Family, does God Care? YES!

I'm going to be home in five days--that's a happy thought. Brigham Young University is great, but I still miss my family (even though I have some family out here too). Might as well write about why family is so wonderful, right?

In my church, we believe that Heavenly Father (the title we usually give God) is exactly who He sounds like He is. We believe that God the Father is not only the Savior's Father--He's also our Father. We lived with Him and ALL of our brothers and sisters (who are all humanity) before we came to Earth during a time we often call the Pre-mortal Existence. Like a good father, He loves us, and He wants the best for us. He created the world to allow us to experience things that were not available in the spirit world, and the climax of His creation (which may or may not have been done through means scientists theorize about, but that's another discussion) of Heaven and Earth was a family. His first commandment to Adam and Eve--to multiply and replenish the Earth--had everything to do with families. Two of the ten commandments--Honor thy father and thy mother & thou shalt not commit adultery--show a very fervent Divine push for wholesome families. The fact that the Savior of the World, the Only Begotten Son of God came to Earth as part of a family further shows the importance of families.

I'm grateful for my family. We have our flaws, and we don't always see eye to eye, but I'm glad to be the brother/son/uncle/cousin/nephew/grandson... of every one of them (especially the brother and son part! I'm also looking forward to being a husband and father--maybe five years from now!). Life is hard. And it would be impossible were it not for loving relationships. I realize not everyone has a family close to them, but I promise you that you always have a Father and a Brother (Christ, like all of us, is Heavenly Father's Son) who are cheering for you and longing to help you if you give them a chance. The power of prayer is real, and unlike the cell phone I use to talk to my family on the other side of the country, it is not limited by battery life, fuzzy reception, limited minutes, or payment plans.

I'm going home to my immediate family in five days. A very large and glorious family awaits many years (probably) from now. And to make it all the better, my family in this life will still be together there! The family is indeed "ordained of God," and if you want to see where that quote comes from, just look at this last piece of evidence for how important families are to God: