The Family is Eternal

Our family relations play an important role in
the plan of happiness that God has for us. In the family, we have the
opportunity to learn and to grow. We have the chance to help one
another improve. Perhaps most importantly, we have the chance to
develop close, loving relationships.

The family is eternal.

The relationships that we form on earth in families can last
forever if we obey God's commandments and follow His plan. God has
established temples upon the earth that perform marriages not "�til
death do you part" but marriages that will last forever even after
death. Families who have lost loved ones will be able to be together
again.

Pre-Earth Life -Where did I Come From?

Before we lived on earth, we lived with God in
heaven as his spirit children. We were taught by God as a father
teaches his children what is right; however we lacked experience to
know for ourselves. We did not fully know what compassion was because
we did not fully understand what it was to suffer. We did not fully
comprehend joy because we had never fully known sorrow. God presented a
plan to us to help us grow and become more like Him. One who rebelled
against the plan, was Lucifer. Lucifer was cast out of heaven and
became Satan. As part of God's plan, He sent us to earth to gain bodies
and experiences that would help us to learn to love one another in
families and return to Him.

Life on Earth -Why am I Here?

In the beginning, before God created man, He had a plan. He had
many spirit children with Him in heaven, but they did not yet have
bodies; hence, they could not progress. There would be no purpose of
existing if we could not progress. What joy is there in remaining
exactly the same forever? So God created a plan that would enable us to
progress both physically and spiritually.

We are here to gain a body.

In Genesis 1:27 it explains "So God created man in his own image, in
the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." God
gave us physical bodies, and there are many things we can do now that
we have bodies that we could not do while we were only spirits. We are
separated from God for a time to learn and do the things necessary to
progress and return to Him some day, worthy to dwell in His presence
forever. When we die our spirit and body separate, but thanks to the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, they will join again. We too will be
resurrected, never to part with our bodies again.

We are here to be tested.

But gaining a body is not the only reason we are here. In God's eye,
our time on earth is short, with eternity existing always before and
forever after. This short period of time on earth can be viewed as a
sort of test or trial time. The wonderful and merciful thing is that it
is an open-book test, and we learn the answers along the way. We can
receive lots of help through the scriptures, prophets, and even
directly from God as we approach Him in humble, personal prayer, then
look and listen for His soft answers.

We are here to become like God.

What is the purpose of this test? The ultimate purpose of the test of
life is to progress to become like God. Does this seem overwhelming?
Then let's look at the key word in this: progress. It won't happen all
at once, but remember, we have the answers before us, or at least
places to look and search out the answers (see above).

Rather than viewing this as one big test, let's look at it as a series
of small quizzes. The Lord presents us with an opportunity or
challenge. If we choose the right, we progress; if we don't, we move
backward. We cannot stay in one place. We are constantly moving either
forward or backward. Thus, it is the little things, the daily
decisions, which keep us on the right path leading to God. And why do
we want to become like God? So we can return to live with Him after we
die.

How Can I Know the Truth?

There are many different ideas and theories
in the world about deity. The one sure way to know who God is and what
He would have us do is to ask him.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5).

When we approach God in prayer desiring to know the truth, He will help
us find it by helping us to feel what is right through His Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

God Speaks Through Prophets

Since the beginning of the earth, God has chosen to speak to us
through prophets. We read of such prophets in the scriptures such as
Abraham and Moses. God has declared that "Surely the Lord God will do
nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
(Amos 3:7). As we see in the scriptures, many people rejected the
prophets. We see patterns of wickedness and righteousness in the
people's behavior throughout the centuries. When the people were wicked
enough and killed the prophets, they fell into dark times and precious
truths were lost to them, not because there truths weren't there, but
because the people didn't care and would not accept the truth. So, when
the people were ready again, God would send prophets to teach them. The
apostles in the early church warned against a falling away from the
truth (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

Are there prophets in our day? Do we need prophets? We certainly live
in perilous times, and there are many opinions in the world about who
God is, what is right, and so forth. Would God leave us without a
prophet if we are searching for the truth?