Sacred Family Relationships

Happy Mothers' Day to all you lovely sisters,
I love the quote that beings lesson 9 for it makes me happy.
“If we are faithful we will associate with each other in an immortal and glorious state. … Those connections formed here, that are of the most enduring character, shall exist in eternity.” 
Isn't that wonderful to know that those who are dear to us here can continue to be associates with us in the next life? We learn those songs in Primary about families being together forever, which is of course (hopefully) the most cherished relationships we have. I think we can also count in our dear friends we have nurtured as well in this package. I also look forward to the relationships I will have with those who came to this earth before I did and made my life possible as it is.
We know that Adam and Eve did us a great favor by choosing mortality so that we could come to earth and also have families. As a grandmother, one of the greatest joys is seeing a grandchild run to me for a shared hug! What could possibly come close to that sweet gift?
We know that not everyone will marry on this earth but are counseled by the leaders that " There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive. …"
Isn't it comforting to have this knowledge whether for ourselves or for a dear one?
I also thought you would like to be reminded of this one thing:

When husband and wife enjoy a oneness of feeling, they encourage love and kindness in the home.

See that the little, trifling misunderstandings in domestic concerns do not poison your happiness.⁸    I  certainly don't want to lose the happiness I have and hope that we can all remember to cling to that which makes us truly happy. As Courtney Werner taught, we can reply to an "offending" comment by simply replying with a question, "Do you really mean to say- - - -  ?" Communication can often become the sliver in our families. Let's keep removing those slivers as quickly as we can so that our happiness is not diminished.

To those families with children, I can hear the Moms saying" here! here!"

"To the husbands, I say: Many of you do not value your wives as you should. … Be kind to them. When they go out to meeting, you carry the baby at least half the time. When it needs rocking, and you have not much to do, rock it. Be kind when sometimes you have to make a little sacrifice to do so; feel kind anyway, no matter what the sacrifice. "

Yes, this can apply to us as well as we sacrifice and have charity. Doing so will take us  a bit closer to having a sense of unity in our family as we strengthen our commitment to each other.

As we become closer as husband and wife, if we try to live in harmony, our children will see how we live as we teach by example. In 1 Nephi 8:10-12

10 And it came to pass that I beheld a ^atree, whose ^bfruit was desirable to make one ^chappy.

 11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the ^afruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the ^bwhiteness that I had ever seen.

 12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great ^ajoy; wherefore, I began to be ^bdesirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was ^cdesirable above all other fruit.

Happy Mothers Day again. I am going outside with my husband to try and make this marriage last happily for eternity.      

Constantly learning bloggess,

Janice