The New Crisis

One of the greatest elements of God's plan is The Family.  Why is the Family so important? We are the Spirit Children of God, we each lived with him before the world was created.  When the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, were created, they were married by God with the commandment to create families.  After being cast out of the Garden of Eden, they began to have children.  Adam was commanded by God to stay faithful to his wife, and raise his posterity in righteousness.  As Adam and Eve had children, God's spirit children came down to earth and gained a body.  As his children had children, the same thing happen.  They were raised in families and taught by their parents.  However there were some who rejected their parents teachings and followed Satan.

Families can provide a safe haven for God's children to learn and grow, by loving parents.  In a righteous family the spirit children of our Heavenly Father are to learn the gospel in safety.  However, it is under attack.  Because the family has so many strengths, Satan is working hard to break them up.  There are many outside influences that are working to destroy the family.  It isn't hard to find.  The greatest threat comes inside the home.  It starts with the abuse of family roles.  What are the roles of the family?

Fathers, by God's design are to Provide, Preside and Protect.  They are to lead and guide their family in wisdom and righteousness.  They are to see that the needs of the family are met.  They are also responsible to keep the family safe, and they are to lead by righteous example.  None of these principles can be without the other.  If one is abused each will fall apart.  Fathers are to teach their children correct principles and be there in their children's lives.  What they teach determines their success.  Fathers have an influential part of their children.  They may not see it, but everything that fathers do leaves an impression on the young hearts.  Men need to love and support their wives.  When they can they should help out around the house.  How men treat their spouse will effect how their children treat others.  Fathers provide an important element in the home that others can't.  When it is abused it hurts the whole family for generations. (Watch a video about Fathers)

Mothers are just as important as Fathers.  Neither one is greater or lesser than the other, no matter what Hollywood portrays.  The world and popular media may try to place one above the other but in God's eyes they are no different from the other.  Mothers are mainly responsible for the nurture of their children.  They are to provide moral support to their children as they are being structured into the individuals God needs them to be.  Mothers have a special place in God's work.  It allows them to work almost side-by-side with God in building the righteous leaders of tomorrow.  They need to work along side their husbands (and the men with their wives) in order to build a strong family.  Both men and women will be held accountable by God for what they have done with their family.  If both parents (not one or the other) obey God's commandments they are most able to build the strongest families. (Watch a video about Mothers)

Children have the role of helping their parents where ever possible.  Teens are not exempt from this responsibility.  They are to "Honor their (parents)". This is one of the original commandments.  Parents work day and night to raise their children.  It is only fair that the children help out.  There will be chores to do and parties to miss,  but building strong families makes strong everlasting friendships that no one can replace.  Those are worth more than any party in the world combined.  Your family will be your greatest support so long as you are obeying God's commandments.

Remember, everything is as strong as it's weakest point.  Even though you have every principle in the book to help you, if they are not properly in place your family becomes weaker.  Selfishness, anger, greed and jealousy are common elements in broken families.   When the parents or children allow feelings of anger of any kind invite Satan in.  Addictions of any kind separate family members!  By keeping gospel principles the family stays close together and close to God.  It is important that they stay together and learn correct principles in order to keep stay together.  If there is anything contrary to gospel standards those influences should be removed and kept out.  Strong Families build strong individuals.  Strong individuals build strong communities.  Strong communities build strong nations.  Protect the family, everything depends on that.

Learn the basic structure of the family by clicking here.

 

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is something I've found to be really difficult.  Sometimes I don't want to forgive this person because they offended or hurt me.  There are times I think it is totally unfair that they get away with it.  But when I think in such a way as that, I'm forgetting the blessings that follow Forgiveness.





Painting by Howard Lyon

There is a story in the New Testament where the Savior was confronted by the Pharisees with a woman caught in the act of Adultery.  In a possible attempt to trick Christ into saying something wrong, they asked what shall we do with this woman?  The response was simple and clear, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."  Condemned by guilt the priests walked away, beginning at the oldest to the youngest.  A woman who committed a great crime was promptly forgiven.  But what responsibility does that leave me?

 

We are all sinners, and have fallen short of the Glory of God.  But Christ enables us to be exalted so long as we repent and follow him through the Atonement.  However, some of us stop our own progression short.  Forgiveness is letting go of a burden we ourselves taken or others might have given.  It is letting go of the past and moving on with life.  Look at the picture above.  Notice how everyone on the right is carrying a red robe.  The woman is dropping hers.  The red robes represent sin.  The Pharisees are holding on to theirs.  Their pride is keeping them from enjoying the love of the Savior.  By being unforgiving is like holding onto that robe.  The Savior says it best when he asks, why do you judge your fellow men when you are no more perfect than them?

 

Forgiveness allows us to love our fellow men.  It helps us see the good in others and accepting them as part of God's family.  When we cease to find fault with our neighbor we put on a Mantle of Charity, and wish for their good rather than their punishment.  It uncovers our eyes enabling us to see their true self rather than their outward appearance.  If you really think about it, you don't need to forgive ANYONE.  But God does NOT need to give you ANY of the blessings you would receive if you did forgive.  So if you want God to bless you, or even forgive your wrongs, stop holding onto your hurt and move on.  Why? Because how we judge is how we will be judged in return (See also 3 Nephi 14:1).  It is not our place to judge but God.  Only he knows the truth behind everything.

 

Stop carrying your stones of hate, shed your robes of sin and hate, and put on a Mantle of Charity.  Stop finding fault with others and learn to love even your enemies.  The Savior did it and he had every reason not to.  But we are required to forgive and we are reward for each of our actions.  The speed of your progression is determined by how my rocks you have in your bag.  Lose those rocks and enjoy the journey.



 

 See how one man was able to forgive:

 

Christ Forgives: