What does the gospel of Jesus Christ teach us about our life’s purpose and eternal destiny? Familial bonds don’t end with mortality.
There are millions of pop culture portrayals of the afterlife and speculations about what it’s like. For instance, I recently watched a movie with a depiction of an individualistic heaven that led me to think of the disappointment I would face if I couldn’t see my family ever again. I cherish my parents, and I live with the hope of one day meeting my ancestors. If mortal existence were just a placeholder before ending up alone for eternity, then what would be the purpose of life?
Photo by Kasuma f.g.
In his recent general conference talk “The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ,” President Dallin H. Oaks states that “our relationship to God and the purpose of our mortal life are explained in terms of the family,” and the purpose of Jesus Christ’s gospel is “to exalt the children of God in eternal families.” This means that the family is central to our eternal destination. We are placed on this earth to build relationships and gain knowledge that will transcend mortality. Understanding these truths led my parents to get sealed in the temple. Being bound to each other as a family has allowed them and their future generations greater access to the power of Jesus Christ.
However, no family is perfect. I have three older brothers who don’t seem to care that I exist, but I love them anyway. I have shared good and bad experiences with each of them that have taught me about the blessings of family. President Oaks teaches, “Our doctrine and our belief in eternal families strengthen and bond us.” Because I am a disciple of Christ, I know that one day I can reconcile with all my brothers and finally see eye to eye. This wish couldn’t become a reality without the doctrine of eternal families and the plan of salvation.
As Jesus Christ’s gospel teaches us, familial bonds don’t just end with mortality but can endure for eternity. We can cherish and strengthen our relationships both on earth and on the other side of the veil. Even when our present circumstances don’t seem ideal, let us trust in God and the beautiful, unifying afterlife that he has prepared for us.
Discover more about the powerful doctrine of eternal families in President Dallin H. Oaks’s general conference talk, “The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Source: General Conference
—Samantha Caceres, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY NATHAN DUMLAO
Find more insights
Read about guiding practices essential to strengthening families in Elder M. Russell Ballard’s general conference talk “What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest.”
Read Abigail Tree’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “How You Belong in the Family Proclamation” to learn how truths about eternal families apply to you, even if your family doesn’t seem to fit the mold.