Family Matters: For Time and All Eternity

Finding time for regular scripture study is a real challenge for most parents like us, but with heaven's help, inspirations and creative preparations, we can excite the entire family and make gospel study a habit.  In our early morning family devotional at the beach today, we had a spiritual experience appreciating the beauty of the earth and the creations. We also had a deeper understanding of what it means to “have dominion … over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”. We had the opportunity to discuss how our family can fulfill our responsibility to care for the earth and each one bore their testimony of God's love through His creations. We are grateful for the ocean breeze, soft sand, rolling waves, the sun that gives us warmth and light and for our wonderful bodies that we can work, play, have fun and rest.   Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have shown great love for us by providing for all of our needs.

President Russel M. Nelson taught that Adam and Eve were joined together in marriage for time and for all eternity by the power of the everlasting priesthood.  I am grateful for the daily companionship study with Anatolin, whom I knelt at the altar in the house of the Lord 16 years ago. Learning and studying together, facing challenges together and overcoming them as one, growing in love and understanding, and through temple ordinances, bound together as one whole, eternally. Truly, seeking a marriage and family that will last throughout eternity is one of the greatest pursuits of mortality.

Everyday, we wake up before sunrise. As we study Genesis 1st this morning and witness the sunrise, we can say with gratitude, wonderment, and awe that indeed, “all things which God had made were very good”!  Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “Whatever the details of the creation process, we know that it was not accidental but that it was directed by God the Father and implemented by Jesus Christ”.  We are grateful to experience feelings of reverent awe as we give thoughtful consideration to what the gift of the Creation means to us.