Eternal Truths

Over the past few weeks, I've been able to read talks by Elder Henry B. Eyring "The Family" and Elder Robert D. Hales "The Eternal Family".These talks really helped understand the eternal consequences and values of eternal marriage. The quote that stood out to me the most was from Elder Hales talk. He said “By divine commandment, spouses are required to love each other above all others.” That’s huge!! Marriage is a commitment to your spouse and the Lord. Its very much the same when we make covenants at the temple. We receive endowments or knowledge from the Lord. By doing this, we are making convents with the Lord to obey all of his commandments. I started to wonder why loving your spouse was such a big commandment. Elder Eyring has said “Eternal life means to become like the Father and to live in families in happiness and joy forever…” We can’t be the happiest we can be if we don’t love who we will spend an eternity with. Heavenly Father wants us to feel joy that whole time, so he made this commandment preparatory to living with him for all eternity. We must obey all the commandments He gives, because he’s going to prepare us for eternity.

Before we understand how to love our spouses, or our neighbors, or ourselves for that matter, we must understand the nature of God.  I really didn’t understand the nature of God before this class. First off, I learned that God was just like us before he was exulted. I don’t know why, but before I couldn’t grasp that concept. I mean I knew he once was in a mortal state like us but, it’s weird to imagine that for me. I just saw God as God.  This really put God into perspective for me. Joseph Smith’s said “If men don’t comprehend the character of God, they don’t comprehend themselves.” This is a very true statement. If we don’t know the character of God, we don’t see the potential everyone has to become perfect like him someday.