Life is full of important days. How do we know what choices can prepare us for them?
I recently attended the temple sealing of a good friend. As I sat in the sealing room and listened to the words of the ordinance, I could feel the eternal importance of that moment. The officiating sealer shared an insight from President Russell M. Nelson, who said at his daughter’s funeral that the most important day in her life was not her birth or death, but the day she was sealed to her husband. This idea struck me—I couldn’t get it out of my head. I found myself wondering what kind of choices I need to make in order to prepare for that important day. I began to evaluate my preparation.
In my search for the exact quote from President Nelson, I stumbled upon another talk he gave, this time in the October 2013 general conference, entitled “Decisions for Eternity.” He discusses the importance of our choices and how intentional we must be with our everyday decisions to work toward being sealed in the temple. Then-Elder Nelson teaches, “Each day is a day of decision, and our decisions determine our destiny.” We are presented with choices every day that will shape our future, however small the impact may be.
As a young adult, I am surrounded by many young people who are thinking about a future family. At the same time, I recognize that not everyone’s path looks the same. Some may feel uncertain about marriage, may not desire it, or may not get the opportunity for it in this life. Even so, the principle of making intentional, eternal choices applies to all of us. Elder Nelson says, “When we choose the loftier path toward liberty and eternal life, that path includes marriage.”
It can be easy to think of temple sealing as a distant milestone; however, Elder Nelson reminds us that our everyday choices can impact our eternity. As we reflect on our lives, we can ask ourselves: What choices am I making today? And how do those choices influence my eternity?
Read the full general conference address, “Decisions for Eternity,” by Elder Russell M. Nelson.
Source: General Conference
—McKenzie VanOrden, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY JAKSON MARTINS
Find more insights
Take a look at the Church News article “‘A Fulness of Joy’: President Nelson Shares Message of Eternal Life at His Daughter’s Funeral” by Trent Toone and Sarah Jane Weaver to read more about President Nelson’s eulogy honoring his daughter.
Read and watch Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s general conference address “The Sealing Power” to dive into the importance of sealings.
Read Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s general conference address “The Family Proclamation—Words from God” to learn about the role of families in the Church.
Take a look at Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s New Era article “Agency or Inspiration?” to learn more about the power of making decisions.