Families are Forever

One of the most glorious truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that families can be together forever. This knowledge gives great strength during hard times of loss and death. Watch how it has blessed the lives of those in this video.

 

How comforting is it to know that we will all be together forever? Our Father in Heaven prepared a plan for us, called The Plan of Happiness. A path that would bring us through life and back into His presence with our families and loved ones. That is why it is so important to follow our Savior's example and the plan that he has laid before us. But as a loving Father He has left the choice up to us. We "...are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Ne. 2:27)

The choice is ours and dependent upon our actions. But if we follow the plan, the promises will be fulfilled. I testify that this plan is real and that we can and will live with our families forever if we will follow His plan. We will never have to say goodbye.

Lifting Burdens: He Can Heal Us

Without the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ nothing would be possible. We would never be able to overcome our weaknesses and live with our Father in Heaven again. But He did atone for our sins, and this video shares the message of what that means for us. 

 In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Alma prophesies of Jesus Christ with these words. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

  Our Savior suffered all things according to the flesh so that He would know exactly how we feel. No matter what situation we are in, what burdens we have to carry, He will lift us up and give us the strength we need to go on, if we will but ask. As part of life's journey we are to learn and grow and gain as much experience as we can. But it is so comforting to know that we have a Best Friend who is always beside us to give that ever needed support. 

Although we don't completely understand how the atonement works, we do know that it works and that we can all experience it's transforming power in our own lives. The atonement isn't just about overcoming sin, it's about becoming who our Heavenly Father knows we can become. As we allow His spirit to enter our lives and to cleanse and purify us from sin, we are changed from the inside out. Our nature changes, our habits change, our desires change, and we become more in tune with our Heavenly Father's will. "...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) As long as we try our very best and give our all, our Savior will make up for the rest and we will enjoy eternal life, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

God Still Speaks To Us Today

 Are the Heavens closed? Or does God continue to speak to us today just as he did in Bible times? This talk by a living apostle of Jesus Christ tells us the answer.

One of the most glorious blessings that comes from the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the knowledge that the Heavens are still open and that our loving Father in Heaven still speaks to us today. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and testifies, as does the bible, that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Knowing that our Father in Heaven can speak to us allows us to always have an outlet, a source to go to when we've hit the wall and want to give up. I testify that He does answer our prayers and that we can have a personal relationship with Him. He knows us perfectly and can give us specific answers for our specific problems and trials. 

This personal relationship means that we can go to Him with anything and everything. Concerns as small as a lost pencil or matters as large as where to live are all important to our perfect Heavenly Father. He wants to help us, He loves to help us, and He loves to hear from us.

I am so grateful for the relationship that I have developed with my Father in Heaven. And I am even more grateful in knowing that anyone can have that bond with Him as well. Through actions like daily prayer, daily scripture study, and attending church each week, we can feel the spirit more abundantly in our lives and can begin building that unity with our Eternal Father. Seek Him out and find out for yourself if He does still love and speak to us today. I know that He does and that He is always there for us if we will reach out and accept His help. But most importantly, I know that He cares.