My Institute class today was on Marriage and the Family. And due to the fact that I have been thinking about the family and it's historical role within the ancient church and the role that it may play in the future of the church, it was thought provoking to sit in the class and reconcile some of my thoughts.

There were several good points that were brought up.  One of the most prominent came from a talk by Elder Bednar and it was that when we teach someone about the importance of marriage and family that we have to do it within a context of the Plan of Salvation.  For if we teach principles of the gospel without teaching their eternal importance, then they are just nice principles and people will not have the motivation to live those principles here and now. 

Some other thoughts from Elder Bednar:

"no instrumentality or organization can take the place of the home or perform its essential funtions."

"marriage is a fundamental unit of society"

"marriage is ordained of God and the family is central to the plan of happiness."

I think these link well from within the handbook in how the family is the fundamental unit of the gospel.  If we are out in areas of the world where the church is not organized, the church will still support us as a family unit.  When we look at the ancient church you have family units that function as the church with their patriarch as the head.  There is Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Lehi to name a few examples.  It is my supposition that the events recorded in 3 Nephi 7 will happen again in our time before the Saviour comes and we will be driven to and join our Church and family tribes for our safety and society. 

Tags: Eternal Family

Bookmark: