Lds Talks on the Plan of Salvation and Families

"Chapter i: The Family Is Key to the Plan of Salvation," Introduction to Family History Student Transmission (2012), iii–11

Introduction

In the premortal globe you were a fellow member of Heavenly Father'southward family. Now you lot are a member of an additional family, a mortal family unit. Considering of Heavenly Father'southward plan of conservancy, it is possible for yous to become like Him. It is also possible to secure your mortal family in an eternal bail, allowing you to be together as a family after death. This chapter focuses on the importance of individuals and families and their potential in the plan of salvation. Every bit y'all study this chapter, you will gain a deeper agreement of the eternal significance of the family unit and its role in Heavenly Father's programme of salvation. This knowledge will assist y'all lay the foundation for doing family history piece of work and resist worldly efforts to minimize the importance of the family and to disregard individual worth.

Commentary

"The Worth of Souls Is Neat in the Sight of God" [ane.1]

The Atonement of Jesus Christ helps the states understand our worth in the sight of God.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ helps usa understand our worth in the sight of God. [1.1.1]

Elder 1000. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how the worth of each person is all-time understood through the Amende of Jesus Christ:

"I believe that if we could truly sympathize the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I believe our Heavenly Father's everlasting purpose for His children is more often than not accomplished by the pocket-sized and elementary things we practice for one another. At the heart of the English language word atonement is the word ane. If all mankind understood this, at that place would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. …

"If nosotros truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would assist them to know of the dearest Christ has for them. We would exercise all that nosotros can to help set them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel. …

"Brothers and sisters, never, never underestimate how precious is the one" (in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, 88–89; or Ensign, May 2004, 86–87).

"The worth of a soul is its chapters to go every bit God." [i.1.2]

President Thomas Due south. Monson related an experience when he was reminded of the worth of a soul:

"Paul C. Child, so of the Priesthood Welfare Committee, and I attended a stake conference together. At the priesthood leadership session, when it was his plough to speak, he took his scriptures in mitt and walked from the stand into the congregation. … He quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, including section 18 concerning the worth of a soul, indicating that we should labor all our days to bring souls unto the Lord. He then turned to one elders quorum president and asked, 'What is the worth of a soul?'

"The stunned quorum president hesitated as he formulated his reply. I had a prayer in my heart that he would be able to reply the question. He finally responded, 'The worth of a soul is its chapters to become every bit God.'

"Blood brother Kid airtight his scriptures, walked solemnly and quietly up the aisle and dorsum to the stand. Every bit he passed by me, he said, 'A most profound reply'" (in Conference Written report, April. 2006, 58; or Ensign, May 2006, 56).

We do not lose value to God. [1.1.3]

Sin, discouragement, a view of our own weaknesses, and a multitude of other factors can sometimes bring the states to question our value in the sight of God. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Offset Presidency used a simple analogy to teach that our trials and challenges in this life do not cause us to lose value in the sight of our Father in Heaven:

"We know from modern revelation that 'the worth of souls is peachy in the sight of God' [D&C 18:10]. We cannot gauge the worth of another soul whatever more than we can measure the bridge of the universe. Every person we run across is a VIP [very important person] to our Heavenly Begetter. Once nosotros understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.

"Ane woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, 'I take come up to realize that I am similar an erstwhile 20-dollar beak—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Fifty-fifty though I may not look similar much and even though I accept been battered and used, I am all the same worth the total 20 dollars'" (in Conference Report, April. 2010, 70; or Ensign, May 2010, 69).

Before Our Birth, We Lived in the Premortal World [one.2]

Nosotros prepared for life on earth. [one.2.i]

Elderberry L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles summarized conditions and central events of our premortal life:

"What occurred in this first estate is dimly understood, simply we exercise know that we lived there as spirits, children of our Heavenly Father, and we made certain steps of advancement to prepare for the opportunity of housing our eternal spirits in earthly bodies. We likewise know that our Father held a smashing quango to explain the purpose of earth life. We had the opportunity of accepting or rejecting the plan of salvation. It was not forced upon the states. The essence of the plan was that homo would take an opportunity of working out his own conservancy on world, with God's help. A leader was selected to teach us how to follow the plan and to redeem us from sin and decease. As the Lord explained to Moses, 'Behold, my Dearest Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the outset, said unto me—Father, thy will be washed, and the glory exist thine forever' (Moses 4:ii).

"Jesus Christ, our Elder Brother, became the leader in advocating the program designed by the Begetter, and we accepted the program and its conditions. With that choice nosotros earned the correct to come to globe and enter our second manor" (in Conference Report, Oct. 2006, 74; or Ensign, Nov. 2006, lxx).

Premortal life gives meaning to mortality. [one.2.2]

Many persons on earth are confused well-nigh life's purposes considering they lack essential spiritual knowledge. President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how knowledge of our premortal life clarifies our perspectives on mortality and the purpose of life:

"There is no manner to make sense out of life without a noesis of the doctrine of premortal life.

"The idea that mortal nativity is the beginning is preposterous. There is no mode to explain life if you believe that.

"The notion that life ends with mortal decease is ridiculous. At that place is no style to face life if you believe that.

"When nosotros empathize the doctrine of premortal life, and then things fit together and brand sense. Nosotros and then know that little boys and little girls are not monkeys, nor are their parents, nor were theirs, to the very beginning generation.

"We are the children of God, created in his image.

"Our child-parent relationship to God is clear.

"The purpose for the creation of this world is clear.

"The testing that comes in bloodshed is clear.

"The need for a redeemer is clear" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1983, 22; or Ensign, November. 1983, 18).

In the premortal world we all lived every bit honey spirit children of Heavenly Father.

In the Premortal Life We Lived equally Spirit Children of Heavenly Parents [1.3]

We are spirit children of heavenly parents. [1.3.1]

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that we began our existence as children of heavenly parents: "The gospel teaches united states that we are the spirit children of heavenly parents. Earlier our mortal nascency we had 'a pre-existent, spiritual personality, as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father' (statement of the First Presidency, Improvement Era, Mar. 1912, p. 417; too come across Jeremiah 1:5)" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 96; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles added these details virtually our premortal family: "We worship the great God who created the universe. He is our Begetter in heaven. We came into being considering of him; we are his spirit children. We dwelt with him in a premortal life in a family relationship. Nosotros knew him as intimately and every bit well as we know our mortal fathers in this sphere of beingness" (How to Worship, Brigham Immature University Speeches of the Yr [July 20, 1971], 2).

The family unit is eternal. [one.3.two]

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that our understanding of the doctrine of the family begins with the knowledge that we lived in Heavenly Father's family in the premortal life:

"The doctrine of the family begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them. The Apostle Paul taught that God is the male parent of our spirits (run across Hebrews 12:9). From the declaration nosotros read, 'In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Begetter and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a concrete body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.' …

"From the earliest beginnings, God established the family and made it eternal" (in Briefing Report, Oct. 1996, 86; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 64).

You predictable being born into a family. [ane.iii.3]

Elderberry Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of our anticipation and joy at the prospect of being born into a family in mortality: "Yous anticipated beingness built-in into a home where parents would be expected to love, nurture, strengthen, and teach you truths. You lot knew that in time you would have the opportunity to form your own eternal family as husband or wife, male parent or female parent. Oh, how you must have rejoiced at that prospect" (in Briefing Report, Apr. 2001, 5; or Ensign, May 2001, 6).

Mortality Is a Time for Us to Be Tested and Prepare to Encounter God [1.four]

It is necessary to receive a physical body. [1.4.one]

In the premortal earth we knew that information technology was necessary to receive a physical torso and feel mortality in order to progress toward becoming like our Heavenly Begetter. Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained: "We had progressed as far as we could without a concrete trunk and an feel in mortality. To realize a fulness of joy, we had to prove our willingness to keep the commandments of God in a circumstance where we had no memory of what preceded our mortal nativity" (in Briefing Report, Oct. 1993, 97; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72).

Nosotros eagerly awaited mortality. [ane.4.ii]

President Spencer Westward. Kimball (1895–1985) explained that in the premortal world we were each willing to come to the earth to be tested: "We knew before we were born that we were coming to the earth for bodies and feel and that nosotros would have joys and sorrows, ease and pain, comforts and hardships, health and sickness, successes and disappointments, and we knew also that later a menses of life we would die. We accustomed all these eventualities with a glad heart, eager to take both the favorable and unfavorable. Nosotros eagerly accepted the chance to come earthward even though information technology might be for only a day or a year. Possibly nosotros were not then much concerned whether we should dice of disease, of blow, or of senility. We were willing to take life as it came and equally we might organize and command it" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 20).

Mortal life is full of challenges. [1.4.3]

Elder Richard G. Scott taught that we were excited about the opportunity to come to globe:

"One of the most exhilarating moments of your life—when you were filled with apprehension, excitement, and gratitude—you are non able to remember. That experience occurred in the premortal life when you were informed that finally your time had come up to get out the spirit globe to dwell on earth with a mortal torso.

"You lot knew you could learn through personal experience the lessons that would bring happiness on earth—lessons that would somewhen lead you lot to exaltation and eternal life as a glorified, celestial existence in the presence of your Holy Male parent and His Beloved Son.

"You understood that there would exist challenges, for you would alive in an environment of both righteous and evil influences. Yet surely you lot resolved that no matter what the toll, no matter what the effort, suffering, and testing, y'all would render victorious.

"You had been reserved to come when the fulness of the gospel is on earth. You arrived when His Church and the priesthood say-so to perform the sacred temple ordinances are in identify" (in Conference Study, April. 2001, five; or Ensign, May 2001, 6).

Families Are Fundamental to Heavenly Father's Plan for Our Mortal Life [1.v]

The plan of salvation was created for families. [1.5.1]

Sister Julie B. Beck, who served as Relief Gild general president, taught that the family was an intentional office of God'due south plan from the beginning:

"In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we accept a theology of the family unit that is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. The Cosmos of the earth provided a place where families could live. God created a man and a woman who were the two essential halves of a family. It was part of Heavenly Male parent's plan that Adam and Eve be sealed and grade an eternal family.

"The Fall provided a fashion for the family to grow. Adam and Eve were family leaders who chose to take a mortal experience. The Fall fabricated information technology possible for them to have sons and daughters.

"The Atonement allows for the family to be sealed together eternally. Information technology allows for families to accept eternal growth and perfection. The plan of happiness, also chosen the programme of salvation, was a programme created for families" ("Teaching the Doctrine of the Family unit," Ensign, Mar. 2011, 12).

We all eagerly awaited nascency into a mortal family.

Important lessons are learned through family relationships. [1.5.two]

Though doctrinal truths can be learned in many environments, President Boyd K. Packer taught that he learned important truths from being a member of a family:

"I have studied much in the scriptures and have taught from them. I accept read much from what the prophets and apostles have spoken. They have had a profound influence upon me as a man and as a father.

"But about of what I know about how our Male parent in Heaven really feels well-nigh us, His children, I have learned from the way I feel almost my married woman and my children and their children. This I have learned at home. I accept learned information technology from my parents and from my wife's parents, from my love wife and from my children, and I can therefore testify of a loving Heavenly Father and of a redeeming Lord" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 30; or Ensign, November. 1998, 24).

The greatest happiness comes through families. [1.5.iii]

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) emphasized the central nature of the family by pointing out that our greatest happiness and joy comes through families: "God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns 1 for another as fathers and mothers and children" (in Briefing Written report, Apr. 1991, 98; or Ensign, May 1991, 74).

The family pattern comes from God. [1.v.4]

Expert families are the ideal models. No affair what your family background, you accept the opportunity and the ability to set for a futurity that will include a gospel-centered family. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered the post-obit counsel to those who come from a less than ideal family:

"I hope … you understand why we talk about the pattern, the ideal, of matrimony and family when we know total well that not anybody now lives in that ideal circumstance. It is precisely considering many don't have, or peradventure take never fifty-fifty seen, that ideal and because some cultural forces steadily movement united states abroad from that ideal, that we speak nearly what our Father in Heaven wishes for us in His eternal programme for His children.

"Individual adaptations take to be fabricated as marital status and family unit circumstances differ. Merely all of u.s. can hold on the pattern as it comes from God, and nosotros tin can strive for its realization the best mode we tin" ("General Patterns and Specific Lives," Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, February. 9, 2008, 3).

Post-obit concrete expiry, nosotros all enter the spirit world.

Physical Death Is Not the End of Our Existence [1.half dozen]

Expiry is function of Heavenly Father's plan. [ane.6.1]

The Church has published on the Cyberspace this concise explanation of life later on death: "From an earthly perspective, physical death may seem similar an finish, though information technology is really a footstep forward in Heavenly Father's programme. At the time of physical decease, your spirit will exit your body and go to the spirit earth, where you will continue to learn and progress. In the spirit globe, your memories of this life and the knowledge you lot take gained on Earth will remain with yous.

"Death will not modify your personality or your desire for proficient or evil. If you cull to follow Jesus Christ during your life on Earth, yous volition exist at peace in the spirit world. Those who cull not to follow Christ and practise non repent volition be unhappy.

"Heavenly Father knew that many of His children would never have an opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ during their lives and that others would choose not to follow Him. Because He loves His children and is just, God provided a mode for those in the spirit world to learn about His plan, accept faith in Jesus Christ, and repent. Those who cull to accept and follow Jesus Christ will have peace and rest.

"Sometime after your death, your spirit and your body will be reunited—never to be separated once more. This reuniting is called resurrection, and it was made possible past the decease and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. You will remain in the spirit earth until you lot are resurrected" ("Life subsequently Expiry," http://old.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/heavenly-father-s-programme-of-happiness/life-after-death; run across too The Program of Salvation [pamphlet, 2005], 12).

In Our Heavenly Male parent's Plan, Families Are Meant to Be Eternal [1.7]

The plan of happiness enables families to be eternal. [1.7.1]

The Outset Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared the doctrine of the eternal nature of the family: "The divine program of happiness enables family relationships to exist perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants bachelor in holy temples make it possible for individuals to render to the presence of God and for families to exist united eternally" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the Globe," Ensign, November. 2010, 129).

No sacrifice is besides slap-up to have an eternal family. [1.vii.2]

Elder Russell Thou. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the neat joy that comes through eternal families:

"Are all our sympathies and love for each other simply temporary—to be lost in death? No! Can family life endure beyond this menstruation of mortal probation? Yes! God has revealed the eternal nature of celestial marriage and the family unit as the source of our greatest joy.

"Brethren and sisters, material possessions and honors of the globe practice not endure. But your union as married woman, hubby, and family tin. The but elapsing of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the homo soul is forever. No cede is too great to have the blessings of an eternal spousal relationship. To authorize, i needs just to deny oneself of ungodliness and honour the ordinances of the temple. By making and keeping sacred temple covenants, we bear witness our love for God, for our companion, and our real regard for our posterity—even those notwithstanding unborn. Our family is the focus of our greatest piece of work and joy in this life; so volition information technology be throughout all eternity" (in Conference Report, October. 2001, 86; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 71).

Sacred covenants enable families to be eternal. [1.seven.3]

President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught that making and keeping covenants is essential for families to continue in the next life: "We believe that families may continue in the next life if they accept kept the special covenants made in one of the sacred temples nether the say-so of God. We believe that our deceased ancestors tin likewise be eternally united with their families when we make covenants in their behalf in the temples. Our deceased forebears may accept these covenants, if they choose to practice so, in the spirit globe" (in Briefing Study, Oct. 2003, 58; or Ensign, Nov. 2003, 54).

Families are meant to exist eternal.

An eternal family is possible. [ane.7.4]

President Henry B. Eyring of the Kickoff Presidency testified that with the help of Heavenly Begetter, each of us can attain our highest potential in His plan of salvation:

"Eternal life means to get like the Father and to live in families in happiness and joy forever, so of course we know that what he wants for us will require help beyond our powers. And if we accept feelings of inadequacy, they can brand it easier for us to repent and to be set up to rely on the Lord'south help. … Whoever we are, still difficult our circumstances, we can know that what our Father requires of usa if we are to qualify for the blessings of eternal life will not be beyond our ability. …

"… We can picture ourselves as nosotros were [in our premortal life], for longer than nosotros can imagine, sons and daughters associating in our heavenly home with Parents who knew and loved us. … But at present that we are here [on earth] nosotros tin picture ourselves dwelling house once more with our Heavenly Parents in that wonderful place, not simply as sons and daughters only as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, grandsons and granddaughters, bound together forever in loving families" ("The Family," Ensign, February. 1998, x, 12–13).

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/introduction-to-family-history-student-manual/chapter-1?lang=eng