Whatsoever ye shall seal on earth, shall be sealed in heaven

                                                                                                                              

      In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we put alot of emphasis on the family.  It is my goal in this post to give the reasons why this is. 

    We believe that family life here is an extension of what life was like in the Pre-earth life.  We believe before we lived in this life we lived as spirits, as a part of our Heavenly Fathers family.  In Hebrews it talks about this relationship, it says "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Heb 12:9).  and also in Romans 8:16 is says "...We are the children of God." 

    Our Heavenly Father created a plan for us where we could come to the earth, and gain experience.  He sent us here in family units so we could experience joy. Our purpose in this life is to find lasting joy, peace and happiness in families and to prepare to return to live with God.  When Jesus Christ was on the earth he gave unto his apostle Peter the keys to seal families together for time and all eternity. "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt 16:19)

    Through the Restoration of the Gospel on the earth, we have these powers on the earth again to seal families together for time and all eternity.  In our Holy Temples this great power is manifested and families are eternally sealed. 

     This knowledge that family life is perpetuated far beyond this life is why we put such a great emphasis on family life here.  We are all striving to help eachother live the gospel and prepare to live together with our Father in Heaven forever.  We have recieved lots of guidance in these latter-days about how we can accomplish this.  Just 15 years ago, prophets and apostles announced "The Family: A proclamation to the world" This gives us alot of great counsel about the roles of family members, the importance of marriage, and the blessings of righteous family life.

      A couple of weeks ago, The Quinones family pictured below, made another step towards this great goal of theres to be sealed as a family.  Katy and Marina were baptized, and in a year from now they are going to go to the temple and be sealed as a family.  I am so excited for them to accomplish this goal.
                                                   

     I know that families truly can be together forever, I know that this knowledge can strenghten families and bring them peace and joy in this life.

Wearing the Jersey

                            

                                                           

         As you can tell from previous posts, I love sports!!  Bear with me as I talk once again on a sports topic.  When I first made the high school basketball team, I was so excited.  I have been playing competitive basketball all my young life, all in preparation to one day play high school ball.  I didn't know at first how special it was to be on the high school team though, until the day our coach gave us our jerseys.  He said there are hundreds of kids in this school that would do anything to wear that jersey.  One of our coaches was a former alumni of our school who also played for the basketball team.  He said, I bled and sweat, and put my heart into that jersey, don't take it for granite.  It was at this time that I really felt the honor of wearing that jersey.

        As we went on throughout the season, I always tried to remember these things.  I always tried to remember that what I did represented our school, whose name I bore on my chest throughout that season.  On the front of the jersey read "ALTA"  four simple letters that represented years of pride, respect, and honor.  I knew that I must live up to the expectations that came with wearing it.  

       This idea has come to me again but in a far greater way as I have been on my mission and studied the gospel, let me explain.     

             As we are baptized into Christ's church, we make certain covenants, or promises.  One of these is to "take upon us the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:8).  As I read this recently I thought back to my Jersey and how I took upon me the name of my high school and all that meant.  As I thought about taking upon me the name of Christ I realized it meant, taking upon me the responsibility to live up to the standard he set.  To try my best  to do and say as he would do and say.  To love and serve as he would love and serve.  This thought was a little overwhelming as I thought, I can never live up to that.  Then I remembered these reassuring words, 

"be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)

      Just like the High school jersey there are many people who desire this Jersey, and unlike in basketball where only a few can have it, Jesus Christ invites all to come.  It does come with a requirement, we must be willing "to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as a witness of god at all times..." (Mosiah 18:9)  

      "And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of god, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:9)

     May we all be faithful unto taking upon us the name of Christ, and doing all we can to bring honor to that name.