Faith In The Family ~

Our entire family except for one additional Great Granddaughter and those who have joined our family through marriage as new grandchildren to us. 

 Today, I have been thinking about my family, both my own parents and brothers. I suppose the reason my thoughts turn to them often is that they are no longer here with me. Today is my oldest brother Mac's birthday. I hope that in the Spirit world, they still celebrate birthdays. Since my parents, my brother John and my brother Mac, and his dear wife Amparo, along with grandparents and other ancestors, it could be a spectacular birthday celebration.  

My family - My husband Roger and I,  my parents, Millan and Leone, my oldest brother Mac and Amparo, and my Sister in law, Gloria, and brother John. 

My dear husband and I are parents of Six married children, which means twelve children to me, and then thirty-two grandchildren. We have five Grandchildren married, so we have added five more Grandchildren in-law and one more next week. Wow, that means thirty-eight total. Then we have five precious great-grandchildren. Although we haven't been able to be with any of them very much due to Covid, when we do have a moment; we relish it. 

This coming week our Granddaughter, Sariah, is getting married to Alex in the Jordan River Temple on March 2nd. They have a reception planned the night before. We are feeling blessed that three of our sons and daughters-in-law and our two daughters and sons-in-laws will be here for that occasion. There will be various grandchildren that will be here too. I can hardly wait. 

In our faith, family comes first. Here are just a few reasons why! Here is the link to this list as found at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

 What is the purpose of a family?

Families are central to God’s plan for His children. They are the fundamental building block of strong societies. Families are where we can feel love and learn how to love others. Life is tough, and we need people we can lean on. Home is a safe haven where we can get love, advice, and support.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

In 1995, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an official statement about 

the importance of families. The document outlines the responsibilities of fathers and mothers 

and addresses key topics such as marriage, parenting, and etc. Read the entire text

here.

God is our Heavenly Father

Our family here on Earth is organized like our family in heaven. Much like we can go to our 
parents for advice, our Heavenly Father is always there to give us help. When we pray, He 

listens, and He answers.
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” —
Matthew 21:22
God loves us so much. He loves us even when we make mistakes, and He invites us with 
always open arms to return to Him. We glimpse our Heavenly Father’s perfect love for us in the

profound love many parents have for their children. We can all experience Heavenly Father’s 

love as we grow closer to Him, and we can share that love with our families.

Your Family Can Be Forever

Families are a big part of God’s plan for our happiness. We are born into a family. We aspire

to build strong family relationships. Home can be a place where we feel support, safety, and

love. God does not want family ties to end when we die. Because of temples, we can be 

reunited with our families in the next life. 

Till Death Do You Part?

When Latter-day Saints get married, they understand that marriage is meant to last forever.

Marriage ceremonies in temples contain the words “for time and all eternity,” not “till death do

you part.” But it isn’t the words that make eternal marriage possible—it’s the power of God. 

God’s Power to Join Together

In the Bible, Jesus gave the Twelve Apostles the sealing power, or sealing “keys.” That power 

meant that marriage, and many other wonderful blessings, could last forever. The “keys” lock 

the marriage together. Nothing can break that lock except unfaithfulness to spouse or to God.

The Bible teaches, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound 

in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). When God restored His Church through Joseph Smith, He also gave

him the sealing power. When couples are married in a temple, the person performing the 

ceremony has been given permission to use that power. 

Now you see why we have such a strong belief in families. "Families Can Be Forever!"