Latter day prophets have proclaimed to the world that God’s holy priesthood and the sacred keys that allow marriages and families to be sealed together for time and all eternity have been restored to the earth. The prophet Joseph smith taught, “It is in the oder of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and the lost priesthood.”
Gordon B Hinkley said, “The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”
Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
The Plan of Salvation
The doctrine of the pre-mortal existence was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. Prior to mortal birth each person born on earth first existed as a spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.
Before we came to earth, a grand council was held. God presented the plan of salvation. It included the doctrine of eternal families and the atonement of Jesus Christ. In the council we learned that the plan of redemption required a savior to “take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.” (Alma 7:11) as well as “the sins of his people” (Alma 7:13) This allowed the people to be able to repent for their sins and return to dwell in the presence of God.
Lucifer, one of God’s Spirit children, made a selfish and vain attempt to be the Savior, but Jesus Christ was chosen to carry out God’s plan.
Those who supported “the great plan of the Eternal God” (Alma 34:9) were promised that they would have the opportunity and responsibility to live in and perpetuate family relationships. We also learned that each of us would have missions to perform, such as being a son, daughter, sister, brother, husband, wife, mother, or father. We learned that understanding and fulfilling these roles was a part of our divine destiny.
Creation, Fall, and Atonement
The plan of redemption is founded upon three major doctrines: (a) The creation of the earth and all man kind, (b) the fall of Adam, Eve, and their posterity, and (c) the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Elder Merrill J. Bateman
"The creation of earth, the Fall of Adam, and the atonement of Christ are essential elements or pillars in the fathers plan for the progression and development of his children--both as individuals and as families. These three doctrines are intimately involved in the creation of new eternal families and their extension into the eternities."
We came to earth to obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection. Being born into a family was the way God chose to send his spirit children to earth. We best learn the lessons of life in a context where we face challenge, opposition, hardship, and temptation.
The great plan of happiness is designed to include adversity and sorry. “For if we never should have bitter, we could not know the sweet” D&C 29:39
One very important doctrine is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The atonement allows sins to be forgiven, our bodies to be resurrected, and eternal families to be together.
For families to have eternal salvation they must put the Savior first in all that they do.
The savior taught: Though shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind, and with all they strength: This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Though shalt love they neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)
The atonement of Jesus Christ also allows each of us to grow and progress by repenting, being forgiven, and being worthy of the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost.
Christ took upon himself the sins of the world, and it is only through faith in him and obedience to the laws and ordinances of his gospel that salvation and exaltation are possible. Without the atonement, no one could live in God’s presence, inherit all he has, or be sealed together as a family for eternity.
God’s plan is eternal. He instituted marriage and family in the beginning. God created the earth, the garden, and our first parents in order to create families for all of his children to be born into so they could experience mortal life. The Fall happened and the Savior completed the atonement so all of Heavenly Father’s children could return to live with him.
"Eternal life means to become like the Father and to live in families in happiness and joy forever."
-Henry B. Eyring
