What a nice day Sunday was! The sun was shining, confirming that it was, in fact Summer. An absolutely beautiful baby was blessed (no pride there), and the Relief Society room was full. Pat and Ernie Suggs spoke about service - in our families, in our communities, and in the church. They are preparing to travel to China to teach English for a year this August.
Amber Molina gave another wonderful lesson. This week's message was: "The Family Can Be Eternal." One interesting observation by Chelsea Northam was that the Eternal plan seems to rely on pairs: two parents, two missionaries in companionships, two visiting teachers, two home teachers, etc. I was thinking that we also have our individual partnership with Heavenly Father - we are never truly tasked with traveling through mortality alone, without assistance. (My sister leaned over and whispered to me that she didn't really need to have 5 kids then; she could have stopped with 2!)
All of our efforts to raise eternal families hinge on the sealing ordinance of Eternal Marriage. Heather Schroeder shared her experience being raised in the gospel, 'expecting' to be sealed in the temple when she got married, and how we can take that for granted. When she and her husband were married and sealed, her husband said, "Now I'm finally sealed to someone!" He had been waiting for that experience and ordinance his whole life. Shouldn't we each feel that way?
Amber asked this question: "What are you doing to have an Eternal Family?" Here are the key areas that we were counseled to focus on:
1. Hold Family Prayer every morning and night. (Traci Suggs: "On Sundays, we had to kiss each other at the end of family prayer." Suzi Hines: "Traci, you are lucky. We had to kiss every day, and I had to kiss my brother.")
2. Hold regular Family Home Evening. FHE looks different for each family - but it still needs to happen. I loved the comment that reminded us that it's an entire 'Evening.' Not just the 30 minutes it takes to get through a lesson or make ice cream sundaes. We devote an entire day to the Sabbath; we can devote an evening to our families.
3. Study the scriptures together. I know that the Suggs family reads scriptures right after dinner every night faithfully; no matter who's at the table. That's a great tip - everyone has to eat!
4. Make big decisions together. Even the hard ones. This builds a bond of unity and hopefully helps everyone to feel vested in the outcome.
5. Church attendance.
6. Prepare a family history. The spirit of Elijah promises that the hearts of the children will turn to their fathers, and visa versa, if we work on our genealogy.
7. Do Temple Work together. There is nothing more rewarding than to be in the temple with your children.
8. Work to have your family sealed for eternity - whatever it takes. And then find ways to remind one another that you have that common goal. My sister has a family motto hanging in a prominent place in their home with a picture of the Portland temple that says "Our Family Can Be Together Forever. Will You do Your Part Today?"
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