Family, isn't it about time!

 

One of the very first principles of the gospel that missionaries share with a new investigators is that the family is ordained of God and central to His plan for us here on Earth. 

Preach My Gospel states, "Because families are ordained of God, they are the most important social unit in time and in eternity. God has established families to bring happiness to His children, allow them to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and prepare them for eternal life."

Recently I asked a new investigator of ours why she thought the family was so important. The spirit bore testimony to me of the truths she spoke. She said, "Jesus Christ has to be at the very center of our lives and our family is the supporting circle that surrounds Him." I can testify of that happiness that comes from a family that was structured this way.

On Sunday I was blessed with the opportunity to call my family for Mother's Day. Almost 11 months to the day since I had seen them and I couldn't love them anymore! My only niece, little Payton Jane was center stage as the video chat connected. She was a little shy at first but quickly warmed up to tell me all about her small world. The neighborhood kangaroo is sick (yes we have a neighborhood kangaroo) and she was terribly worried about him. She told me about everything from her pony ride to her "pretties" in her hair. 

 

As the time wore on we had the opportunity to turn the conversation towards the gospel and we began to share our testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His love for our family. The spirit was there in abundance as together my family built that supporting circle around Jesus Christ.  Whether we were sitting around the dinner table or around a camp fire, I've always been blessed to have that strength in my life.

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." -Gordon B. Hinckley

I am grateful to belong to a family that exemplifies what President Hinckley said. I know my life has been blessed as we focused on principles of faith, had regular prayer and scripture study, and participated in "Family Home EVENING not Family Home hour". We've loved, and fought, and learned and played our way through a complicated world, but each of us knew that the walls of our own home could be a sanctuary from it all. A holy place.