Families Prepare Us For Eternal Life

Think of the parts we play, or will play, in our family, and all the responsibility that goes along with each one. A parent, a spouse, a sibling—even little children have a lot to do. The effort we put into strengthening our families is the hardest and most significant work any of us will do on earth. Keeping a peaceful home and putting others' needs first has a refining effect on us, and it is no coincidence that these things can sometimes be grueling. God meant for us to be tested so we could grow and master skills we wouldn't learn any other way—skills like patience and unselfishness that will help us become more like God and prepare us to live with our families throughout eternity.
We shouldn’t get discouraged. No matter how hard we try, our marriage and home won’t be perfect. But if we build them around Christ’s principles including faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome fun, home can be a place of refuge, peace and immense joy.

Beowulf

I watched this movie on DVD last night (it is a couple of years old now).

Being an English major, I remember reading Beowulf when I was at BYU in the mid-90s. The movie was an adaptation, but I really enjoyed it. Great storyline and good action (all CGI might I add).

So, why am I blogging about it on LDS Insight? Well, there were many themes in the movie (some apparent and others less apparent) about how power corrupts. The three kings in the movie were all good examples.

In this way, it made me think of this scripture in Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile
43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

True authority and power come from God. When we, as fallible men, think we are the source of power and our heads and egos enlarge, that forebodes our personal fall.

How Home and Visiting Teaching REALLY get done!

Need a good laugh (but also a mirror on how the process usually occurs in our Mormon culture)?

Watch this!

Remember, it is always good to laugh at yourself! Don't be offended.

I had an opportunity to re-watch Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's last General Conference address this week. What a great message!

Our attitude and how we react to certain situations can really determine our happiness. We cannot control all the variables in our lives, but we can control how we react to encountering those variables. Keep your chin up and follow the advice given in the 3-minute plus clip below.