So I'm getting ready to teach seminary in a week and am a bit anxious as to how it will all work out. In preparation, I attended a training session a couple weeks ago. The featured instructor based his lesson on a talk recently given by Julie Beck, Relief Society General President. So this post has no original thoughts from my head. :) They come from Sister Beck.
A key objective for seminary teachers is to include the Family in our daily lessons. They want The Family: A Proclamation to the World somewhere visible and referenced as often as possible. Church leadership is asking seminary teachers to help students prepare for eternal responsibilities. I believe it is in part because of what Paul taught the Ephesians: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Families are under attack from all directions. And the rising generation needs to clearly understand the importance of families (we all do).
There is a Theology of the Family in our Church...and it is based on the Creation, Fall, and Atonement. I had no idea. And yet this is the Plan of Salvation. I've been taught these basic pillars of the Gospel all my life...and until I heard Sister Beck share this insight, I had never connected the Creation, Fall, and Atonement to the family.
The creation of the Earth was intentional to form a family.
Through the leadership of Eve, the Fall provided opportunities for growth...both in numbers and in experience.
The Atonement allows the family to be sealed and provides eternal opportunities for growth.
The Plan of our Heavenly Father was created for the family. When we speak of qualifying for the blessings of eternal life, we are speaking of qualifying for the blessings of families. This was Christ's doctrine...and this is part of what was restored in these latter days.
Doctrine and Covenants 2 is a portion of Joseph Smith's interactions with the angel Moroni. And it is technically the earliest revelation recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. It's message? Turning the hearts of the children to their fathers and the promises made of old. And that got me thinking about the Book of Mormon--what's the first message of the Book of Mormon? Even the very first verse...
I'm excited for what I am hopeful I will learn this year.
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3 comments:
please please please post the link to Julie Beck's talk. i've not heard about it or of it...
love this.
can't wait to see all the posts we get because of your seminary prep!
Can you please move back to Danvers and teach Seminary here in a few years? With your kids and our kids we've got a great group of 10 for you to teach here in town.
Keep sharing your thoughts... we need your inspired ideas to assist us along our way in this life's journey.
btw....we miss your family tons!
I listened to this talk this evening. The doctrine of the family takes on a whole new meaning. I will never teach a gospel lesson without thinking of the role of the family. I am impressed you understood something way before your father. I love you and your family.
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