The Lord and and His laws are eternal. The family stands at the heart of those laws–its structure and importance is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Mormon 9:9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?
As we watch the organization of the family unit crumble before our eyes, we can discern these false practices by studying families who have followed the Lord previously. During the ”Come Follow Me” Bible study that we have been doing as a family, I was impressed by what great examples Joseph and Mary were to the organization and function of the family. I got out my copy of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”, and did a step-by-step comparison of Joseph and Mary from over 2000 years ago to the direction given to us in this document from the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 23 years ago. They were great examples and proof that families are eternal, their importance is the same today as it was yesterday, and will forever be. Families are central to God’s eternal plan and that will always be true. We must fight for our own families by striving to live as the Lord has directed and by supporting political candidates and organizations that fight for family values.
Let’s have some fun and look at Joseph and Mary’s example as it fits with today’s proclamation.
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
Even though Mary’s situation was different then any other situation, it was still essential that she had a husband and that Jesus had an earthly father to teach him who he was and help Jesus prepare to fulfill his earthly mission.
Even though Jesus was literally the Son of God, he was still in need of guidance. He came to earth and experienced the effects of the veil, just as each of us do. He had to learn His mission line upon line, here a little there a little, through the guidance of his righteous earthly parents and the direction of the Holy Ghost.
D&C 93:12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
“Over his mind had fallen the veil of forgetfulness common to all who are born to earth, by which the remembrance of primeval existence is shut off.” -Elder James E. Talmage:
All human beings–male and female–are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
Here we have the literal Son of God, who had gained mortality from his earthly mother, but who still inherited divine characteristics both spiritually and physically from Heavenly Father as well as from his mother. Just as my children look like me in some ways and look like Mark in other ways, so did Jesus, look like Mary as well as Heavenly Father.
“That Child to be born of Mary was begotten of Elohim, the Eternal Father, not in violation of natural law but in accordance with a higher manifestation thereof; … In His nature would be combined the powers of Godhood with the capacity and possibilities of mortality; and this through the ordinary operation of the fundamental law of heredity, declared of God, demonstrated by science, and admitted by philosophy, that living beings shall propagate—after their kind. The Child Jesus was to inherit the physical, mental, and spiritual traits, tendencies, and powers that characterized His parents—one immortal and glorified—God, the other human—woman” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 81).
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
Mary and Joseph were both valiant spirits in the premortal existence in order to have been prepared to parent the Redeemer of all mankind. They also lived their lives in direct obedience and honor to the Lords covenants and ordinances. Both lived their lives so that they were able to have open communication from heaven through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is well illustrated through the testimonies of both Mary and Joseph when Mary was to conceive Jesus.
Mathew 1:Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Jesus also followed the law and ordinances that are important to receive here on earth.
Mathew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus, himself, made this whole paragraph possible through His sinless, selfless sacrifice for all his brothers and sisters who have ever lived and who ever will live on this earth. His mission all started in the premortal existence, where he stood as our eldest brother during the War in Heaven and fought for our freedom of choice, so that we would be able to come to earth, gain an eternal body, and make decisions that would play a huge part in our eternal progress. We all agreed to this test, called earth, knowing that it was our opportunity to receive a body, and to prove that we could follow the teachings taught to us by our Heavenly Father. (Sounds familiar to parents of teenagers who have to eventually leave and head into the world, right?) This is where happiness is found, in following the Lord in all things. That’s where happiness was available in the premortal existence, that’s where it’s found here on earth, and that is where it will be found in heaven.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
Mary and Joseph had a family with sons and daughters.
Mathew 13: 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Mary was a virgin, representing her purity and devotion to the importance of the chastity. She was also fulfilling prophesies of ancient prophets.
1 Nephi 11:15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Joseph and Mary were espoused, and if her conception of Christ was not of full virtue, she would have been punished by law, which most likely would have meant being stoned. That is why the Holy Ghost had to testify to Joseph of the truthfulness of Mary being the mother of Jesus, the Only Begotten of the Father.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives–mothers and fathers–will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
Mary and Joseph did everything in their power to protect Jesus and to follow the laws of the Lord at that time.
Luke 2: 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
They taught by their actions how important it is to act in the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Mathew 2: 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
Considering that Christ himself was in this family, I’m going to say, they were about the “Father’s business”. Joseph was an excellent example of leading his family in righteousness and he demonstrated unwavering faith in the direction of the Holy Ghost. He stopped at nothing to protect his family–he acted immediately upon receiving the prompting from the Holy Ghost to move the family to Egypt to avoid danger. There are very few verses about Joseph himself, but the ones we do have are filled with faith in God and complete obedience to the laws and promptings form the Lord. He also shows the utmost loyalty and devotion to his family. He taught Jesus to live the laws of the Lord, as described through their pattern of worship, including spending time in the temple. He also made sure that Jesus had a way to make a living during His time on earth. He taught him his carpenter trade.
Luke 2:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary?
Mathew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary?
Mary accepted her role as Christ’s mother immediately, regardless of the backlash she could have received from others knowing that she was expecting a baby without a husband. Thankfully, Joseph accepted the role as Christ’s father as well. Together they were taking on a huge responsibility that would affect all mankind. They had unknowingly prepared previously for the day the angel and the Holy Ghost approached them about baby Jesus. They prepared with faithfulness and obedience to God’s laws. We see that their faithfulness continues without interruption following the birth, as they raised not only Jesus but his brothers and sisters in the family structure ordained by God to be an eternal unit.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
This was a fun exercise to support a principle of the gospel that is dear to my heart. For besides the loss of individual identity that Satan is reaping upon this generation, he is successfully creating a society that is self-centered, which is slowly diminishing the growth of families, causing divorces, and lack of instruction in the home. There is nothing greater than families. I know for myself, being one of twelve children, that my siblings are priceless. There is no amount of money, no exotic vacation, elaborate home, fancy car or designer clothes that have ever been of more value than they are to me. They are the inheritance that my parents will leave us when they return to their heavenly home someday. The wisdom, love, compassion, empathy, friendships, and memories of eleven siblings is something I’ll have to bless me forever. In return, I offer those same things to each of my siblings with pure enthusiasm and love. We are scattered all over the United States; our times to see each other are few and far between, but our hearts are close and our reunions are magical.
Being a mother has brought me a greater understanding of the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us. I would spend all the days of my life seeking to rescue each and every one of my children if they were ever lost. When I found them, I would put them on my shoulders and carry them home where we would gather for a feast of the greatest importance. I understand fully the value of “the one”. I get that there is no respecter of persons–a parent loves all their children equally, regardless of their weaknesses and strengths. I can’t imagine how fantastic the reunion with our Heavenly Father will be someday. I’m not sure there are words to describe this sort of love.
-Sherri Jorgensen
Recent Comments