Poster Article:
My Eternal Family*

The family is ordained of God (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

Adam and Eve established the first family on this earth. Heavenly Father commanded them to have children and to worship Him. As children were born to Adam and Eve, they taught them the gospel. (See Moses 2:28, Moses 5:5, and Moses 5:12.) This is Heavenly Father’s plan for families—He has sent us to earth so that we can learn from our parents and, someday, teach our own children.

Elder Richard G. Scott said, “Through the restored gospel we learn there is an ideal family. It is a family composed of a righteous Melchizedek Priesthood bearer with a righteous wife sealed to him and children born in the covenant or sealed to them” (Ensign, May 2001, 7). When families are sealed in the temple and live worthily, they can be eternal families in the celestial kingdom.

Not all of us have been sealed to our families yet, but we can work toward having an eternal family by doing our best. Elder Scott said, “Do the best you can. We cannot say whether that blessing [temple sealing] will be obtained on this side of the veil [in this life] or beyond it, but the Lord will keep His promises. In His infinite wisdom, He will make possible all you qualify in worthiness to receive” (Ensign, May 2001, 7).

We can do our best to have an eternal family by living worthy of temple blessings and loving, serving, and praying for our families.

Activities and Ideas

1. Mount the figures on page 39 on heavy paper, then cut them out. Cut slits along the broken lines. Using a separate piece of heavy paper, cut out 9 strips 1″ x 3″ (3 cm x 8 cm). Then slide a strip into each slit on the figures so that they can stand. Display the figures where you will be reminded to live Heavenly Father’s plan.

   

   Illustrations by Beth M. Whittaker

2. In a family home evening lesson or a Primary talk, use the figures to explain that, just as Adam and Eve (figure 1) followed God’s plan for families, we can follow that plan by living worthy of temple blessings (figure 2), praying for help (figure 3), and loving (figure 4) and serving (figure 5) our family members. Discuss ways in which you can show love and give service.

• Emphasizes the Primary monthly theme. (See “My Family Can Be Forever,” poster, Friend, Jan. 2004, insert.)

Adam and Eve Teach Their Children by Del Parson