“Many traditions can reinforce gospel standards and principles.” —Elder Donald L. Hallstrom
When I was growing up, my family didn’t celebrate a lot of the traditions of our Mexican culture. I think a lot of it was because my parents and extended family members didn’t want to stand out more than they already did, especially with being new to the United States. But the Pixar movie Coco inspired my family to reintroduce a family tradition—Día de los Muertos.
Photo by Katia Rolon
This tradition from my family’s culture became very symbolic to us because we didn’t get to celebrate before but now can. I now love celebrating Día de los Muertos for two reasons. The first is that I get to remember my family and my roots—my culture. The second, and more important, is that my family took the opportunity to teach us an important gospel principle while teaching us about our tradition: God and Jesus Christ have made it possible for my family to be together forever.
In his talk “Cultivate Righteous Traditions,” Elder Donald L. Hallstrom says, “Many traditions can reinforce gospel standards and principles.” These traditions can help unite families as one. These traditions help our family members come together to celebrate their culture. Día de los Muertos united my family in that we came together to celebrate our ancestors and experience what our ancestors once did. It helped me—and my family—to remember that someday we will get to see our ancestors again.
Read or watch Elder Donald L. Hallstrom’s talk “Cultivate Righteous Traditions” to see how traditions help families grow closer.
Source: General Conference
—Isabella Nuñez, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY SASIN TIPCHAI
Find more insights
Read Emily Russon’s article “Family History: More Than Work For the Dead” to understand how genealogy can strengthen our families.
Read Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “The Gospel Culture” to learn how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a culture of its own.