Eternal Perspective

I just want to quickly share some feelings and impressions I have had over the last few weeks as I prepared the last several blogs. I remembered a quote from Mark A. Mathews that says, “Just because not everyone achieves the ideal does not mean we should stop holding it up as the standard we seek.”1 Especially with the topic of marriage and family, that is so true! I love that the title of the one lesson was “Preserve and Protect the Family.” It wasn’t "Preserve and Protect Your Family." It said the family! Each of us has that sacred obligation no matter what our current family situation is. I have some incredible friends who would love to be married and have a family, but they have not yet had those opportunities. They are, nevertheless, still strong believers in and defenders of the family. My heart aches with them and for them when it comes to matters of marriage and motherhood. But I always find great comfort as I read beautiful quotes like these from prophets of God:

“We promise you that insofar as eternity is concerned, no soul will be deprived of rich and high and eternal blessings for anything which that person could not help, that the Lord never fails in his promises, and that every righteous person will receive eventually all to which the person is entitled and which he or she has not forfeited through any fault of his or her own.” Spencer W. Kimball2

“Not all women in the Church will have an opportunity for marriage and motherhood in mortality. But if those of you in this situation are worthy and endure faithfully, you can be assured of all blessings from a kind and loving Heavenly Father—and I emphasize all blessings. I assure you that if you have to wait even until the next life to be blessed with a choice companion, God will surely compensate you. Time is numbered only to man. God has your eternal perspective in mind.” Ezra Taft Benson 3 “No blessing, including that of eternal marriage and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life—for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied.” Howard W. Hunter4

“To the women within the sound of my voice who dearly want to be mothers and are not, I say through your tears and ours on that subject, God will yet, in days that lie somewhere ahead, bring ‘hope to [the] desolate heart.’ As prophets have repeatedly taught from this pulpit, ultimately ‘no blessing shall be withheld’ from the faithful, even if those blessings do not come immediately. In the meantime we rejoice that the call to nurture is not limited to our own flesh and blood.” Jeffrey R. Holland5

Interestingly, the visiting message for August was “Nurturing Families Together.” As I was sharing the message with two of the ladies I visit, who are single, I reminded them of these comforting truths. Here were four women – two single, one divorced and one who had lost a child. None of our lives have turned out quite like we had imagined. But we all rely on the same thing - the hope that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ! For me, it is knowing I will be with my daughter again. For them, hope comes because they know that their righteous desires for marriage and motherhood will be realized.

We each have an obligation to be defenders of the family, even as we wait upon the Lord for the fulfillment of the promises given regarding eternal families. Promised blessings which are possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ!