The key to a happy family!

Families are a great part of Gods plan. There are many books and people that talk of how to improve your family, or how to have a happy family. None can compare to the words given in the scriptures or to the words of a living prophet. One of my favorite scriptures on prayer comes from the Book of Mormon. "Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;" This is Jesus teaching us about prayer, and that we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, He continues on teaching that we need to ask for things that are righteous. Then my favorite part, "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." For sometime I thought we need to ask for blessings for our families, but recently I realized there is more to it. We need to pray as a family, the modern prophets have talked about how important families are. They have also stressed the importance of family time, in the LDS faith we try to have what we call family home evening. This family activity can not only help our families to learn but can bring our families closer together, and instill love in each other. This is all part of Heavenly Fathers plan to help us be happy and become like Jesus Christ. The key is, pray together, study Gods word and love one another.

Family History

"Those of us who have been bitten by the family history bug know how fun it can be. But this isn’t why we have the largest genealogical library in the world and why 13 million Mormons are encouraged to research their family roots. Rather, we are driven by our doctrine that teaches that marriage and families can continue beyond this life. But this can only happen when families are sealed together in one of the Lord’s holy temples around the world and united for all eternity.

"That’s fine for all of us today who have the chance to be sealed in a temple, but what about our ancestors who die without the opportunity to receive ordinances like baptism, or the blessings of being an eternal family? Does it make sense that God would simply say, “Too bad, tough luck?” Of course it doesn’t. When Christ organized His Church anciently, it included vicarious work for the dead and the practice of performing ordinances for deceased relatives “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29). Christ’s restoration of his original Church to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith included the ancient practice of performing these ordinances for our deceased relatives in holy temples. The gospel of Jesus Christ includes the same blessings today in holy temples." Mormon.org

"We believe that people can have ordinances performed for them after they have died. We know that these people have the opportunity to accept these ordinances and that many are waiting to gain these ordinances so that they may continue in their progress toward returning to live with Heavenly Father again.

"I have had the opportunity to work on finding my ancestors and feeling their Spirits as I was doing ordinance work fo rthem. This is one of my favorite experiences. I felt the Spirit of the Lord more at that time than at any more in the world." Kathy

Favorite Scripture...

A few weeks back my scriptures were stolen. I have since received a new set, but because of that experience, I have felt like I lost all of my favorite scriptures. So the point of this blog is to get all of your favorite scriptures and share them. Please leave a comment with your favorite scripture reference and short explanation of why its your favorite.

My favorite scripture right now. Mormon 9: 7-21, I like these verses because to me it gives a great understanding of who God is, how He works, and so many other things. 21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, ^awhatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this ^bpromise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth. 

Jacob 3:2

Jacob 3:2

O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

 I thought I would share this scripture, it was pretty much just a random find but I liked it. I really like the middle, "lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love", it made me think of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then I thought that gospel means good news. I have had down days, the ones where your head hangs down, the brightness in my heart was gone and I felt empty. For me, being a missionary is tuff some times, I feel sad when I meet someone who is really awesome, but they wont open their heart to receive this good news. I get discouraged and satan begins to win the battle, but that isn't how our Father in heaven wants us to be, He wants to bless us, and He wants us to be happy. That is when I turn to Him in prayer, and remember the words of David in psalms 18:2, The Lord is my ^arock, and my ^bfortress, and my deliverer; my God, my ^cstrength, in whom I will ^dtrust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
 The Lord will build a fortress around us, He will provide strength when needed, and He will deliver us from the grasp of satan. I love my Savior, and all that He does for me to bear me up to lift my head. I feel this way because of the scriptures, they are the guide for each of us in our journey in life, they are the words of God and through them we can truly be filled with His love.

Prayer

"I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I ^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My ^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!" Joseph Smith History.


This is the account of Joseph Smith. In this wonderful vision, Joseph saw God the Father, and His Son, the Beloved, Jesus Christ. This visitation was brought on by Joseph's sincere desire to know more. He desired Gods direction in which religious group he should join. In life we all come across time in which we need guidance, either from parents, friends, or even God. I am so grateful for the power of prayer, and the knowledge that my Father in heaven loves me, I have grown closer to God as I have turned to Him for guidance and help. My relationship with Him has become more than just speaking to an unknown being, as I have earnestly looked for Him in everything in this world, I have found His beautiful signature. It is my testimony that God lives, he loves each of us, and He speaks to all. It all begins with a humble prayer.