our trees to turn green, and wheat to grow, living together as families makes many good things happen - and each person is a part of the successes.  Something special happens in families.

                    When Heavenly Father taught us His plan for our happiness, He told us that He would send each of us down to earth to a family.  He sent us to families with fathers and mothers and other family members.  He sent us as babies who needed to be cared for and loved.  Each baby is a blessing from Heavenly Father, a special gift to that particular family.

                    By careful observance, parents can see the special gifts and talents of each of their children and then point them out to the rest of the family.  One child may be especially cheerful while another child is a great helper.  Every child has something worthwhile to add to the family.  Wise parents will make sure that each child feels special and needed.