How To Have an Eternal

FamilyThrough this presentation you will learn the principles that will allow

you to posses the bonds and relationships of your family through the

eternities.

What is the difference between a Soul Mate and an Eternal Companion?Soul Mates are defined as your “other half”. It is fantasy that you will never experience frustration or problems down the road.

Why would this be a false fantasy?

God has given us agency to choose for our selves. Any good man or woman can have happiness and a successful marriage if both are willing to pay the price.

What do you suppose the “Price” is for a happy successful marriage?

Eternal companion: A spouse that you are willing to change and endure hardship for to posses your marital bonds for eternity.

Soul Mates: A spouse we seek to satisfy all our desires that we will find no fault or hardship with.

• In order to have an eternal companion we are to become one, not find one.

• Does believing in soul mates really do any harm?

• The trouble lies in unrealistic expectations. While dating, marriage is portrayed as perfect and trouble free.

Eternal Companions are equal partners

How is a marriage equal if the father is to preside in the home?

Roles in the family give us obligation towards one another, not power over one another. Genesis 3:16 states: Adam “ruling with” not “ruling over” Eve.

Ruling with your spouse is applied when you seek council and advice from one another for the future of the family.

How can you become equal when you have so many differences of opinion and background?The best way to look at it is by the “Triangle Analogy”

. Draw a triangle and place God, husband, and wife on each corner. What happens as the husband and wife move closer to God?

Partners become equal as they come closer to Heavenly Father.

Why is family Interaction pertinent for eternity?

The benefits of family interaction are: enhanced communication, problem solving, trust, and expressed love towards one another.What are some examples of effective family interaction?

Effective family interactionActivities BenefitsPlaying Board Games Family Cohesiveness Family Trips (Disney Land ) High Levels of AdaptabilityFamily Rituals (Birthdays, Holidays, Family Unity

Etc.)

Family Meals Family Communication

What is a parent’s greatest influence on their children?

A parents most powerful tool is religious faith.Religious communities are more likely to exhibit behavior in harmony with good moral values.

Questions that could effect eternity

If parents don’t teach their children, where will the children go for answers?

How does knowledge influence decisions?

Why do we have families?

Mothers are a necessityPresident Thomas S. Monson asked: “One cannot remember mother and forget God, Why?

Ponder your answer with these words.

Partners in creation, service, sacrifice.

Temporal and Eternal Views on Procreation

Why do we have children?

In a temporal perspective, we have children for economical liabilities and to carry on our family name.

Eternal ReasoningIn an eternal perspective, we have children to cultivate our faith, hope, charity, love, knowledge, patience, humility, and diligence.

These attributes are what will prepare us to be exalted beings

Why Man and Woman? In The Family: A Proclamation to the World its states “Children are entitled to be reared by a mother and a father.” Should the parents be entitled to the children or should the children be entitled to the parents?

The social structure of the family was designed by Heavenly Father.

What is the purpose of Gender?

Provider/Nurturer

Sacred or SecularSecular: Worldly rather than spiritual.When people perceive something as sacred, it changes the way they treat it.Example: A wedding ring in the secular world represents commitment, but in a sacred view it represents an eternal union.

How do I obtain an sacred point of view?

A key aspect of coming to view a relationship as sacred is to first include God an active member of the relationship.How will you include God in your relationship?

Sacred

ForgivenessWe are bound to encounter conflict in the family, some offenses may feel impossible to forgive.

Think of all the offenses that Heavenly Father has gone though with his children. (Yet he has forgiven them; How?)

Murder, Adultery, Abuse, Theft, Etc…

Forgiveness Motivates Repentance

Our Heavenly Father has forgiven us because He knows the power of repentance.

As we come to understand the power of repentance, we will gain a stronger desire to forgive.

Apologies facilitate forgiveness, and forgiveness motivates repentance.

DivorceIf there is a point in your marriage where you are contemplating divorce, please consider the following:Is there anything that Jesus Christ cannot heal?

Who do you suppose is on the other side of the door?

You Why do you suppose there is no door handle?If we desire our marriage to be healed, we must allow the Savior to help us.

Crucibles and HealingThese trying times in marriage can also be commonly known as “crucibles”.Crucible: Is a furnace like vessel that endures intense heat that refines and transfigures raw materials into a new and stronger substance.(Robinson, Carroll, & Watson,2005; Romney 1969)

2 Perspectives During CruciblesTo Be Better To Be BitterEnhance relationships HeartacheRenew appreciation InjusticeInspire faith EmptinessGain wisdom and attributes from God

What will these men bind?

Matt 18:18 “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall bebound in heaven.”

Temple CovenantsFamilies must make covenants in God’s Holy Temple and keep those covenants to posses their family bonds in Heaven.