Family Rules

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." - Articles of Faith, number 1

Since God is our Father then everyone else is a brother or a sister, and we're a huge family. Right? As a young dad trying to manage a small family of four, along with Jess, I can't even imagine what it must be like trying to manage such a large family.

Recommended Reading: "Our Relationship with the Lord"

Once again, speeches.byu.edu proves to be a gold mine.

This talk, Our Relationship with the Lord, by Elder Bruce R. McConkie is phenomenal. Much of the teaching we receive as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seems to be directed at certain needed applications of a or various gospel doctrines. In my opinion, it seems like fewer talks are focused singularly on teaching the underlying doctrines. This makes sense, because once a doctrine has been clearly taught and a correct understanding of the basics has been established, the main job is to then apply that teaching and live what we believe. Latter speeches help us apply the doctrine to our current circumstances and they refer back to and draw from the foundational, doctrine-focused remarks established previously to serve as a basis for their teaching. This talk by Elder McConkie serves, for me at least, as one of these rare talks that takes the time to establish very clearly the underlying doctrine, in this case, of the role of each member of the Godhead and of our relationship to them and each of them.

Therefore, I recommend it for your reading as well.

Text = http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6843&x=50&y=6
Audio = http://speeches-files.byu.edu/download.php/McConkie82.mp3?type=2&fname=McConkie82.mp3

Scripture Study Tool

Have you ever tried out Scriptures.BYU.edu? Jess and I love it. As you read through the scriptures and you find a verse that is meaningful to you, go to the BYU site and find the verse there. It will then tell you all the general conference talks (since the 1950's or so) that have ever cited that scripture as a reference.

Pretty cool.

Same-Gender Attraction

Do you know, clearly, how the prophets understand this issue?

In light of yesterday's ruling, I feel a need this morning to reiterate the invitation I made in my last post. Please take 30-minutes to review the Church's position - presented in the form of an interview with Elder Oaks and Elder Wickman - on and understanding of same-gender attraction.

Here's the link: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/same-gender-attraction

Inclinations, Feelings, and Behaviors

Visual of part of Elder Oaks' explanation on newsroom.lds.org

I recently read through the LDS Church's explanation of their position on and beliefs concerning same gender attraction. The article is great - I recommend it for everyone's review and consideration for two reasons.

Willingness to Receive Gifts

Seasonally, we're about as far away from Christmastime as you can get. So let me take the downtime to talk about what usually gets talked about at Christmas but perhaps gets overlooked (or "underconsidered") even then because of the hustle and bustle.

How do you feel about receiving gifts?

We often say it's better to give than to receive. My feeling is that we may say that so much that we could possibly begin to dislike receiving gifts, even emotionally "deny" them.

How do you feel about receiving gifts from heaven? How willing are you to receive? I think this question helps us understand the attribute of humility.

Do you deny them? Do you receive them grudgingly? Do you receive them with thanks? Do you ask for them regularly? Do you rely on them to get through the day?

These questions seem to represent a continuum between the proud and the humble. To be humble is to recognize your ultimate reliance upon the gifts from heaven (Moroni 10) and to ask for them regularly.

Formula for Success

Last month I referred to President Monson's "Formula for Success," primarily the first of his three suggested steps. I thought it would be worthwhile to speak to all three of the steps more explicitly, and share some of the thoughts I've had this week while I've been considering them.

The three steps President Monson recommends are

1. Fill your mind with truth
2. Fill your life with service
3. Fill your heart with love

June's Christlike Attribute: Hope

Understanding the scriptures engenders hope.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15: 4)

The Eyes of Our Understandings ... Were Opened

In referring to the reception of the February 1832 vision that he and Sidney Rigdon experienced (D&C 76), Joseph Smith described that it was "by the power of the Spirit" that their "eyes were opened and (their) understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God."

How cool is that? Who wouldn't enjoy that sort of experience? I can imagine that great peace was derived from having that enlightening comprehension.

So what did they do to qualify for this enlightenment, and could we possibly follow the same steps to increase our own comprehension? I've been able to identify a few things they did.

Strengthening Marriage

Today, Jess and I acted on a prompting my counselors and I had in last week's bishopric meeting: to speak to the adult ward members about what the prophets have taught about how to have a successful marriage.

Luckily she and I weren't left only to our own memory or experience. We drew most of our material from the Strengthening Marriage manual produced by LDS Family Services.

Other talks and quotes were drawn from the Eternal Marriage course text from the CES Religion 234 and 235 courses.

Another great resource provided by the Church is the Marriage and Family Relations Sunday school manual.

Our intent was to provide some practical suggestions from these manuals, supplemented with examples from our peers, to be implemented and habituated by the many newly-married couples in our ward while their marriages are just beginning. We also knew the content would potentially revitalize and redirect some of the less new marriages in the ward. Our hope is that the recommendations are taken a bite at a time, step by step, even though they were poured out pretty quickly.

What I didn't expect before the moment of speaking, was the insight that this discussion would lend to understanding the nature of God. I thought that was really cool. It helped me envision the true attributes of our perfected prototypes.

Joseph Smith revealed that, in heaven, the "same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy."

We will all be "gloriously" married in the eternities if we come unto Christ and keep our covenants. None of "enjoy" that now. Knowing that is our end, whether we're currently married or single, should direct our efforts of preparing for eternity.