Gospel Principles
Unit 8: Family Salvation
Chapter 36: The Family Can Be Eternal
Comments and Resources

"Our associations (family) are not exclusively intended for this life...  We live for time and eternity... who are there besides the Latter-day Saints who contemplate the thought that beyond the grave we will continue in the family organization?"  (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 277.) 

"Among the saints the family is the basic unit of the Church and of society, and its needs and preservation in righteousness take precedence over all other things.  True family organization is patriarchal in nature; it is patterned after that organization which exist in heaven. (Ephesians 3:15)....

"Eternal families have their beginning in celestial marriage here in mortality...By obedience to the laws of the gospel, Latter-day Saints families begin here and now to enjoy much of that peace, joy, love, and charity which will be enjoyed in eternal fullness in the exalted family unit"  (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 273).



During the study of this topic we will learn that the family can be eternal.

Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 36.
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 14
The Articles of Faith, Chapter 24, pp. 442-446

Scriptures :
3 Nephi 17:1-3
  1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand. 
  2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. 
  3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again. 

D&C 68:25-28; 131:1-4; 132
D&C 68:25-28
  25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. 
  26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized. 
  27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands. 
  28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. 

D&C 131:1-4
  1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 
  2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; 
  3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. 
  4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase. 

D&C 132   
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, as also plurality of wives. HC 5: 501 507. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831. 
1-6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7-14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15-20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21-25, The strait and narrow way that leads to eternal lives; 26-27, Law given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28-39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation made to prophets and saints in all ages; 40-47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48-50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51-57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58-66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set for

Official Declaration -1  

Psalms 127:3-5
  3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 
  4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 
  5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. 

Mark 10:2-16
  2  And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 
  3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 
  4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 
  5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 
  6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 
  7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 
  8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 
  9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 
  10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 
  11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 
  12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. 
  13  And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 
  14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 
  15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 
  16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. 

Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-9
Ephesians 5:21-33
  21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 
  22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 
  23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 
  24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 
  25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 
  26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
  27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 
  28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 
  29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 
  30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 
  31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 
  32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 
  33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 

Ephesians 6:1-9
  1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 
  2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 
  3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 
  4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
  5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 
  6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 
  7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 
  8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 
  9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. 


Abraham 5:14-18
  14 And the Gods said: Let us make an help meet for the man, for it is not good that the man should be alone, therefore we will form an help meet for him. 
  15 And the Gods caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and they took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof; 
  16 And of the rib which the Gods had taken from man, formed they a woman, and brought her unto the man. 
  17 And Adam said: This was bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; now she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man; 
  18 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh


Topical Guide:
               Family, Children, Duties of
               Family, Children, Responsibilities toward
               Family, Eternal,
               Family, Love within
               Family, Patriarchal
               Honoring Father and Mother
               Marriage, Celestial
               Marriage, Continuing Courtship in
               Marriage, Fatherhood
               Marriage, Motherhood
               Parent
			   
Bible Dictionary:
                  Family
                  Marriage
                  Patriarch, Patriarchs


Concept 1: Introduction

'The first family on earth was established by our Heavenly Father when he gave Eve to Adam in marriage. 

Moses 3:21-24
"21. And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and I took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof;
22. And the rib which I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23. And Adam said: This I know now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.
24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh."

Since then, each of us has been commanded to marry and have children so that through our own experience we can learn to be heavenly parents.  President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours.  The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them.  Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever.  What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents (see chapter 2, "Our Heavenly Family").'



Concept 2: The Importance of Families

'After Heavenly Father gave Eve to Adam, he commanded them to have children 

Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

 He revealed that one of the purposes of marriage is to provide mortal bodies for his spirit children.  Parents are partners with our Heavenly Father.  He wants each of his spirit children to receive a physical body and to experience earth life.  When a man and a woman bring children into this world, they help our Heavenly Father carry out his plan.

Every new child should be welcomed into the family with gladness.  Each is a child of God.  We should take time to enjoy our children, to play with them, and to teach them.

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, Apr. 1963, p. 252).  At home, with our families, we can learn self-control, sacrifice, loyalty, and the value of work.  We can learn to love, to share, and to serve one another.

Fathers and mothers are responsible to teach their children about Heavenly Father.  They should show by example that they love him because they keep his commandments.  Parents should also teach their children to pray and to obey the commandments.

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Discussion

Why did the Lord give us families?  Why is the home the best place to prepare for eternal life?'



Concept 3: The Eternal Family

'Families can be together forever.  To enjoy this blessing we must be married in the temple.  When people are married outside the temple, the marriage ends when one of the partners dies.  When we are married in the temple by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we are married for time and eternity.  Death cannot separate us.  If we obey the commandments of the Lord, our families will be together forever as husband, wife, and children.

Discussion

What must we do to make our families eternal?'



Concept 4: Loving Family Relationships

'Husbands and wives should be thoughtful and kind to each other.  They should never do or say anything to hurt each other's feelings.  They should also try to do everything possible to make each other happy.

Parents are to teach children to love one another.  In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin explained:

"Ye will not suffer your children . . . [to] fight and quarrel one with another. . . .

"But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another" (Mosiah 4:14-15).

As family members we can help each other feel confident by giving encouragement and sincere praise.  Each child should feel important.  Parents need to show they are interested in what their children do and express love and concern for their children.  Children should likewise show their love for their parents.  They should be obedient and try to live the kind of life that will bring honor to their parents and to their family name.

Discussion

Ephesians 4:29-32. 
"29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 
30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 
31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 
32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?'



Concept 5: How to Have a Successful Family

''President Harold B. Lee taught, "The most important of the Lord's work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home." (Strengthening the Home [pamphlet, 1973], p. 7).

The following story illustrates this point:

After performing a temple marriage ceremony, President Spencer W. Kimball greeted the parents of the young couple.  One of the fathers said, "My wife and I are common people, and have never been successful, but we are very proud of our family."  The father explained that all eight of his children had now been married in the temple.  All are faithful and serve in the Church, teaching the gospel in their families.

President Kimball looked at the calloused hands and wrinkled face of the father and said: "That is the greatest success story I have heard. . . .  You are fulfilling the purpose for which you were sent to this world by keeping your own lives righteous, bearing and rearing this great family, and training them in faith.  Why, my dear folks, you are very successful.  God bless you" (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1971, pp. 152-53; or Ensign, Dec. 1971, pp. 37-38).

Satan knows how important families are to our Heavenly Father's plan.  He seeks to destroy them by keeping us from drawing near to the Lord.  He will tempt us to do things that will draw our families apart.

All of us want to have happy, successful families.  The following things will help us achieve this:

1. Have family prayer every night and morning.  3 Nephi 18:21 "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed."

2. Teach children the gospel by meeting together as a family at least once a week to study gospel principles.  "There shouldn't be--there mustn't be--one family in this Church that doesn't take the time to read from the scriptures every day" (H. Burke Peterson, in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, p. 79; or Ensign, May 1975, pp. 53-54).

3. Do things together as a family, such as work projects, outings, and decision making.

4. Kneel together as husband and wife each night in prayer.

5. Learn to be kind, patient, long-suffering, and charitable. 
 
Moroni 7:45-48
"45. And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
 46. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--
 47. But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
 48. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

6. Attend church meetings regularly.  
D&C 59:9-10
 "9. And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
 10. For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;"

7. Follow the counsel of the Lord in D&C 88:119: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

8. Keep a family history and gather family genealogy.

The family is the most important unit in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The Church exists to help families gain eternal blessings and exaltation.  The organizations and programs within the Church are designed to strengthen us individually and help us live as families forever.

Discussion

What can we do to have a successful family?  As a family, decide which principles to work on during the weeks ahead.

Additional Scriptures
Moses 2:27-28 (man and woman created and blessed)
27: And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them.
28: And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 2:24 (man to cleave unto his wife)
24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

D&C 49:15-16 (God ordained marriage)
15: And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man.
16: Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;

Ephesians 6:4 (train children in righteousness)
4: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

D&C 132:15-21 (eternal marriage)
  15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world. 
  16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. 
  17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever. 
  18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God. 
  19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. 
  20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. 
  21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory. 


D&C 88:119-126 (instructions for a successful family)
  119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; 
  120 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High. 
  121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings. 
  122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. 
  123 See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. 
  124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. 
  125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. 
  126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen. '
er and ever. 
  20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. 
  21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory. 


D&C 88:119-126 (instructions for a successful family)
  119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; 
  120 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High. 
  121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings. 
  122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. 
  123 See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. 
  124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. 
  125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. 
  126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen. '



-----------------
Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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