The Eternal Family: Beyond the Mortal Existence

“What matters most is what lasts longest, and our families are for eternity.”

-M. Russell Ballard

My favorite hymn since becoming a member of the church still and will always be "Families Can Be Together Forever". 

Families can be together forever

Through Heavenly Father's plan

I always want to be with my own family 

And the Lord has shown me how I can

The Lord has shown me how I can. 

The chorus of this hymn always brings a smile to my face. Each time it is sung at my small branch, I often get emotional when thinking about my own family. I come from a somewhat small family. Both my mother and I were only children. Often my playmates were books and stuffed animals when my parents worked long hours. 

Me and my grandmum a few years before she passed away.

Eventually, when my grandmother took over my care as a young child, I was able to feel the warmth that only the love of a family member can bring.

But what is a family?

In the first paragraph of The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the true definition of a family is described as a union ordained by God between a man and woman and explains that the family is central to Heavenly Father's eternal destiny for his children.  As Latter-day Saints, we believe that the sacred union of marriage and families exist past our mortal lives.  

Elder Merrill J.Bated stated that "the creation of the Earth, the fall of Adam, and the atonement of Christ are essential elements to the pillars in the Father's plan for the progression and development of his children- both as individuals and as families... These three doctrinal pillars of the plan of salvation  are intimately involved in the creation of new eternal families and their extension into the eternities"

If marriage and eternal families are a part of Heavenly Father's plan for his children why are the concepts of marriage and family entered so casually?

While watching some of the couples in my small island branch, I've come to see those relationships planted on strong foundations always seem to endure through the stormiest of trials. Often, it doesn't mean that both individuals are perfect or that they've never had impossible "mountains" to endure. 
However, due to their union being rooted in the foundation of the gospel and sharing these eternal truths with their children, these families are better able to weather the storms which come upon them. 

In this present day where a few of my own friends have broken relationships and ugly divorces and have even sworn off marriage and family for entirely selfish reasons, I always bring myself back to the truth of why eternal families exist.

Eternal families are a blessing to us during our time on earth. They provide the basis to spread the gospel and provide the core principles to our children (future children for me) to return to our Heavenly Father's presence one day.

Photos of my hanai family (adopted family members):

My hanai family in Idaho. Hanai means adopted. The mom of one of the missionaries who first taught me "adopted" me into their family when I visited Idaho last year.

I don't have sisters but my friends Anna and Lina are pretty close to biological sisters. Whenever we get together it's a crazy time.

My Barbados Bridgetown Mission girls at October General Conference last year.

Months after dreaming of this trip forever, I finally made it to Idaho to meet my "hanai family". And they brought a bag of Idaho potatoes since I always took pictures of them in the supermarket.