Prayer

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Prayer

I had a mission companion who really struggled to remember her morning prayers.

I seriously could NOT understand this.

You wake up, roll out of bed, and there you are on your knees.

How can this not be ingrained in everyone?

It's just SO easy!

Then I had children.

Suddenly the waking up process changed from gently rolling out of bed.

It turned into jumping into action to meet the cries of a child.

Nine years later, I still find myself struggling to find consistency in my morning prayers.

This morning flowed smoothly.

The boys got up easily and Ammon got ready quickly.

(Neither of those are things that can be taken for granted around here.)

Ammon wanted to eat breakfast at school so we tried that out today.

I loved going to school early.

We missed all the crazy rush of dropping kids off.

Then we got home and Peter was ready for breakfast.

Sadly, that is where my first prayer of the day came in.

I don't recall all the things I prayed for.

I have many things I am grateful for.

I also have many things I could use help from heaven with.

But I do remember that I prayed for Ammon to be safe.

I prayed for him to be protected.

And as I said those words which were ordinary but also felt prompted,

I could almost see a shield of protection coming from home

And extending over him at school.

It was like we were all being placed in a bubble of safety.

I've never experienced anything quite like that before.

I expect today to be quite ordinary.

But I have to wonder if some harm would have come his way

had that prayer not been said.

I'll likely never know.

I am grateful for the power of prayer.

I truly felt it today.

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that 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.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. 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.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.