The Plan of Salvation and Families

This is something that has really been on my mind lately and it has been something that I am so grateful to have the knowledge of so I thought I would share:)

I will briefly explain the plan of salvation but the part I want to focus on today is how families can become eternal and be together forever.

Here is a picture of the plan of salvation or the great plan of happiness. As I describe the plan, feel free to refer to the picture so you can follow along. 

We all started in the pre-mortal existence where we all dwelt with each other and our Heavenly Father and Mother. Heavenly Father said we would need to come to earth and there were two people who raised their voice to come up with a plan. Lucifer and Jesus Christ. Lucifer's plan was to control us and make us do what he said. Christ's plan was to come to earth sacrifice himself so we could return to Heavenly Father. This plan would allow us to use free agency. There was a war in Heaven and everyone who is on this earth chose The Lord's side. 

We come to earth as a baby and have a veil placed upon us so that we don't remember what went on in Heaven. This is the point where we gain our body. We are on this earth and we have our free agency to make choices that will either lead us closer of farther away from the Lord. We are tested and tried while here. 

After we die we leave our body and become a spirit again. we either go to spirit prison or paradise based on our actions on earth. It is here we will wait until the second coming where the Savior will come again. When He comes we will all be resurrected no matter what. We will then have our final judgement and be placed in one of the three kingdoms. Our goal is to make it to the celestial kingdom where we can be with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and dwell with them again. 

While we are on this earth there are several things we must do in order to make it back to the celestial kingdom. In doctrine and covenants 131 (D&C 131) we read that one of those things is celestial marriage. The way we can have celestial marriage is by entering into one of the Lord's holy temples and be sealed to our spouse for time and all eternity. Once we have done this, we can be with our family forever. Instead of death do us part like in normal marriages, we are with our spouse and family for all eternity. After we die, we will meet them again and be joined together. Who wouldn't want to be with their family forever? 

This is such a powerful and sacred thing and it is very near to my heart. I am very close to my family and I couldn't imagine going through this life knowing that after they pass on I would never see them again. I have had two experiences with becoming an eternal family and I would like to share them.

My family and I joined the church when I was 8 and when I was 10 we were all ready to go to the temple and be sealed together forever. I don't remember a ton from this experience but I remember the amount of joy I felt knowing that my mom, dad, and brother would be with me forever. As we all participated in this covenant, I remember looking into my parents and brothers eyes and knowing we were an eternal family. There was much joy.

On August 6, 2011 my sweet husband kelsey and I knelt together in the same Seattle temple and became an eternal family of our own. This time was much more emotional for me because I understood what was happening and was creating an eternal family of my own. As we made these covenants, I knew that as long as we kept them we would be together forever. What an amazing feeling that was. Now as we have children someday, they will be sealed to us and they will be part of our family forever as well. 

Here is some pictures from our special day:

That day was almost two years ago and we have been happily married ever since. We know nothing can ever be too bad because we have eternal marriage on our side.