In just a few days, many of us across the blogosphere will begin a two-week celebration of Family. I have been thinking about Family for quite some time now in preparation for this event...and then some. And I have a few things I'd like to share with you before that all gets underway.
First of all, I have a testimony that the Family unit is the way that our Heavenly Father has organized his children to experience life, to learn to love, and to help each other return to Him.
I believe in The Family Proclamation and all of its plain and simple goodness.
I believe that the doctrine of the family is a core piece of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
in its fullness, and that it applies to everyone.
It's possible that I have never believed in anything more completely.
As a Mother, I stand for the Family Proclamation as I stand in my home each day, surrounded by my children, supported by a loving husband. I consider it my great honor to do so, even in my imperfect attempts.
My feelings are tender this evening, as I write this post. I have been blessed to experience the joys of family, but I know that not all families do. Many people experience pain and misgivings in family...even criticism and abuse. There is great sadness in the world today, doled out by parents to children and by children to previous generations and every other combination in between.
This is not what God intends for us. We are meant for better. God, our Heavenly Father, wants us to live together in peace, to love and serve one another, and to see each other as He sees us.
I believe that He will help us do that, even in the face of the very complicated and messy challenges that all families encounter in this life! I believe that He has the whole world, which includes, most especially, the very imperfect family of man, in His hands.
I look to the principles of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" to help me overcome the challenges and obstacles that I face in my family, and I hope that you will too.
To discover the truths found in this inspired document, click here to read it for yourself.
What a GREAT photo of you and the kids. I love it.
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Amen. :)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you shared in your testimony that not everyone has the ideal family but can start now by following the principles and guidelines in the Proclamation. The principles (even if only one is adopted) can change generations.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you...families can be heaven on earth!
ReplyDeleteLovely testimony, Jocelyn!
ReplyDeleteI experienced that other option that is not good for families today where I work. It's making me not like my job. I have compassion fatigue. This family is LDS, but don't live their religion they way they should. I wish for that good part you wrote about for me. I really do. It's good to know people are able to do it- to really live it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that beautiful testimony. We really are meant for better, as you say:)
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree! My family means so, so much to me. Putting into my babies the biblical knowledge they need to combat the secular views this world has...showing God's love to my family first helps me realize there are other people out there that don't have what we have, like you mentioned...
ReplyDeleteShare love, and compassion...
Thank you for this post!
Lovely post, could really feel your tender feelings.
ReplyDeleteI love how you live your faith and your belief "on your sleeve" and I sure do appreciate your testimony! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDid you see that the Ensign is all about marriage and family this month? I am sure you did ;) Excited for the family feature marathon posts!!!
-CK