The plan of salvation is often taught with what happens with one person in each stage than we live happily ever after with our families in the celestial kingdom. It is in the Families we are born in and the ones we create that helps us reach our celestial goals.
"In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter." Elder Russell M. Nelson
From the Proclamation
- “All human beings…are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents…and…each has a divine nature and destiny.”
- “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identify and purpose.”
- “…His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection.”
- “…His children could…ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.”
- “The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave.”
- “Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”
Let review the plan below.
( Extended learning pages 47-54. You will find scriptures and more information on the Plan of Salvation)
I want to focus how the families we are born into and the ones we create help us get to the celestial kingdom.
The family is ordained of God. It is the most important unit in time and in eternity. Even before we were born on the earth, we were part of a family. Each of us “is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents” with “a divine nature and destiny” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). God is our Heavenly Father, and we lived in His presence as part of His family in the pre mortal life. There we learned our first lessons and were prepared for mortality (see D&C 138:56). (source)
Before we were born we lived with our heavenly parents in a family. They were sealed as husband and wife and created our spirits. Our spirits or ourselves where created with a gender. Each gender has innate traits that complement the opposite and help nurture and teach their offspring. God did not create the pattern of families. It is an eternal pattern.
Because God wants us to learn and grow like he did he created a way we can by following the plan of salvation. When we gain mortal bodies we are given an awesome power to create and bring children into the world. By doing so we are working with God to bring his children to earth. We are taking part in a Godly act. The blessing of children helps us understand our relationship with Heavenly Father better and who he is. It also helps refine ourselves in our eternal goal to be like him.
The nature of male and female spirits is such that they complete each other. Men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation.
The Role of Families in God’s Plan
"The creation of the earth, the fall of Adam, and the atonement of Christ are essential elements or pillars in the Father's plan for progression and development of his children- both individuals and as families...These three doctrinal pillars of the plan of salvation are intimately involved in the creation of new eternal families and their extension into eternities (Bateman,1998,p.26)
When God created the earth he also created bodies for man. Adam and Eve where the first on this earth. They choose to obey Gods first commandment to them to create children. Through the means of birth we are able to obtain bodies. Ourselves get married and have children.
The ideal environment the Lord wants us to grow in is in the family. In the family we are faced with opposition which can bring growth.
"The creation of the earth, the fall of Adam, and the atonement of Christ are essential elements or pillars in the Father's plan for progression and development of his children- both individuals and as families...These three doctrinal pillars of the plan of salvation are intimately involved in the creation of new eternal families and their extension into eternities (Bateman,1998,p.26)
When God created the earth he also created bodies for man. Adam and Eve where the first on this earth. They choose to obey Gods first commandment to them to create children. Through the means of birth we are able to obtain bodies. Ourselves get married and have children.
The ideal environment the Lord wants us to grow in is in the family. In the family we are faced with opposition which can bring growth.
"As
part of our Heavenly Father’s plan, we were born into families. He
established families to bring us happiness, to help us learn correct
principles in a loving atmosphere, and to prepare us for eternal life.
Parents
have the vital responsibility to help their children prepare to return
to Heavenly Father. Parents fulfill this responsibility by teaching
their children to follow Jesus Christ and live His gospel." (source)
When we are married and have children we are doing what our Father in Heaven does. He is a husband and a Father. This is his main purpose to pattern our lives after his so we too can gain exhalation.
What does it mean to you to know that being a Husband and a Father is the main work of our Heavenly Father?
Read these talks for additional learning
The Great Plan of Happiness
Salvation a Family Affair
Teaching the Doctrine of the family
Resources
Hawkins Chapter 32: “The Eternal Family: A Plain and Precious Part of the Plan of Salvation”. Successful Marriage and Families 2012, Brigham Young University
Ezra Taft Benson's address: “Salvation--A Family Affair”, Ensign, July 1992, 2.
When we are married and have children we are doing what our Father in Heaven does. He is a husband and a Father. This is his main purpose to pattern our lives after his so we too can gain exhalation.
What does it mean to you to know that being a Husband and a Father is the main work of our Heavenly Father?
Read these talks for additional learning
The Great Plan of Happiness
Salvation a Family Affair
Teaching the Doctrine of the family
Resources
Hawkins Chapter 32: “The Eternal Family: A Plain and Precious Part of the Plan of Salvation”. Successful Marriage and Families 2012, Brigham Young University
Ezra Taft Benson's address: “Salvation--A Family Affair”, Ensign, July 1992, 2.
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