The Family

This week was really good. I got a little refresher, because we got to go to the temple. The new movie was life changing, and it gets even better I got to see it in English. It is not that I feel that there are languages that are worth less, I just know that receiving the gospel in your own language brings brighter understanding and a further knowledge of God´s plan.

As I sat in the celestial room I really thought about families, especially this week being thanksgiving I have thought a little about the family gatherings and fun that will be going on. I have been keeping a journal of gratitude and realized that probably for the last month I have thanked God for a member in my family, or my whole family in general. Our brothers and sisters, spiritual and physical, truly are the most important things that we have in  this life. 

We have been working with a family whose father and mother split up, and needless to say since they split up it has not been a walk down the yellow brick road. The oldest son, who was a less active member who we helped reactivate, was having a difficult time showing love towards other members. The mother was bombarded with stress of paying for a house, taking care of three children and trying to just stay afloat on the waters of life. The daughter was having a difficult time with whether or not she wanted to follow her mother or father. 

Well what happened was as we worked with them, to get them to sit in the same room together was a struggle, but we tried to help them get into the Book of Mormon. I would like to say that they read the chapters we left them, slipped on their ruby slippers and found there is no place like home. 

Unfortunately It is quite the opposite. We found their mother devistated to find that her daughter was tired of living there and left to live with her father, after a long series of very unfortunate events. 

At this moment in time I have never realized how much in our homes, communities, and countries we need to share the importance of the family. Truly our nations can only be as strong as the foundations of the family in the homes of the people.

I know that the family is the most important thing on this earth and that it is ordained of God. I would march alone against the armies of Hell to protect the family and the standards it holds. I know not all have a privilege to be born or live in a family with the most ideal circumstances. My advice to all is mothers teach your children the importance of finding that person who is ready to stay by their side for eternity. Fathers show all the love you have to your children by the way to you treat their mothers. 

Famalies are forever. This is a truth that has been taught since the begining of the prophet Adam, and I know it is true!

Eu te amo,

Elder Cooper