By Alan on Feb 24 in Blog tagged Celestial Kingdom, children, evil, God, good, Jesus Christ, l The Plan, life, marriage, next life, opposites, posterity, prepared, sacred, salvation, secret, temple, the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Family | Comments Off

Can we talk?  Are you prepared for this world and for the next?

 In life, when we are young, our parents usually work hard to teach and train us so that we will be prepared to meet life’s challenges as we grow up in this world.  It is a joy for parents to see their children learn and improve and have all the opportunities that they had, or didn’t have, and more. They send us to schools, help us develop our talents, do things with us and take us places and have fun.  They are to teach us truths and principles of right and wrong and how to be organized, get a job, and learn to work for those goals we desire. They usually correct us in our mistakes and try to set good examples of how we should act and behave in order to help us ‘get on our feet’ and to become independent and to live full lives.  They spend much time and hopefully pray for our success and happiness so that we can receive the blessings that this life has to offer, or at least should have!

Those parents and their children who have prepared and have planned for their futures have put forth the effort and investment of learning and working for success in this world will usually find those things for which they had planned. But have they learned for themselves and taught their children about the next life?  Have we been prepared for life after death, how to deal with it; or do we even believe in such a thing?

This is a most important question that everyone must ask of themselves and to find their own answers which are available.  I remember when I did and expressed it in a song!

I wrote in my journal about a song that I wrote expressing these feelings called, “Are You Up There.”  My journal records:

“I was in my bed in California late one evening having read scriptures, prayed, and pondered for a great amount of time as to what it was that was in my bosom that I NEEDED to “say”. I could feel it as though it were a physical object inside of me trying to get out. I would stare at the piano keys that were located at the foot of my bed. I was wide-awake but totally still and quiet for around 4+ hours. At about 2 or three o’clock A.M., something happened.

It was an emotional experience as I asked myself . . . “What are you trying to say?” “What is it?” It was like a light turned on . . . and got brighter. Here I was sitting up in bed with my pencil and pad of paper in hand and I started to write. Not only did I write lyrics to an inspired song but also, as I looked at the piano keys, I could see what the music cords and melody were to be. I hardly ever went back to check what I had written or made changes! When I finished I re-read the song and started to cry. I will NEVER forget that experience as long as I live! Someone was helping me. “

Are You Up There?

It could all end tomorrow,
 and where would I be?
Does life go on
or will it be the end of me?
Seems a bit unfair to think that all I’ve learned and done 
belongs to no one.

Why should I cherish living
if there’s no so called plan?

Why, I would have no future
 if it were left to man.

I can’t believe that we just happened
 and don’t know what for.
There must be more.

Why should I trust in a love 
that I can’t have forever?
Does it seem right 
to live a game of take-away?
Should I want for children 
if there isn’t any more for them to live for?

Maybe I’m a pessimist – then
 maybe I’m not.
One thing that I’d like to know 
is what I’ve got.
I don’t want a miracle 
or to see you in the air,
 but are you up there?
Are you everywhere?  
Do you really care?
  Are you up there?

“I prayed to my Heavenly Father giving Him thanks as I knew that I had been inspired from another source, a very, very good source, for I could NOT have written these words or music myself. I could hardly sleep the rest of the night. I would lie there for the next few hours and re-collect my experience and thoughts. I wanted morning to come very badly so I could share this experience and song with my Brothers!”

Everyone hopes and wants to believe that this life has purpose and reasons to live; that someone cares and is watching over us.  Even the atheist when facing death cries out, “Oh my God, please help me.”  We can fear death or prepare for it by asking and studying the Holy Scriptures which have God’s and Jesus Christ’s words recorded about these things.  We also can pray and ask if God is there and if the things the scriptures teach are true.  Will you be talking or praying in vain?  No!

As the lyrics to the song asks, it makes reason to believe that ‘there must be more’; that we didn’t just happen and that there was a ‘PLAN of Life’. Well, there is!

According to my faith and beliefs, we all lived before this world was with our Heavenly Parents and were born with a spirit body.  We were taught truths and learned many things.  We were told about God’s ‘Plan of Life’ and the creation that would happen.  We had free agency to choose to come to this world or not via our earthly parents in order for us to obtain a body of flesh and bones in which would house our spirit bodies and be able to create life.  This was all very sacred.

Without getting into a lengthy doctrinal article here, we all as children of God were prepared before we came to earth to gain a physical body like God, learn truths and choose between good and evil, and to become more like our Heavenly parents and to be given the opportunity or not to be proven or tested; to become parents and co-creators ourselves with God in bearing children here on earth.  We were taught the laws of chastity and marriage and “to multiply and replenish the earth” in order to fulfill “God’s work and glory in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  This is what God does as a creator.

The Lord Jesus, the Son of God , came to earth to teach us and show by example the way we must follow and become in order to redeem us from our sins. He knew we would make mistakes and that it would take a God, or son of God, to be able to pay the price for our sins, which He did for us!  “God is not the author of confusion “and “our ways are not God’s ways”, but we are His children and must obey His laws; and if not, we will pay a price.  As always, we have our free agency and the power to choose.

In today’s world, there is a tendency to ignore and even deny God’s existence and to choose evil versus good, which anyone can do.  That doesn’t mean that He isn’t still there!  “The natural man is an enemy to God.” It takes effort and good choices and work in order to do good. God has always shown to us those things we must do in order to return to live with Him once again.  He taught Adam and Eve and has spoken to us through His prophets over time about those sacred things and His plan of life.  He gave us the Ten Commandments through Moses and spoke through other prophets.  Jesus Christ was born and came to fulfill those commandments and we now must follow His words and laws that He gave us.

We have been promised all that God has with posterity and the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through our various lineages of which we were born.  Our lineage is important and our posterity will derive us blessings.  Though God separated us into twelve tribes and confounded our languages at the time of the Tower of Babel, it was all done for a wise purpose.  God has not forgotten us but remembered each of us and His various tribes that He gave His words and promises to and commanded them to be recorded as with The Bible and The Book of Mormon.  He will soon gather all the tribes together once again along with their records which have been hidden up to come forth.  Jesus will also be returning once again.

God has continually told us that we can all return to heaven after we die  to come forth after the resurrection to be judged of our works.   He also has told us that, “In my house are many mansions.” “There is a glory like unto the stars, the moon and the sun.  So also is the resurrection.”  We will live in one of His mansions above of which laws we are able to live, or in everlasting darkness; hell.

Now the question:

So, have you prepared yourself to dwell with God once again?  “The next world?”  Have you read His words and listened to His prophets so that you know those things that you must do while here on earth in order to achieve the highest degree of glory In His Kingdom after this life?  We are to follow Jesus’s example and with faith, repentance, and baptism by one holding the authority from Jesus, (children under the age of 8 years of age are innocent and have no need to be baptized), and to receive the Holy Ghost.  There are also sacred covenants that the Lord’s people take upon themselves in The House of the Lord and have since the beginning of time.  These are most important promises between you and God.  This knowledge has always been upon the earth since Adam and Eve.

These truths are not secret but sacred and are available today but you must be worthy of receiving them.  They are performed in the Holy Temples or The House of The Lord.  Without them, you will not be able to return to live in the Celestial Kingdom, the highest kingdom of Heaven where God dwells, without them.  Yes, God has prepared other kingdoms for those who cannot or are not willing to live the higher laws yet  promises that you will be happy. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

Some records from the Bible with many precious parts have been taken out of it and were lost from the Bible during the time of Constantine about 3-400 AD.  The Lord knew this would happen and “will not be frustrated”.   Thus, He had the tribes in various parts of the world record His words as He visited them after He was resurrected.  These records with those missing truths will come forth before we are to be judged.

Again, it is WE, who must choose.  God’s blessings are available to ALL, if they but seek them, learn them, and live His laws and keep His Commandments.

THIS IS WHAT WE EACH SHOULD BE SEEKING TO LEARN AND PREPARED TO LIVE!

Alan Osmond
For family

By Alan on Jun 04 in Blog tagged Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Alan and Suzanne osmond, America's Heartland, ancient earthworks, Coshocton, Evidences, flint, Flint Bridge, Garden of Eden, Great Circle, Great Octagon, history, Hohnson-Humrickhous Museum, Holy Stones, Hopewell mound, Jewish, Keystone, museum, native Americans, New Jerusalem, North American connection, Ohio, old world, passover, restoration, Rod Meldrum, sacred, significant events, The Book of Mormon, the gospel, tools | 9 Comments

You Should Have Been With Us Today!

Looking at Evidences of The Book of Mormon.

After breakfast this morning Suzanne and I joined Rod Meldrum and our tour group and got on board our motor coach and wound our way south first stopping at Flint Bridge where saw where the Native Americans got their flint to make their arrow heads, and other sharp edged tools.

We then went to the the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum in Coshocton, Ohio.   This museum houses the famous “Holy Stones”, found in a Hopewell mound near Newark, Ohio.  These stones, inscribed with ancient Hebrew writings, demonstrate a North American connection to the Old World.  READ MORE!

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This carved stone was found ing the stone box (behind left and right) and has Ancient Hebrew writings on it. It says Moses, and has the Ten Commandments inscribed!  Remember, it was found in the Ohio.

This is an important ‘keystone’ that was also found.

As we continued back on the bus towards Newark, we discovered that this area was filled with the most extensive and monumental earthworks in the world, including the Great Circle and Great Octagon, built by the Hopewell Civilization.

Suzanne drove me on a golf cart as this area is several football fields in area!

They date it between 150 AD and 250 AD, during the peaceful time following Jesus Christ’s visit to America after His crucifixion.  Scientists have recently discovered embedded astronomical alignments proving this was a highly advanced civilization.  I watched Suzanne and others ascend the 30 foot embankments and walk the ‘place of entrance’ of the Great Circle as I rode my motor cart following right behind, due to my having M.S..  But, I stayed up with them.  I learned a lot about our early history of this country as we discussed the ancient Hopewell Mound Builder civilization that inhabited this area during Book of Mormon times.

This is a survey back in 1860 of the Newark Earthworks.

We took pictures, had great conversations with Rod Meldrum about these ancient earthworks, and went to dinner only to keep talking about what we had seen with our own eyes.  
There is a golf course adjacent to these earthworks and I asked a young man if I could hire him to drive me over to some of the mounds that surrounded the area.  I asked him what he thought about these earthworks and he said, ” I don’t know much about it.  I just know that in the spring, the Native Americans come here and do something.  We just let them do it.”  I told him that they celebrate the day of passover that the Jewish people recognize but in remembrance of the day when Creator appeared to them. I then asked him a question which I ask all of you who are reading this:

Did the Book of Mormon take place in America’s “Heartland?”  From the Garden of Eden to Adam-ondi-Ahman; from the restoration of the gospel to the building of the New Jerusalem – the Heartland of North America has been the setting for sacred and significant events throughout human history.

New research involving Book of Mormon prophecies, Joseph Smith’s historical writings, DNA, archaeology, anthropology, metallurgy, horticulture, climate indicators, voyage routes, geography, astronomy, and symbology point to the very real possibility that the people and places of the Book of Mormon occurred in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.

Secular evidence continues to mount that the Book of Mormon may have occurred in the Heartland of North America.   This new research Is offering unprecedented answers to critics of the Book of Mormon and its coming forth from non-LDS sources.  Learn more about why this research is so compelling.

Below are links to recent news and articles exploring what is now being called “The Heartland Model Geography” for the Book of Mormon. You can also access their latest newsletters by visiting the ARCHIVE.

“And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.”  Mormon 9:33

NOTE:  Tomorrow, we visit HOPEWELL MUSEUM – MOUND CITY – SEIP MOUND – FORT HILL – SERPENT MOUND!

By Alan on May 08 in Blog tagged a man and a woman, abortion, abstinence, avoid pornography, baptism, between husband and wife, blessings, chastity, commandment, complete fidelity, create life, disease, divorce, faithful, Family, feel peace, for His children, God's direction, God's plan, gospel of jesus Christ, heartache, high moral standards, how you dress, in his heart, intimacy, jokes, law, looketh on a woman, marriage, obscene, overcome, Physical intimacy, repentance, resist temptation, sacred, sacred power, Satan, self-control, self-respect, sexual relations, shalt not commit adultery, sin, undesirable thoughts, virtuous and chaste, wholesome recreaction activities, words, you can be forgiven | Comments Off

Chastity

Your Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to be happy today and forever. He has given counsel and commandments through His prophets to help you. One commandment that is vital to your peace and happiness is His commandment regarding sexual purity, known as the law of chastity. The Lord instituted this law from the beginning, and He emphasized its importance to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Obedience to this commandment is a requirement for baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What Is the Law of Chastity?

Physical intimacy between husband and wife is a beautiful and sacred part of God’s plan for His children. It is an expression of love within marriage and allows husband and wife to participate in the creation of life. God has commanded that this sacred power be expressed only between a man and a woman who are legally married. The law of chastity applies to both men and women. It includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one’s spouse after marriage.

In addition to reserving sexual intimacy for marriage, we obey the law of chastity by controlling our thoughts, words, and actions. Jesus Christ taught, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5: 27-28).

The law of chastity requires that sexual relations be reserved for marriage between a man and a woman.

Why Should I Keep the Law of Chastity?

Your Heavenly Father has given the law of chastity to protect and bless you. Like all sacred things, physical intimacy must be expressed according to God’s direction. As you keep the law of chastity, you will enjoy happiness, peace, and self-respect. You will enjoy trust and confidence in your family relation- ships, and you will be blessed with self-control. You will enjoy the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the influence of the Holy Ghost.

Satan leads people to believe that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is acceptable and even desirable. But it is a serious sin; God has always taught His chil- dren to be virtuous and chaste (see Ex. 20: 14 and Alma 39: 3-5). This principle is eternal.

Violating the law of chastity is an abuse of the power God has given to create life; it shows a disregard for Him and for His children. It dulls spirituality and often leads to bitterness, heartache, divorce, disease, and abortion. Those who violate this law are exposed to greater influence from Satan. This sin also seriously affects family members and others.

How Do I Keep the Law of Chastity?

God requires a high moral standard of His children. To keep the law of chastity, you must replace undesirable thoughts, words, and actions with wholesome ones.

The following principles will help:

Thoughts. Positive and constructive thoughts will push negative or immoral ones from your life. As you fill your life with whole- some thoughts and activities, you will grow in your ability to replace and overcome negative thoughts. Reading the scriptures, serving your family, working diligently, and engaging in wholesome recreational activities will help you control your thoughts.

Avoid pornography in all forms. It is addictive and destructive. It will rob you of your self-respect and of an appreciation for the beauties of life. Do not allow your mind to dwell on obscene or immoral thoughts or images. Do not view, read, or listen to anything that depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a disrespectful way. Avoid looking with lustful thoughts at others, and avoid suggestive or explicit movies, television shows, Internet sites, music, books, magazines, and activities.

Words. Let your words build up others and strengthen them. Eliminate degrading, vulgar, and sexually explicit words, jokes, and themes from your conversations.

Actions. Always treat others with respect. Be modest in how you dress. If you remember that each person is a child of God, and if you do all you can to help others follow His plan, then you will be strengthened in your desire to keep the law of chastity.

Determine now that you will not do anything outside of marriage to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not arouse those emotions in another person or in yourself. Do not participate in homosexual or lesbian acts or other immoral activities. Replace activities where you may be tempted to violate the law of chastity with constructive activities and hobbies. In marriage, remain absolutely faithful to your spouse in thought and action.

Because living the law of chastity will bring you closer to God, Satan will entice you to break this commandment. He knows when you are lonely, confused, or depressed, and he will tempt you when you are weak. Pray to your Heavenly Father for help, and He will give you strength to resist temptation (see 1 Cor. 10: 13). As you rely on Him and follow these principles, you will be able to overcome temptation.

Blessings of Living the Law of Chastity

As you live the law of chastity, you will be more open to the influence of the Holy Ghost. With the guidance of the Holy Ghost, you will develop greater wisdom, face trials with greater courage, feel God’s support and direction in your life, and be an example to your family and others. The love you have for your spouse and loved ones will be deeper, richer, and more meaningful. You will experience greater peace of mind.

In the scriptures we learn that true happiness comes from obeying the commandments of God (see Mosiah 2: 41) and that “wickedness never was happi- ness” (Alma 41: 10).

If you have broken the law of chastity, God has made it possible for you to repent and become clean again. Repent now of any past transgressions, and commit to live this sacred law. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and true repentance, you can be forgiven and feel peace.

For The Family

By Alan on Dec 21 in Blog tagged for time and for all eternity, LDS, many temples, marriages, Mormon, not secret, ordinances, sacred, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The House of The Lord | 2 Comments

Suzanne and I have been gone most of the day today.  We are Temple Ordinance workers and love being there.  My brother Jay and his son Eric, who is going on a mission for the Church were there today with us.

This is where marriages are performed and couples are sealed together for Time AND for ALL ETERNITY together with their children! There were MANY marriages performed today before Christmas!  Genealogy and Ordinance work for deceased family members is also done here.

These ordinances are performed for individuals just as they did during the times of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, and others to help us draw nearer to the Lord!  When Jesus returns once again, He will first come to one of His Temples.

Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are living the commandments and are found worthy by their bishops and Stake Presidency are given a recommend so that they can enter the Temples.  Visitors are welcome to tour our Temples after construction before they are dedicated.  They are NOT secret . . . they are Sacred.

All are invited to go to the various visitor centers and learn more about The House of the Lord . . . The Temple.

See the many Temples that we have all over the World!

CLICK HERE!

By Alan on Dec 17 in Blog tagged Birth, blessing, Book of Mormon, born, eternal being, Father in heaven, first born son, follow him, followers of Christ, in a stable, Jesus Christ, jews, laid in a manger, Lord, meek, mighty works, miracle, Nephite civilization, Redeemer, sacred, savior, simple, son of God, Temples, The birth of Christ, The Family | Comments Off

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Dear friends and families,

As we approach this sacred season of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, may we reflect on the miracle and blessing He was and is. As I’ve pondered on His holy birth, and the circumstances around it, I am reminded again of how the Lord goes about his mighty works.

The Holy Son of the most glorified and powerful eternal being, our Father in Heaven, was not provided with a wondrous palace, security, wealth and privilege befitting his status as God’s first born son, but rather He showed his everlasting power through the simple, the meek, the lowly and the weak things of this world. His sacred Son wasn’t born amid the tumult and praise of the political, secular or religious superiors of his day, but in obscurity, vulnerability and to parents who were powerless because of their circumstances to provide much more than the most basic necessities of life at his birth.

I am reminded of how the Jews were anticipating a mighty king who was prophesied to deliver them. They presumed that God’s Son would enter this world provided with what men supposed would be needed to carry out this deliverance. Why would they not expect their deliverer to be born to parents who could provide a world-class education, money sufficient to procure status, authority and prestige so that other men would know of his leadership and knowledge and thus follow him?

Instead His Holy Child was born in a stable and lovingly laid in a manger of hay by honest, hard-working parents of common status among the Jewish throngs. Indeed, His pre-mortal status was hidden and utterly concealed from the world. How ashamed many Jews must have felt when they realized they had been looking for the wrong identifying features of this humble Son of God sent to deliver them.

In like manner some have supposed that the Nephite civilization of the Book of Mormon recording should be identified by grand features and majestic ruins, signs of an overpowering and influential people that the world can look to because of their triumphant accomplishments. Yet the Book of Mormon speaks of a humble people who obeyed the Laws of Moses, dressed in inconspicuous clothing, and built homes and temples and cities of wood. It was the unrighteous that built large and spacious palaces to demonstrate their own greatness. In contrast to impressive structures, the righteous Nephites seemed to follow the Lord’s ways in putting people as a higher priority that power; of salvation over worldly possessions.

May we, as followers of Christ, strive to emulate and understand the true power of God’s example of His Son by humbly submitting ourselves and meekly seeking His will, realizing our weaknesses and asking for his grace to attend us. This is, I believe, a most wonderful way to celebrate His birth.

Merry Christmas to all,

The Staff and The Family

By Alan on Sep 03 in Blog tagged admission into God's presence, eternal exaltation, expressions of love, holy places, house of learning, initiatory ordinance, need to walk back to the presince of the Father, place of revelation, receive all necessary ordinances, sacred, Solomon Temple, source of spiritual power, Temples, Temples in the early Americas, Temples of old, the endowment, The House of The Lord, work for the dead | Comments Off

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The temples are sacred, holy places. They are a source of spiritual power and strength. They are a place of revelation.

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com

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“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”  Acts 5: 42

Silvia H. Allred
For The Family

By Alan on Mar 30 in Blog tagged another's happiness, chastity, fidelity, immorality, intimacy, love, marriage, morally clean, relatioinship, sacred, sexual purity, truce breaking | 3 Comments

Chastity is sexual purity. Those who are chaste are morally clean in their thoughts, words, and actions. Chastity means not having any sexual relations before marriage. It also means complete fidelity to husband or wife during marriage.

Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love within marriage.

In the world today, Satan has led many people to believe that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is acceptable. But in God’s sight, it is a serious sin. It is an abuse of the power He has given us to create life. The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost (see Alma 39:3-5).

Sometimes people try to convince themselves that sexual relations outside of marriage are acceptable if the participants love one another. This is not true. Breaking the law of chastity and encouraging someone else to do so is not an expression of love. People who love each other will never endanger one another’s happiness and safety in exchange for temporary personal pleasure.

When people care for one another enough to keep the law of chastity, their love, trust, and commitment increase, resulting in greater happiness and unity. In contrast, relationships built on sexual immorality sour quickly. Those who engage in sexual immorality often feel fear, guilt, and shame. Bitterness, jealousy, and hatred soon replace any positive feelings that once existed in their relationship.

By Alan on Feb 27 in Blog tagged Apostle, declining, destroy, Family, first, God, grandparents, M. Russell Ballard, misplaced, parents, priorities, Proclamation To The World, sacred, society, tolerance, values | 1 Comment

We need to to put family first and  identify specific ways to strengthen their individual families.

Parents, grandparents, and extended family members everywhere, we gave been given a Proclamation To The World on The Family by the Prophets of God that we need to hold fast to and make it a banner like unto General Moroni’s “title of liberty,” and to commit ourselves to live by its precepts.  As we are all part of a family, the proclamation applies to everyone.

Public opinion surveys indicate that people everywhere in the world generally consider the family as the highest priority; yet in recent years the broader culture seems to ignore or misdefine the family. Consider some of the changes of the past decade:

• Many larger national and international institutions that used to support and strengthen families now try to supplant and even sabotage the very families they were created to serve.
  
• In the name of “tolerance,” the definition of family has been expanded beyond recognition to the point that “family” can be any individuals of any gender who live together with or without commitment or children or attention to consequence.
  
• Rampant materialism and selfishness delude many into thinking that families, and especially children, are a burden and a financial millstone that will hold them back rather than a sacred privilege that will teach them to become more like God.

And yet most parents throughout the world continue to know both the importance and the joy that are attached to natural families. Friends of mine who just returned from speaking to families and parents on several continents reported to me that the hopes and concerns of parents are remarkably similar throughout the earth.

In India a concerned Hindu mother said, “All I want is to be a bigger influence on my children than the media and the peer group.” And a Buddhist mother in Malaysia said, “I’d like my boys to be able to operate in the world, but I don’t want them to be of the world.” Parents from all different cultures and faiths are saying and feeling the same things we are as parents in the Church.

The world needs to know what the proclamation teaches, because the family is the basic unit of society, of the economy, of our culture, and of our government. And as Latter-day Saints know, the family will also be the basic unit in the celestial kingdom.

In the Church, our belief in the overriding importance of families is rooted in restored doctrine. We know of the sanctity of families in both directions of our eternal existence. We know that before this life we lived with our Heavenly Father as part of His family, and we know that family relationships can endure beyond death.

If we live and act upon this knowledge, we will attract the world to us. Parents who place a high priority on their families will gravitate to the Church because it offers the family structure, values, doctrine, and eternal perspective that they seek and cannot find elsewhere.

Our family-centered perspective should make Latter-day Saints strive to be the best parents in the world. It should give us enormous respect for our children, who truly are our spiritual siblings, and it should cause us to devote whatever time is necessary to strengthen our families. Indeed, nothing is more critically connected to happiness—both our own and that of our children—than how well we love and support one another within the family.

President Harold B. Lee spoke of the Church as a crucial “scaffolding” that helps build the individual and the family (see Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 107). The Church is the kingdom of God on earth, but in the kingdom of heaven, families will be both the source of our eternal progress and joy and the order of our Heavenly Father. As we are often reminded, we will be released one day from our Church callings; but if we are worthy, we will never be released from our family relationships.

Now, one may ask, How do we protect and preserve and strengthen our homes and families in a world pulling so hard in opposite directions? Let me make three simple suggestions:

1. Be consistent in holding daily family prayer and weekly family home evenings. Both of these invite the Lord’s Spirit, which provides the help and power we need as parents and family leaders. The Church curriculum and magazines have many good ideas for family home evening. Also consider holding a family testimony meeting where parents and children can express their beliefs and feelings to each other in a private and personal setting.
2. Teach the gospel and basic values in your home. Establish a love for reading the scriptures together. Too many of our parents are abdicating this responsibility to the Church. While seminary, auxiliaries, and priesthood quorums are important as a supplement to parental gospel instruction, the main responsibility rests in the home. You might want to choose one gospel subject or a family value and then watch for opportunities to teach it. Be wise and do not involve children or yourselves in so many activities out of the home that you are so busy that the Spirit of the Lord cannot be recognized or felt in giving you the promised guidance for yourself and your family.3.  Create meaningful family bonds that give your children an identity stronger than what they can find with their peer group or at school or anyplace else. This can be done through family traditions for birthdays, for holidays, for dinnertime, and for Sundays. It can also be done through family policies and rules with natural and well-understood consequences. Have a simple family economy where children have specific chores or household duties and receive praise or other rewards commensurate to how well they do. Teach them the importance of avoiding debt and of earning, saving, and wisely spending money. Help them learn responsibility for their own temporal and spiritual self-reliance.

We call upon government and political leaders to put the needs of children and parents first and to think in terms of family impact in all legislation and policy making.

We call upon Internet providers and Web site creators to become more responsible regarding their potential for influence and to adopt the conscious objective of protecting children from violence, pornography, filth, and sleaze.

We call upon educational entities to teach universal values and family and parenting skills, supporting parents in their responsibility to raise children to become the leaders of families in generations yet to come.

We call upon our own Church members to reach out in love to neighbors and friends of other faiths and include them in the use of the many resources the Church has to help families. Our communities and neighborhoods will be safer and stronger as people of all faiths work together to strengthen families.

It is important to remember that all larger units of society depend on the smallest and most fundamental unit, the family. No matter who or what we are, we help ourselves when we help families.

Brothers and sisters, as we hold up like a banner the proclamation to the world on the family and as we live and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will fulfill the measure of our creation here on earth. We will find peace and happiness here and in the world to come. We should not need a hurricane or other crisis to remind us of what matters most. The gospel and the Lord’s plan of happiness and salvation should remind us. What matters most is what lasts longest, and our families are for eternity. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

M. RUSSELL BALLARD
Of The Twelve Apostles
From: “What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest,” , (October 1, 2005)
For The Family

By Alan on Feb 15 in Blog tagged chaste, chastity, life, love, marriage, sacred, sexual purity | Comments Off

Marriage is ordained of God.

Chastity is sexual purity. Those who are chaste are morally clean in their thoughts, words, and actions. Chastity means not having any sexual relations before marriage. It also means complete fidelity to husband or wife during marriage.

Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love within marriage.

In the world today, Satan has led many people to believe that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is acceptable. But in God’s sight, it is a serious sin. It is an abuse of the power He has given us to create life. The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost (see Alma 39:3–5).

Sometimes people try to convince themselves that sexual relations outside of marriage are acceptable if the participants love one another. This is not true. Breaking the law of chastity and encouraging someone else to do so is not an expression of love. People who love each other will never endanger one another’s happiness and safety in exchange for temporary personal pleasure.

When people care for one another enough to keep the law of chastity, their love, trust, and commitment increase, resulting in greater happiness and unity. In contrast, relationships built on sexual immorality sour quickly. Those who engage in sexual immorality often feel fear, guilt, and shame. Bitterness, jealousy, and hatred soon replace any positive feelings that once existed in their relationship.

Our Heavenly Father has given us the law of chastity for our protection. Obedience to this law is essential to personal peace and strength of character and to happiness in the home. Those who keep themselves sexually pure will avoid the spiritual and emotional damage that always comes from sharing physical intimacies with someone outside of marriage. Those who keep themselves sexually pure will be sensitive to the Holy Ghost’s guidance, strength, comfort, and protection and will fulfill an important requirement for receiving a temple recommend and participating in temple ordinances.

Sexual Sins

The Lord and His prophets condemn sexual immorality. The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost (see Alma 39:3–5). All sexual relations outside of marriage violate the law of chastity and are physically and spiritually dangerous for those who engage in them.

The Ten Commandments include the command that we not commit adultery, which is sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband (see Exodus 20:14). The Apostle Paul said that it is “the will of God” that we “abstain from fornication,” which is sexual intercourse between an unmarried person and anyone else (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Latter-day prophets repeatedly speak out against these sins and against the evil practice of sexual abuse.

Like other violations of the law of chastity, homosexual activity is a serious sin. It is contrary to the purposes of human sexuality (see Romans 1:24–32). It distorts loving relationships and prevents people from receiving the blessings that can be found in family life and the saving ordinances of the gospel.

Merely refraining from sexual intercourse outside of marriage is not sufficient in the Lord’s standard of personal purity. The Lord requires a high moral standard of His disciples, including complete fidelity to one’s spouse in thought and conduct. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28). In the latter days He has said, “Thou shalt not . . . commit adultery, . . . nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6). And He has reemphasized the principle He taught in the Sermon on the Mount: “He that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear” (D&C 63:16). These warnings apply to all people, whether they are married or single.

Church members who have committed sexual sin should speak with their bishop or branch president, who can help them through the process of repentance (see the gospel topic “Repentance”).

Those who find themselves struggling with sexual temptations, including feelings of same-gender attraction, should not give in to those temptations. People can choose to avoid such behavior and receive the Lord’s help as they pray for strength and work to overcome the problem.

Keeping the Law of Chastity

No matter how strong temptations seem, the Lord will help us withstand them if we choose to follow Him. The Apostle Paul declared, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The following counsel can help us overcome the frequent and blatant temptations in the world today:

Decide now to be chaste. We need to make this decision only once. We can make the decision now, before the temptation comes, and let our decision be so firm and with such deep commitment that it can never be shaken. We can determine now that we will never do anything outside of marriage to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. We can determine now that we will be completely true to our spouse.

Control our thoughts. No one commits sexual sin in an instant. Immoral acts always begin with impure thoughts. If we allow our thoughts to linger on obscene or immoral things, we have already taken the first step toward immorality. We must flee immediately from situations that may lead to sin and pray for constant strength to resist temptation and control our thoughts. We can make this a part of our daily prayers.

Stay away from pornography. We must not view, read, or listen to anything that depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a way that can arouse sexual feelings. Pornographic materials are addictive and destructive. They can rob us of our self-respect and of a sense of the beauties of life. They can tear us down and lead to evil thoughts and abusive conduct.

If we are single and dating, always treat our date with respect. Those who are dating must never treat their date as an object to be used for lustful desires. They should carefully plan positive and constructive activities so that they are not left alone without anything to do. They should stay in areas of safety where they can easily control themselves. They should not participate in conversations or activities that arouse sexual feelings, such as passionate kissing, lying with or on top of another person, or touching the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing.

If we are married, be faithful to our spouse in our thoughts, words, and actions. The Lord has said: “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out” (D&C 42:22–23). We should never flirt in any way. As much as possible, we should avoid being alone with anyone of the opposite sex and ask ourselves if our spouse would be pleased if he or she knew of our words or actions. We should remember the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When we stay away from such circumstances, temptation gets no chance to develop.

Forgiveness for the Repentant

The best course is complete moral cleanliness. It is wrong to commit sexual sins with the thought that we will simply repent later. This attitude is a sin itself, showing irreverence for the Lord and the covenants we make with Him. However, those who have committed sexual sins can be forgiven by the Lord if they repent.

Repentance is difficult, but it is possible (see Isaiah 1:18). The despair of sin can be replaced with the sweet peace of forgiveness.

More? Go to http://mormon.org

By Alan on Jan 17 in Blog tagged alan, and Protect, Andy Williams, bond, brothers, Donny, duty, Families. George, family life, Father, Fathers, God, gospel, Jay, Jesus, jimmy, law-abiding, love, Marie, Merrill, mother, needs, nurture, Osmond, Osmond Brothers, parents, playing, proclamation, provide for, quartet, righteousness, sacred, spiritual, strong, television, Tom, Virl, Wayne | 3 Comments

“Fathers are expected by God and His prophets not only to provide for their families but also to protect them…. M. Russell Ballard

“… On a day-to-day basis, fathers can and should help with the essential nurturing and bonding associated with feeding, playing, storytelling, loving and all the rest of the activities that make up family life.”

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That’s what my father did with us as we were growing up!

This is a picture of my father, George Osmond, at NBC Studios in Burbank just being playful with us after we finished rehearsing and taping an Andy Williams TV Show.  Left to right is me, Alan, Merrill with Wayne at the right.  Jay is in front.

We were a barbershop quartet singing in four part harmony that took a lot of work, practice, and rehearsing.  Our father was always there with us to protect, support, comfort and play with us.  We had a family of eight boys, Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy, and one sister, Marie Osmond.

In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Church leaders declared, “Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.”

Parents can experience great joy by building a strong, loving home environment and teaching gospel principles, which can help their children lead righteous, happy, and productive lives. (See 3 John 1:4.)

Just like our Mother and Father have done, parents can teach their children formally during family home evening and other family gatherings, such as daily family prayer and scripture study or at mealtimes. Teaching opportunities also come in unplanned moments as parents and children spend time working and playing together. Whatever the setting, the Lord will guide parents as they prayerfully seek to rear their children in love and righteousness.

Family Night was why we learned to sing songs and the reason to learned a song every week, so we could sing in at
Family Night!  Why we sang to earn money was to be able to help the hearing impaired like our brothers Virl and Tom and to raise enough money to send them on missions as missionaries which we did.  And regarding prayer, we never performed a show without first gathering together in a circle and saying a prayer of thanks and asking the Lord for blessing us that someone in the audience might know our love for each other and for the gospel of Jesus Christ and have the desire to know more about our Church and The Family!

Alan Osmond
For The Family