To me, science and religion are like a living soul.

By M. A.

The first time I weighed an electron I had tears in my eyes.

I had tears when I saw my first cell and first beating heart.

In today’s world many people think that science and religion are opposing forces with each set on destroying the other. To me, science and religion are like a living soul. The soul of man is defined by the Lord as the union of spirit and body. When viewed together, science (the temporal) and religion (the spiritual) help us understand the soul of God. The Lord has created all things both spiritual and temporal and we are told that the temporal is in the likeness of the spiritual.

When I weighed the electron I glimpsed one of the fundamental units of creation. When I saw my first human cell I saw the fundamental unit of human life and I was awed at its complexity.

As Pres. Kimball once said, we are truly Gods in embryo. My first beating heart humbled me with it perfection. I remembered that the Savior has commanded us to become as perfect and to learn of Him. For me, science and religion are woven together so tightly that each tells the story of the other.

To weigh an electron is to glimpse the infinite intelligence of our Creator.

To hold a newborn, whose beginning was a single cell, is to learn the purpose of God in giving us eternal families.

And to sit quietly, while holding the hand of a beloved family member when the heart stops beating, is to see the Face of God.

God helped my 12-year-old find his iPod

By A. W.

One day my 12-year-old son was walking through the house looking for something. Opening and closing cabinets, picking up sofa cushions. Going in and out of the garage.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

“My iPod,” he said.

“Did you pray about it?”

“Yeah, right,” he grumped and moved into the other room.

A while later he returned and repeated the seeking maneuvers: cushions up and down, rug lifted and replaced, drawers opened and shut.

“Still haven’t found it? Why don’t you pray about it?”

“No and no. Heavenly Father does not care if I find my iPod.”

I answered: “You’re right. Heavenly Father does not care if you find your iPod. But He does very much care about whether or not you’re happy. And He also appreciates chances to show you that He answers prayers.”

“Well, I’m not going to.”

“Okay, it’s your choice.”

Over the next few hours the door slamming and drawer shutting continued. The school backpack was emptied and repacked. The trash can was emptied and re-filled. The coat closet was turned inside out and reloaded. The iPod was not to be found. The seeker’s grumpiness increased.

“Do me a favor,” I asked. “Please, just go pray about it. You have already spent hours looking. Why not spend five minutes asking for help?”

“Fine,” he agreed at last and trudged up the stairs to his room. Six minutes later, he returned, iPod in hand.

“You found it!” I exclaimed. “Did you even have a chance to say your prayer?”

He sat down sheepishly. “I knelt down at my bed and bowed my head and from there I could see it jammed behind the bed. That is the only place I could have seen it.”

“So you didn’t pray after all?” I asked.

“Yes,” he answered, “I did. I wanted to tell Him thank you for His help.”

Image from lds.org.

Ask and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be 

opened.

- Matthew 7: 7-8

It's crazy what a little faith can do.

By Elder Brian

My grandma used to tell us grandkids stories about our ancestors that crossed the plains with the pioneers all the time when I was little. She would tell us about all the trials they went through as well as
all the amazing miracles they witnessed. One of these stories I would have my grandma tell me over and over again. It was my absolute favorite and it's the one I would like to share. It's about my Great
Great Grandma Mellor.

Great Grandma Mellor was going through a hard time before they even left England. She had just given birth to conjoined twins who had died just moments after birth and Grandma Mellor's health wasn't to great either. She was told by the captain of the ship that if she got on the boat to America that she would die and just become shark bait. Night came around and she was given a blessing that her and all of her family would make it to the Salt Lake Valley. She was then smuggled onto the ship and off they went.

Later in their trek to Zion the extremities were beyond comprehension. It was so cold at night that her children's braids froze to the ground and needed to be cut off in order to free the child. They were starving and freezing to death and yet they pressed on with faith.

from lds.org

Grandma Mellor couldn't make it any farther. She sat down on a rock kissed her husband and children good bye and cried. Her daughter Elizabeth Mellor could not stand the thought of leaving her mother behind for the wolves to devour. She turned around and ran back towards her mother. On her way she stopped and offered a prayer of thanks as well as asking for a miracle. She told God the situation and acknowledged that she could not do it herself. After she said amen, she got up and continued towards Grandma Mellor with faith that God would bless her and her mother with strength. On her way she found a fresh hot pie on the frozen snow. This was truly a miracle and a gift from God. She took the pie to her mother and it gave them the strength to press forward and the did so with faith. She and her entire family made it to the Salt Lake Valley.

It is clear that our Father in Heaven loves us and will take care of us as long as we have faith in Him. It's crazy what a little faith can do.

What my child's allergies taught me about God's love for His children.

By Corbin C.

My daughter, Colette, is 18 months old. About 6 months ago we discovered that she has quite a few food allergies. She’s allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, dairy, and some beans and legumes. Our son, Daxton, who is 3 ½ will eat anything you put in front of him, and lots of things we don’t put in front of him, too. But one of his favorite snacks, like many kids, is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s hard for his sister to see him eating a delicious sandwich that she can’t have.

We tell Colette, “You can’t eat that. It will make you sick.” But of course she doesn’t understand; she’s only 18 months old. Our son has picked up on this exchange and he’s taken it upon himself to be the self-appointed enforcer of his sister’s dietary restrictions. He is pretty vigilant and I’ve been corrected more than once: “Dad, Colette can’t eat that. It has beans in it.”

However, as long as the list of foods Colette can’t eat already is, I noticed that according to our son, the list kept growing ever so slightly. First it was, “Colette can’t eat chocolate. It will give her a belly ache.” Then it was cupcakes that would make her sick. Finally our son declared that his sister was allergic to all desserts and if she ate them she might die. Smart kid. I’m only jealous that I didn’t think to tell my son HE was allergic to desserts first.

But there is an important lesson to learn from this experience. My daughter sees something that she thinks will taste good and she wants it. I as a parent know that if she eats that peanut butter, she will feel very sick. She could even have an anaphylactic reaction and without treatment she really might die. But she doesn’t know that; all she knows is that her brother is eating a delicious snack that she can’t have. I love both of my children equally, but in that moment, I can imagine my daughter is wondering why I would give her brother a delicious snack and deny her the same pleasure. How often do we forget that our Heavenly Father loves each of us equally as his children and he knows what is good for us better than we know ourselves?

We might consider the situation of a neighbor or friend and wonder why our Heavenly Father loves them more than us. But the truth is that he loves each of us more than we can comprehend and he knows exactly what we need in order to give us the best chance at growing and developing and one day becoming like Him.



In the spring of 1820, a young boy of 14 was curious to know which church he should be attending. He studied the scriptures regularly and found a passage in the New Testament that told him to pray and ask God. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) That young boy, Joseph Smith, knelt in solemn prayer in a grove of trees to ask our Heavenly Father which church he should attend. In one profound moment, the heavens opened and the boy prophet saw God the Father, and Jesus Christ. In that moment, more light and knowledge regarding the existence and nature of God was poured out upon the earth than in all the many centuries since Christ walked the earth combined.

Elder Tad R. Callister taught:

When Joseph Smith emerged from the grove of trees, he eventually learned four fundamental truths not then taught by the majority of the contemporary Christian world. 

First, he learned that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate, distinct beings. The Bible confirms Joseph Smith’s discovery. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). A father offering up his only son is the supreme demonstration of love that the human mind and heart can conceive and feel. It is symbolized by the touching story of Abraham and Isaac (see Genesis 22). But if the Father is the same being as the Son, then this sacrifice of all sacrifices is lost, and Abraham is no longer offering up Isaac—Abraham is now offering up Abraham.

The second great truth Joseph Smith discovered was that the Father and the Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bones. Following the Savior’s resurrection, He appeared to His disciples and said, “Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39). Some have suggested this was a temporary physical manifestation and that when He ascended to heaven He shed His body and returned to His spirit form. But the scriptures tell us this was not possible. Paul taught, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him” (Romans 6:9). In other words, once Christ was resurrected, His body could never again be separated from His spirit; otherwise He would suffer death, the very consequence Paul said was no longer possible after His Resurrection. 

The third truth that Joseph Smith learned was that God still speaks to man today—that the heavens are not closed. 

If God loves every one of his children equally, we can be sure that he will give us every aid and help that he gave to his children in centuries past. In days of old, the Lord called prophets to teach the people his gospel. Prophets like Isaiah, Moses, Abraham. The Lord gave them a special charge to teach the people his plan for them.

We know that the Lord still calls prophets in our day to preach his gospel and teach us his plan. In the Lord’s church today, just as anciently, establishing the doctrine of Christ or correcting doctrinal deviations is a matter of divine revelation. In the Bible we find the prophet Amos giving a profound truth: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

The fourth truth that Joseph Smith learned was that the full and complete Church of Jesus Christ was not then upon the earth. Of course there were good people and some components of the truth, but the Apostle Paul had anciently prophesied that the Second Coming of Christ would not come “except there come a falling away first” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

The Lord called Joseph to restore upon the earth the same church that Christ had established when he walked with his apostles. The 6th Article of Faith states, “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. Through Joseph Smith, the Lord restored all the powers, keys, teachings, and ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation.

Just as in 1820 when Joseph Smith was confused about which church was God’s true church, so today there exist a multitude of different religions and beliefs. There are those today that would say that all religions are equally right, that all paths lead to God. It is true that there are so many good people in all the wonderful religions of the world. And they do so much good in this world. They are serving the Lord according to their light and knowledge. All churches have some truth, and some of them have very much truth. We do not say they are wrong, only that they are incomplete. Our Heavenly Father would give them more. He hopes that they would seek further light and knowledge in whatever place they may find it. Through Joseph Smith and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ all the necessary principles and ordinances that are required for us to return to live with God after this life have been revealed.

Then there is, of course, the opposite view of those that would say all religions are right. They would say all religions are wrong together. I would urge anyone who might have that opinion to first, keep an open mind and an open heart, and second, ask in sincere prayer to God if he exists and if this is his true church. Once you have felt the comfort and peace that comes from the influence of the Holy Ghost, any doubt of the existence of God melts away in a profound experience that may not be easy to explain to others, but is no less real because of that. “…for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)

Another profound truth that was revealed in this dispensation through the prophet Joseph Smith is that of the gospel being preached to the dead in the spirit world to those who did not have a fair chance to hear it in this life. (D&C 128:5–22; see also D&C 138:30–34). This was not a new revelation; it was the restoration of a biblical truth. The apostle Peter had taught “For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6). Those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit world will have every blessing given to those who accepted and lived faithful lives here in mortality.

Again in Elder Callister’s words:

On occasion, some are willing to set aside the precious gospel truths restored by Joseph Smith because they get diverted on some historical issue or some scientific hypothesis not central to their exaltation, and in so doing they trade their spiritual birthright for a mess of pottage. They exchange the absolute certainty of the Restoration for a doubt, and in that process they fall into the trap of losing faith in the many things they do know because of a few things they do not know. There will always be some seemingly intellectual crisis looming on the horizon as long as faith is required and our minds are finite, but likewise there will always be the sure and solid doctrines of the Restoration to cling to, which will provide the rock foundation upon which our testimonies may be built. 

When many of Christ’s followers turned from Him, He asked His Apostles, “Will ye also go away?” 

Peter then responded with an answer that should be engraved on every heart: “To whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:66–68).

 Indeed, the words of Jesus Christ are the words of eternal life. His words can be found in the Holy Scriptures. Through the prophet Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ was translated.

Along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon is an indispensable witness of the doctrines of Christ and his divinity. As the Bible relates the events of Christ’s mortal ministry in Jerusalem, we know that the Book of Mormon relates the events of the ancient people on the American continent.

The Book of Mormon was written by ancient American prophets who testified of Christ’s coming just as the prophets of the Old Testament did. The Book of Mormon also highlights the coming of the Savior after his resurrection to the Nephite people. This second witness serves to confirm the truths taught in the Bible and establish the doctrines of Jesus Christ in a clear and complete manner.

Someday, my daughter Colette will understand English. At least that’s my hope. Then I will be able to explain to her that certain foods aren’t good for her. I’ll be able to reason with her. But for now, she has to go on faith that I will take care of her and do what’s best for her.

If any of you find yourself questioning your testimony or doubting that there is a loving Savior who has restored his true and living church again on the earth, then have faith for the moment. Search the scriptures diligently and learn of Him. Your spiritual vocabulary will slowly expand and you will begin to see the Lord’s hand in your life. You will begin to understand his wonderful plan for you and for all of His children. Pray sincerely and ask for that understanding. I know that the Lord lives and that through Joseph Smith He restored his church again on the earth. I know that a living prophet receives revelation and guides His church on the earth today. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Trust me: look up!

By Allie D.

My little boy's hair was starting to look a little shaggy, so I gave him a haircut at the kitchen table. Without the benefit of one of those smocks they have you wear at professional hair cutter places, his hair ended up all over the floor, all over the chair, all over the table, and all over him.

It was time for a bath.

Normally this little boy loves baths. He's two and a half--what's not to love about a bath? He doesn't even mind if the water is cold. Because--it's WATER!!!

But this time he was covered in hair, and that hair had to come off. Sometimes I let him go without shampooing, but this was not going to be one of those times. We needed to seriously scrub this kid's hair. If we didn't, it would be itchy and disgusting for him.

Of course, being only two and a half, he didn't understand. He glared at me while I shampooed him, but the worst was yet to come.

Rinsing is the worst.

"Look up!" I told him, but he didn't trust me. To him, it seemed that if he dared to look up, he'd get shampooey water in his eyes--when in reality, if he looked up, I could shield his eyes and protect his face as I rinsed his hair out.

After several attempts at persuasion, I finally just gave up and rinsed his hair with his face pointing downward. Yes, he got suds in his eyes. I know it couldn't have hurt that bad because it was pH-balanced baby wash that is practically meant to get in your baby's eyes. But this child raged anyway. I'm sure he felt betrayed: his darling momma intentionally got sudsy water in his eyes!

Even worse: that darling momma had told him to look into the water as she poured!

He just didn't understand.

As I dried him off, I had to wonder: how often does God tell us to look up so he can clean us, protect us, and bless us? How often do we look down instead, out of fear that instead of protecting our eyes, God will fail us and allow us to get hurt?

I know that God wants us to look up. He will always shield us and protect us if we follow His instructions. It's only when we disobey that we end up with the proverbial shampoo in our eyes. We might rage against Him while our eyes sting, but all the while He just shakes His head at us, wishing that we'd had the faith to look up the first time He asked, so He could have washed us and kept us safe.

I know that as we put out faith in God and trust Him no matter what, even the commandments we don't understand will lead to blessings in our lives.

3 Nephi 10:5-6: And again, ^ahow oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not. 

 6 O ye house of Israel whom I have ^aspared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and ^breturn unto me with full purpose of ^cheart. 

How has God told you to look up? What blessings have you experienced by trusting God the first time He asks?

The Holy Ghost helped me find a job.

By Laura P.

This past fall after I graduated from BYU-Idaho, I was struggling to find a job. For a while, it felt like I was filling out application after application without any leads. I contacted my ward’s employment specialist, hoping for some tips and advice of going about this job hunt. It was humbling for me to ask for help from someone I barely knew, but I desperately needed a job. The employment specialist was a great help to me, helping to me see what I needed to improve upon and how to go about doing it.

 One morning as I was getting ready for a job interview, I had a quiet but clear thought that I should stop by this one building after my interview. My interview came and went; afterwards I had that same quiet but clear thought of stopping on that building. So I drove to the building, parked the car and walked in.

Once I was in this building I didn’t know where to go or what to say; a kind lady directed me to an office. I walked in and the lady that was working there asked if she could help me. I quickly explained that I’m a recent college grad and was wondering if there were any volunteer opportunities.

The lady replied that they were actually hiring and asked if I wanted to fill out an application. I was excited and knew that I was prompted to come to this building, not knowing why but trusting in that prompting from the Holy Ghost.

I sat down and began to fill out an application, and within a week I was hired.

I’m grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who helps me with my spiritual as well as temporal needs. I’m grateful for the guidance, comfort and promptings I’ve received through the Holy Ghost in my life.

 Matthew 10:29-31:

from lds.org

29 Are not two ^asparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 

30 But the very ^ahairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more ^avalue than many^bsparrows.

How has Heavenly Father taken care of you in your time of need?

We've got a runner.

By Emma

I am not a kid person anymore—but I am a nanny. I became a nanny because I am not a kid  person anymore. I’ve been in college, traveled, and been a corporate monkey; to be honest it felt like a pointless game. My minutes on the time clock were wasted on my hourly wage, but my time spent in service has always felt worthwhile.

This is how I got to be blocking the front door from an almost 8 year-old boy from running away from home. Danny’s birthday was coming up and he got rudely aggressive about his presents. In truth it was a very Dudley Dursley moment (“36…that’s two less than last year!”). (Yes, that is a Harry Potter reference.) There was crying; there was screaming. I’m sure something was thrown. It culminated in doors slamming and tears.

“He’s running away,” said a brother from the couch. The tone in his voice was more impressed at the extreme than surprised. I followed out the door. Danny turned, ran back inside, hugged his tattle-tale brother (his dramatic “I’ll miss you” was almost lost in his brother’s shoulder), and started for the door again.

I caught him there. I am still not a kid person.

There was hitting and screaming. There was crying. Two brothers and I sat and watched as Danny tried to unlock the door and leave again. Keeping him inside the house was all I could think to do—I’d only known the kid for a week.

“I want to leave! No one loves me! I don’t want to be part of this family anymore! Anywhere is better than here!”

There was some wrestling for the phone. There was more screaming. Then came the tears and  he sobbed. I held him.

It reminded me of my mother, when she held me as I screamed those same words at her. My rant hadn’t been about presents, but I suppose in hindsight my ingratitude doesn’t need to be founded in anything. I heard the same words in my head then as I did the day I held that little screaming boy who wanted to run away: if only you knew how much you are loved.

I can’t say that the little boy is better or worse. I am still not much of a kid person, but that little boy is loved by a Father in Heaven, just like me. I got to be reminded of that. That love means the world to me. I am grateful to have it. Having faith in that love makes all the difference.

John 3:16: ¶For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.

How has the knowledge of God's love blessed your life?

That light was able to shine through the clouds.

By Diana

It was with mixed emotions that I returned to work last week.   With my maternity leave over I was unsure how I would find things when I got back to my residents. Things were pretty sad upon my return when I realized that while I had been away each resident in the care facility had taken a drastic turn in his or her disease. 

I've seen people suffer from Alzheimer's for almost 4 years now. It is the worst disease imaginable. I don't know of any other disease that can rob a person of his soul, other than Alzheimer's. My husband's grandmother passed away earlier this year after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, and upon her passing the entire family could only feel joy that she was no longer trapped in a body with a brain that couldn't function. When looking into the eyes of someone with this disease I often feel like all I can see are clouds, where very little light is allowed to shine through. 

Last Wednesday was not like any work day I have ever had. The residents are no longer at a level where they can participate in activities that I once used to enjoy doing with them. I used to be able to hold group discussions about things ranging from current events to their favorite foods, but it now seems like any time I try to stand in front of the group, I lose them all, either to sleep, or to their inability to follow the conversation. I always go extremely prepared because I never know what kind of a day it will be. 

On Wednesday I got to work at 10 am, and by 11am I was frantically searching for an activity that they could all participate in. I don't know why, maybe I was prompted by a loving Father in Heaven, I like to think so, but I instantly thought 'they need one on one attention, give them hand massages.' In all the  years I have worked there I have never thought of giving them hand massages. 

Immediately I turned on some classical piano music, got out some lotion and sat in front of each resident individually and rubbed his or her hands. Some were startled initially and asked, "How much is this gonna cost me?" 

"Nothing," I replied, "Absolutely free." 

"Oh that feels so nice. Thank you." 

As I sat with each one, rubbing his or her hands, I noticed something that doesn't happen often. A little of that light I was talking about was able to shine through the clouds. I walked away with a greater understanding of our Savior's love for each of us. Many of these people have lived long hard lives, some of them, I believe, have been in very dark places.  Now as they sit on the threshold of death I know that their Savior still awaits them with open arms. His light remains in each of them, oftentimes hidden by a horrible disease. I can only feel joy for each of them knowing that one day they will be able to shed the weight of this mortal life and once again feel the light of our Savior's love.

John 13:14: If I then, your Lord and ^aMaster, have ^bwashed your feet; ye also ought to ^cwash one another’s ^dfeet.

How have you felt God's love through your service to others? Has another person's service ever reminded you of God's love for you?

The teachings of the Proclamation apply to you.

By Teresa W.

Imagine with me, if you will, an airplane leaving an airport with a complete journey mapped out. The pilots and crew know where they are going, and they won’t get off course or fail to reach their destination, unless weather or mechanical troubles interfere. Now, imagine another airplane with a captain and crew but no flight plan. The engines are started, and the plane moves down the runway. Yet as it begins to climb, the pilot doesn’t know whether to turn east or to turn west. If you are on that airplane, you will have little to no chance of arriving at your destination. It is clear on your journey that you probably want to be on a plane with a flight plan.

And so it is with our lives.  For Latter-day Saints, there is a flight plan based upon God’s commandments called the Plan of Salvation which explains where we came from before we got on the plane, why we are on the plane, and where we are going while traveling on the plane.  Because we have been blessed with an understanding of the plan of salvation we have a unique perspective on marriage and families.  It would be correct to describe Latter-day Saints as "family- oriented" people.

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles in years past knew the importance of the family unit and the challenges that families were facing then and would eventually face within society.  As a result, The Family: A Proclamation to The World was written.  Before reading the Proclamation at the General Relief Society Meeting in September 1995, President Hinckley stated:

"With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets, seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout its history."

In our last General Conference, Dallin H. Oaks summarized the contents of The Proclamation by saying:

“Our theology begins with heavenly parents, and our highest aspiration is to attain the fullness of eternal exaltation. We know this is possible only in a family relationship. We know that the marriage of a man and a woman is necessary for the accomplishment of God’s plan. Only this marriage will provide the approved setting for mortal birth and to prepare family members for eternal life. We look on marriage and the bearing and nurturing of children as part of God’s plan and a sacred duty of those given the opportunity to do so. We believe that the ultimate treasures on earth and in heaven are our children and our posterity.”

I am certain that most of you have read the Proclamation, probably on more than one occasion. In the last few years, it has almost been like a second patriarchal blessing for me because I have turned to it for comfort and direction, much like I would my own patriarchal blessing. It is scripture that has helped me sort through some personal challenges and has hopefully helped me comfort and direct others.

In President Hinckley’s quote, I want you to notice that he proclaims that the Proclamation is for members of the Church as well as the World.  I know of or have spoken to a number of people who struggle with the teachings of the Proclamation.  

I have a good friend who says the Proclamation is not for him.  His father died when he was a young boy.  His mother raised him and his numerous brothers and sisters with little help from extended family. His family did not fit norm. I know there are others who feel that they do not fit the norm-single moms and dads, childless parents, singles members who have not had the opportunity to marry. Heavenly Father’s plan still applies to you. Study the Proclamation and find out how it applies to you. You may not fit the norm at this particular time in your life, but the teachings of the Proclamation apply to you.

I have other friends and extended family members who struggle with the Proclamation because it does not recognize same gender relationships as family units.  This has become an even greater struggle since the legalization of same gender marriage in some states and countries. Bear in mind that legalization should not bolster our attitude toward social trends. There are a number of activities that are legal in which members of the church do not participate nor do they promote such as smoking, drinking, adultery, gambling, abortion, etc.

Our commitment to love and serve God requires that we look to His law for our standard of behavior and that we keep His commandments.   Matthew 22: 37 reminds us: 

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  

The second commandment is a reminder to be kind and respectful to those who disagree with our resolve to be obedient.  President Monson encouraged us to remain obedient when he said:

“Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but as the determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”

It is not always popular to stand by your standards and your convictions, but we must.  It is not always easy to be unique and to stand out, but Latter-day Saints do.  In a recent Facebook conversation a group of mothers were swapping stories about different reactions they have gotten from people in public places when they see these moms out with their children. The stories were about comments they had gotten from total strangers about the number of children they had, others were comments about the closeness in age of their children, and some were comments about the courage these moms possessed to even go out in public places with all of their children.  The stories were all told in a spirit of fun, but LDS women are unique and are noticed for their commitment to home and family. I could sense that these women were happy to a part of God’s plan.  They are living the dream. They are the mothers that are talked about in the Proclamation, nurturing and  teaching children in homes built upon faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. They are part of families that are blessed by the power of the priesthood with loving husbands who are protect, provide and rear  families in homes of righteous. Are these families perfect? No!  But they are following the plan.

Material possessions and honors of the world do not endure. But the union that I have with my husband and my children can endure through blessings of the temple.  At the beginning of this year I could not think of one single New Year’s Resolution that I wanted to take on.  There are plenty of things that I certainly can certainly do, but I wanted some spiritual direction in making my decision so I did pray about what I should do.  I wanted a goal that would be significant and something I wouldn’t abandon.  A few weeks ago, it came to me as clearly as if light coming on in a room. I decided to get the information I had already collected for my father’s genealogy and enter it into Family Tree. As I have been working, I have had my ancestors’ spirits sitting with me, helping me find and organize their information so that their temple ordinances can be completed for them. I’ve had a few glitches that the kind people at Technical Support have walked me through as well. But, I know that my ancestors understand the importance of families and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve them so that they can be eternal families.

When we understand the plan of salvation, the Proclamation on the Family brings peace and certainty. The message of the Proclamation brings comfort to parents who may be questioning their roles in the home.  It will bring security to children as they are raised by parents who love them and understand them. And it will bring lasting joy to families. It is a Christ-centered plan that allows us to follow the teachings of the Savior and ultimately return to our Father in Heaven if we are obedient.

How do the teachings of The Family: A Proclamation to the World impact you?

I delayed my fitness goals to be a mother.

By Nayeli J.

Thinking about the nets that we give up to follow our Savior, and being very pregnant now, I thought about how we give up our bodies and overall health to be able to have babies.  I had made lots of fitness and wellness goals for the last 6 months in the year 2012 before my husband I planned to go on a cruise together. Both my husband and I made great improvements in our over-all health and even into the year 2013 we were still keeping up with our goals.  One of my long term goals that I wanted to accomplish sooner than later was to become a Zumba instructor!  I love Zumba and wanted to do something for myself and share that love of dancing with others.

  Then, that summer my husband and I decided that it was the best time for us to get pregnant because if we waited, we were going to be moving across the country and my husband would be starting his residency and we knew that would be challenging with already having two little ones.  At this point, I decided to put aside my wellness and fitness goals, my feeling good about looking better and being able to be more active.  I decided that being a mother was a priority and was something that Heavenly Father wanted me to do more than anything.  Now was the best time to do it!  Going into my pregnancy I made new obtainable goals being pregnant, so that I would have a healthy pregnancy, etc.  However, because this is my third baby my joints have been so sore and I haven't been able to be as active as I would like because I'm already chasing after 2. Being 32 wks now I can hardly move and I am on partial bedrest because I was doing too much.

I know that families can be together forever and that my family is definitely a priority in our lives.  Giving up this fitness/wellness "net" to bear more children is so worth it!  Our children are so very special and unique in many ways.  I can't wait to be able to nurture, teach, and care for another little spirit that will come down from God's presence.  Now, how miraculous and wonderful is that?  I feel honored that Heavenly Father would trust me to do such a thing:)

• Matthew 4:20: And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Taking care of our bodies is a good thing--but it can be easy to prioritize fitness over the sacred role of motherhood. What sacrifices have you made to put the Savior's plan for families in action in your own life?