What does it mean to raise a righteous family in today’s world and society? How do we truly grow a family in truth and righteousness despite the differing opinions and false ideologies that surround us today? When things get hard, we can sometimes ask ourselves “Is it truly possible to raise a righteous eternal family?” The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!”

In Moses 1:39, the Lord clearly indicated His desire and that is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” However, that does not happen in an instant. The Lord needs the help of the family to bring about this plan. That is why the call for more righteous families who build their foundation on the truths of the gospel has become urgent.

When the “true points of the doctrine” are taught inside the home, the father, mother, and children become more fully equipped to face the challenges of the adversary. One of the greatest anxieties of parents is raising children in today’s toxic world. Can we really raise good children in a morally-challenged world? President Boyd K. Packer (1924 – 2015), a latter-day apostle, offered this comforting advice for everyone: “One thing is very clear: the safest place and the best protection against the moral and spiritual diseases is a stable home and family.”

Nowadays, we can see the power of Satan in full force as he subtly demeans the role of motherhood, belittles the call of being a father, and makes couples believe that they can delay childbirth in favor of seemingly more important pursuits. He knows just how important the family is in Heavenly Father’s great plan and the role that we have to play in combating the false teachings of the adversary. The perception of a traditional righteous family is fading but still exists and is still possible to establish today.

Full article on how to raise righteous family: LDS.net

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If there was a new set of commandments given for single adults, “Go on a date” would be the first one! May kakilala ako sabi nya, sa dinami dami ng naghahanap ng kadate, bakit kaya hindi sila magkita kita? Made sense diba? So now, what’s with dating? How can going on a date be one way of following Him?

Balik tayo sa purpose, “We are here on earth in a type of adventure. We left our Heavenly Father to obtain bodies, to be tested, to make covenants or promises with God, to gain knowledge and experience, and to hopefully return to live with Him. But we do not always remember these purposes. Many who do not have the gospel have forgotten these purposes because of the veil. We often get weighed down by the daily monotony of school, church, family, and work and forget about our aspirations—aspirations that our Heavenly Father wants us to have. We often even get distracted and waylaid by ‘good’ things.” Emphasizing the importance of making covenants, the highest covenant we can achieve here on earth is being married in the temple. And the prerequisite to marriage is active dating. Hindi naman ibig sabihin ng ‘dating’ ay you will date every sister in the ward. Going on active dates requires critical planning and often communication with God. Since dating can lead to marriage, this is something we should really pray for and think of. Finding an eternal companion is not an easy thing to do. It requires a lot of patience and faith to endure the quest. Mahirap, nakakainip sabi nga nila pero ang tanong, may ginagawa ka ba?

President Thomas S. Monson, a latter-day prophet leader,  said: “Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is [our] goal. Such a goal is not achieved in one glorious attempt but rather is the result of a lifetime of righteousness, an accumulation of wise choices, even a constancy of purpose.” Sabi nila “happiness is a choice” as is dating. In dating you don’t just choose, you choose and and you commit to your purpose and goal. You are not just hanging out to enjoy the moment, you are doing your part to be back with Him someday.

“Building a strong premarital friendship requires spending sufficient time with each other and finding opportunities for interaction. I know of couples who spent almost their entire engagement separated because of work or school. Similarly, some couples count a partner’s years on a mission as courtship time. Although time apart can provide valuable perspective, long-distance romances can’t replace face-to-face interaction even if a couple spends a fortune on postage. Relationships and individuals change too quickly and too subtly to be monitored and influenced from afar.”  Minsan parang O.A. na, going on a date is the only way to find true potential to bring to the temple, pero that’s really a major part in fulfilling the commandment of God – marriage.

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Time and time again, the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord have counseled and warned us about the blessings and consequences of obeying the commandments of the Lord. However, sometimes we still ask within ourselves, “Why is it important to obey the Lord’s commandments?” Some of us may wonder “What is it to me if I obey the commandments or not?” Will it hurt to disobey just a little? Can a small act of disobedience really make that much of a difference?

The Lord has given us commandments for our protection and our benefit. However, there are moments when we feel that these things prevent us from living our lives to the fullest and eventually rob us of opportunities to experience joy. “Why can’t I go to that party?” “Why can’t I date before 16 when everyone’s going out already?” If we continue thinking this way, eventually, obedience can feel like a burden rather than the blessing it is.

But this should not be. President Thomas S. Monson, the current prophet leader of the LDS church, testified of the blessings that come with obeying commandments when he said “There are rules and laws to help ensure our physical safety. Likewise, the Lord has provided guidelines and commandments to help ensure our spiritual safety so that we might successfully navigate this often-treacherous mortal existence and return eventually to our Heavenly Father.” Sometimes we might feel that the commandments prevent us from living the life we want but actually, these have been given for us to have more freedom and to eventually find our way back to the Father.

The consequences of disobeying the commandments do not always come immediately, but they do come. Yes, we have the agency to choose what we want but we have no control over the consequences of disobedient choices. As a reminder of this, Mormon Messages for Youth,a campaign of the LDS Church geared towards the younger generation,has released some 2 minute clips that center on keeping the commandments in a profound way.

Full Article: LDSLiving

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These days, when marriage and the family are always under constant attack by the adversary, it seems that the family values and the family unit itself are hopeless. In a time when people put less and less emphasis on the family in favor of pursuing advances in technology and endless business opportunities, we may sometimes ask “What does a family truly mean?” Or a more critical question, ”How do I treat the family?”

Indeed, the Lord saw this coming. He knew that there will come a time when people’s values of family and marriage would start to disintegrate because of false teachings and relativism. But the Lord’s views on these two important units still remain and He wants His children to remember the importance of marriage and family in His Great Plan of Happiness. To protect the family against Satan’s “fiery darts”, the Lord revealed, through his Prophets and Apostles, a revelation on the family entitled, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints receive guidance and reminders from this proclamation especially in this time of great confusion. The Proclamation teaches the doctrine of families, their place in Heavenly Father’s eternal plan, and how to build and maintain strong, Christ-centered family relationships.

In fact, the whole world, Latter-day Saint or not, are invited to follow the pattern set by the Proclamation. Elder M. Russel Ballard, member of the latter-day Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and one of the leaders of the LDS Church, said that this blueprint from God “remains a clarion call to protect and strengthen families.” The principles found in the proclamation also carry a promise. Elder Robert D. Hales, another Apostle of the LDS Church, said, “Fulfilling these obligations is the key to protecting our families in these last days.”

The Family: A Proclamation to the World is like a guide, a literal blueprint from God, to fight many temptations and adversities faced by families everywhere. It is a proof of the Lord’s strong regard for the family. It is the blueprint of the Lord for the family.

Full Read: LDS.net

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Everyone is packing, preparing to go on a vacation, busy on planning, booking ticket for a good trip but what is really the meaning of  this Easter season? Here is a list as an Easter week date with the Lord to help us draw our attention back to this season’s real meaning.

Just like Christmas, everyone is busy for everything not thinking why we are celebrating this season. It is because we celebrate the most significant event happened to these whole existence., the Atonement of Christ. But how can we really remember Him this and celebrate it? This idea is not only for Lenten Season, it is for everyday or time to time activity for a week.

Day 1:  On the fifth day before Passover, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as was prophesied. People recognized Him as their King, shouted “Hosanna,” and placed their garments and palm fronds on the ground in front of the donkey. (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Zechariah 9:9)

Day 2: For the second time during His mortal ministry, Jesus cleansed the courts of the temple. “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves,” He told the money changers (Matthew 21:13). Then many of the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw His miracles, they became angry and sought for a way to destroy Him. (Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19)

Day 3: Throughout the week, the Savior delivered some of His most memorable sermons, including His teachings about the widow’s mite. (Mark 12:41–44; Luke 21:1–4)

Day 4: During His last meal, Jesus promised His apostles that they would receive the Comforter, or Holy Ghost, when He was gone. He taught them to remember Him by partaking of the sacrament. At the end of the evening, Jesus offered the Intercessory Prayer, where He prayed that the disciples might become one in unity. (Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:14–32; John 13–17)

Day 5: In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior knelt and prayed, His agony for the sins of the world causing Him “to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:18). Soon Judas Iscariot and a multitude of armed men arrested Jesus, and all the disciples forsook the Lord and fled. (Matthew 26:36–56; Mark 14:32–50; Luke 22:39–53)

Day 6: After an illegal trial and cruel scourging, Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be crucified, completing the “great and last sacrifice” that made salvation possible for all the children of God (see Alma 34:14–15). Before nightfall, Jesus’s followers removed His body from the cross, dressed Him in linen and spices, and laid Him in a tomb. (SeeMatthew 27; Luke 23; Mark 15; John 19)

Day 7: Sunday morning dawned, and Mary Magdalene and other faithful women arrived at the tomb to further anoint Jesus’s body. They found the stone of the tomb rolled away and two angels who declared joyous tidings: “He is not here: for he is risen” (Matthew 28:6). The resurrected Savior had conquered physical death and made it possible for each of us to live again: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)

May we celebrate this season with purpose and may we have a great personal moment with the Lord as we go through this Easter season with the Easter week date guide.

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Pano nga ba malaman kung ikaw ang tamang tao para sa kanya? Siguro walang makasasagot ng tanong na ito kasi wala ding tamang sagot. Pero kung ire-revise natin yung tanong sa “ano ang gagawin ko para maging tamang tao para sa kanya?” (pwede) President Gordon B. Hinckley has counseled that marriage “will be the most important decision of your life. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time.”  

First, are you in the right place? This does not require an address or specific place. If we will think of this spiritually, “Are you always standing in a Holy place?”

Second is right time, again hindi rin ibig sabihin nito ay tamang oras o panahon talaga na literal. This could mean, did you already do you duties to the Lord? Best example is going on a mission or magnifying your callings.

Third is my favorite one. Many of us have the ‘mirror mirror on the wall’ problem. In Matthew 7:3–5, it reads, we can easily see the faults of others, but not our own. So before we start holding others up to scrutiny to see if they are worthy of us, maybe we ought to work first on becoming a “right person” for someone else.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered this counsel: “If the choice is between reforming other Church members [including fiancés, spouses, and children] or ourselves, is there really any question about where we should begin? The key is to have our eyes wide open to our own faults and partially closed to the faults of others—not the other way around! The imperfections of others never release us from the need to work on our own shortcomings. Therefore, when we focus on finding the right person, we should also focus on becoming the right person for someone else. The strengths we bring to a marriage will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the marriage.”

We tend to judge while we, ourselves, have weaknesses too.  Buksan ang mata para sa sariling pagkakamali at isara ang mata sa kamalian ng iba. Isang susi para mapalakas ang kahinaan na ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pag exercise natin ng compassion. Every one of us needs this attribute not just in dating people but in every relationship.  I think that’s the main purpose of having a partner and finding a partner. It is for us to develop Christ-like attributes essential for our growth here on earth.

To be the right person sometimes makes us pressured. But if we focus on following the best example of the right person, which is Jesus Christ, these things will be a wonderful experience. So don’t just find the right person, start being the right one.

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The Book of Mormon is a record of prophets who lived on the ancient American continents. These prophets kept records of their people’s history and spiritual experiences between the years of 600 BC, when they emigrated from the city of Jerusalem, and 421 AD.

The Book of Mormon contains prophecies and testimonies about Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. It contains experiences the people had, that show how mindful the Lord is of all His people and that His mercy is sufficient for all that believe in Him. It is a book of scripture that teaches about the power of repentance, forgiveness, and charity. It teaches how people can come unto Christ and learn his ways. The book also contains an account of Christ’s visit to this people, his teachings, and his prayers to the Father on their behalf.

The name of the book was derived from the name of the prophet historian who abridged all the ancient prophetic records into one volume. His name was Mormon. After Mormon’s death, the abridged record was passed to his son Moroni, who wrote the last portion of the book. Moroni then hid the book from the world, trusting that it would come forth in God’s own due time.

Then, in the year 1820, this same Moroni appeared as an angel to Joseph Smith, a 14-year old farm boy in New York. Moroni introduced the book to Joseph and told him what he should do. The boy’s mission was to translate the Book of Mormon into the English language. He was guided and equipped by the Lord to accomplish the translation. He used special stones called the “Urim, Thummim, and a seer stone” to help with the translation—instruments that were similar to what prophets used in the Old Testament.

The first edition of the Book of Mormon was published in English on March 26, 1830. Since then, the Book of Mormon has been translated into 82 languages, and more than 150 million copies have been printed.

Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, they do not discount the role of the Bible. Mormons believe that both books of scripture are testaments of Jesus Christ. They both contain the teachings of Jesus Christ, that show people how to live with greater happiness and fulfillment. Mormons believe that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are complementary books of scripture, both testifying of the mission and Messiahship of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for mankind.

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One of the eternal principles we need to understand is “Agency” or freedom to choose. In light of the teachings found in the Book of Mormon, in 2 Nephi 2:27, it states, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for [satan] seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

This “gift” has been with us even during our premortal life. It is the same gift that gave us our body on earth. During our existence on earth, Heavenly Father had a grand council, a meeting. During that time, we had to make a very important choice – a choice between good and evil or between Jesus Christ and Lucifer. Jesus Christ wanted us to keep our gift of agency for us to learn and understand fully the great plan of salvation. However, Lucifer wanted everyone to learn as what he dictates us to learn and to pass through life for the sake of fulfilling the plan – meaningless. The result of our choice then is having an earthly family and a physical temple for our spirit. We know that we chose the right through our physical body and our families.

Our agency affects our eternal progression “…for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). However, as early as now, we can choose our courses to take – peace and eternal life or sin and heartache.

Here are some discussions from scriptures of old and latter-day scriptures to help us understand more the gift of agency:

1 Our mortal life is a period of testing to see how we will use our agency (see Abraham 3:25).

2 There must be “opposition in all things” so that we can see the differences between good and evil. This gives us the opportunity to choose. (See 2 Nephi 2:11–16; D&C 29:39.)

3 Our Heavenly Father gave each of us the Light of Christ so that we may know good from evil (see Moroni 7:12–17).

4 When we choose our course of action, whether good or bad, we also choose the consequences attached to our actions (see Deuteronomy 11:26–28; 30:15–20; Galatians 6:7; Revelation 22:12).

5 Because “[we] are permitted to act for [ourselves],” we are responsible for our actions (see Helaman 14:30–31).

6 When we choose to obey God’s commandments, our options increase, and we have more freedom (see 2 Nephi 2:27; D&C 58:26–28; 93:20).

7 When we choose to disobey God’s commandments, our options decrease, and we may become captive to wickedness (see 2 Nephi 2:29; John 8:34).

8 Our Heavenly Father “will not suffer [us] to be tempted above that [we] are able; but will … make a way to escape,” provided we choose to resist the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

9 We must humble ourselves and “pray continually” so that we can resist temptation (see Alma 13:28).

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Yes! We are part of a grand plan and we have been reared and nurtured to choose as how Father has chosen and to act as how He acted. We are assured of great potentials and are given all the guidance to achieve these potentials. Every person is our spirit brother or sister. This teaching is also the foundation of the Church’s strong advocacy on family and the importance of strengthening the spirituality of one another.

We all can’t remember what happened during our premortal existence because we passed through a veil – veil of forgetfulness. This veil, with many others, is one of the mysteries of God but sufficient to say that it is also part of the plan for us to exercise our choices wisely on this earthly existence. It is really through faith that we can be saved – believing in things we haven’t seen but true.

Heavenly Father desires us to progress and be like Him. He knows that our progression ceases on a certain point unless we leave Him to exercise our trust in Him so, He gave us a home and our spirits a physical temple. One of our guides in this life is through the words written in many scriptures like the Bible and Book of Mormon. A proclamation, through Christ’s appointed leaders in the Church, was recently published by the Church titled, “The Family: A proclamation to the World”. This is a shortened timeline and description of a person’s potential and responsibilities.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been reiterating that families are forever – eternal. A young lady was living then in a country where people are mostly non-Christians. This country has a history of cults, molded in Christian image, which threatened and even ending lives of both believers and non-believers. This made it more difficult for the citizens to know more of Christianity. However, while she was going through her daily college routines, she stopped and started asking why other people have churches. She felt the wanting to belong to a group that focuses on hope and beliefs of a higher being. One day, she went home to visit her family. She had an inspirational talk with her dad and she said this statement, “Dad, what do you think happens to us after we die?” Her dad replied, “Nothing. We float around in darkness.” She then started to cry. She told herself that she wants to still be home with them and to see them. This drove her desire to know more and she found the sweetest answer from the missionaries and clang to it ever since. She shares this inspiration back to her family as this filled her life with hope and she wants her family to feel the same way, too.

Indeed, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will not break anything which is good, righteous, and heavenly. They will keep their promises to us and bonds eternally with us.

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In Mosiah 4:9 of the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, it says, “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.” He is all knowing and perfect. He is the embodiment of pure goodness­.

Latter-day Saints, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe that Heavenly Father, similar to us, has a tangible body of flesh and bones. This reciprocates the truth that “… God created man in his own image…” (Gen 1:27) and this strengthens the doctrine that we are literally His children. We were born of Him even before this life – our story in our premortal life. We inherited divine, eternal potential and He will always be there for us to achieve that potential.

God is a God of righteousness. He is the personification of divine attributes such as mercy, love, and charity. All good things are from Him. He made known to us His plan, “Behold, this is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

Our Father in Heaven is the Almighty Ruler and the Great Parent of the universe. Through Jesus Christ, all things in this earth and in heaven were created. In 3 Nephi 9:15, it states:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.

Knowing God is our personal loving Father can bless us immensely. In the New Testament, in John 17:3, it states, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent.” Our faith in Him can guide us through this narrow path we have. We can have hope in the most desperate time in History and charity from a very selfish world. Through Him and His son’s example, goodness in humanity can be restored and strengthened.

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