God's Clarion Call

The solemn marriage- wife and husband One woman, one man- hand in hand Together vow their love and fidelity A family begins responsibly

What matters the most, lasts the longest

And within the home, we are strongest

It should be strengthened and kept foremost

There is no question- love gives the most

Hear! Oh hear, God’s clarion call

The family is His gift to all

When we've a conflict or crisis

There is a lot we must process

And we see how strong families connect

For they are supportive, help, and protect

As priorities shut the child out

Declined values confuse and doubt

For the survival of the family

Children should be reared carefully

Hear! Oh hear, God’s clarion call

The family is His gift to all

Each member is in need of scaffolding

Held up by daily prayers they are holding

And, weekly there should be one evening

Set aside for home and believing

Each member should feel they are cherished,

Known, and loved by their brother, Jesus

His message to all cannot be ignored or denied

"Love one another-For you I suffered. I died!"

Hear! Oh hear, God’s clarion call

The family is His gift to all

We must now measure, we must fulfill

And live according to the Father's will

What matter's the most, lasts the longest

Believe this... With God and family we endure life's test

Hear! Oh hear, God’s clarion call

The family is His gift to all

#familyproclamation

www.churchofjesuschrist.org › study › scripturesThe Family Proclamation - The Church of Jesus Christ of ...

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 Go

The Last Bastion of Christianity

The last bastion of Christianity
Is now heavily under attack
Below there are cries of, "Bigotry!"
Just what can the Lord's side cry back?

As valiant soldiers, we are not dismayed,
"We, of the Lord, will not be defeated!
It's His proclamation that has been made.
We offer love... His, so desperately needed!"

The answer was fierce as they were yet blind,
"We want tolerance.  Embrace what we do!
We don't need love, for we have our own kind.
We want acceptance, from God and from you!"

We answered, "We know to not ask God to change!"
And, we truly fear His coming is near!
This pricked the hearts of all within range.
It penetrated all who had ears to hear.

And for a moment the battle did cease
Until one protester rallied them up again.
"I'll not yield my heart. I'll not plant His seeds!
This is who I am, for now and in Heaven!"

But, God's promises are true to those who believe.
Gender is eternal, we are all family.
In this fallen world Satan's quick to deceive,
As we submit to Christ we live life happily!

...And thus the battle continues today.
There is one last bastion that remains.
One last wall is all that stands in the way...
Stand strong and believe in eternal gains!

I don't know why there seems to be so many more people struggling with homosexuality or transgender feelings.  But I do know this is a fallen world. We've fallen bodies and this is Satan's last push... Still it is through faith and faithful living that we find our way back. For that is the plan- for us to return to God some day. And His plan is for families.

2 Timothy 3:5 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

https://www.lds.org/.../3....

• The Family: A Proclamation to the World "The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." — , "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" Topics: Family

  The Plan of Happiness "The Atonement can put you free again to move forward, cleanly and worthily, to pursue that path that you have chosen in life." —Boyd K. Packer, "The Plan of Happiness"

The Resolution [from the movie COURAGEOUS] Print at Christian Cinema.com

Hereby this resolution

Made to God and before all

Is my declaration

That to the home is my call



Our Bishop talked about this today.  It is beautiful.  I want to watch the movie. A father shares with some other men that he wants them to hold him accountable on how he is doing in keeping his resolution.  It has such an effect on them that they want to take the resolution as well... These are manly men!

Here are some of the resolutions: and you can order the whole thing at this site:



The Resolution [from the movie COURAGEOUS] Print at Christian Cinema.com

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord  

THE RESOLUTION is a bold declaration of commitments that men are making to be faithful to God as the spiritual leader of their home. As read in the movie, this print is ready for framing to mark the moment and celebrate the commitment being made to God and family.

Message

THE RESOLUTION

I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15

Product Details:

The Lord Measures a Family's Success

The Lord measures a family's success
By the quality of its relationships
As it's the principles of faith that impress
Unto the fulfillment of stewardships

Love, compassion, and service
Midst repentance and forgiveness
Are but fruits of the family's purpose
Founded on faith, prayers, and wholesomeness

Ideally, the father presides
In love and righteousness
There to be an example and guide
Of what is noble inside us

Ideally, the mother nurtures
And puts what's pure into the home
That as children look to their futures
Unto wickedness they'll not roam

Let us go about and accumulate
What is pleasing unto the Lord
Not as concerned with an heritage of estate
But what to heaven- family virtue does afford

"The proclamation teaches that 'successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.' In other words, the Lord measures the success of a family by the quality of its relationships. In a home where faith, love, and forgiveness are dominant, members find joy and satisfaction in being together. Ideally the father presides in love and righteousness, provides the necessities of life, and protects the family while the mother is primarily responsible for the nurturing of the children. In contrast, the world often measures family success by the accumulation of worldly things and the size of the estate that is passed on to the children."

~ Merrill J. Bateman, "Eternal Family," Ensign, 115

In Defense of Marriage and the Promotion of Families

In defense of the sanctity of marriage
And for the promotion of virtuous families
I speak of the strength that heightens one's carriage
When the family circle is complete and at peace

Oh, how this must deeply please
Our Heavenly Father above
As He has commanded of us to increase
Multiplied in righteousness and love

When two hearts melt
And become husband and wife
The greatest joys are felt
As they create a new life

There to see a little bit
Of themselves, a cousin, a brother
As characteristics transmit
Through genes bound to another

Such that when a mother dies
The family feels incomplete
And welcomes that new pair of eyes
By some miracle their loved one does meet

Ever the home feels empty
When a name's no longer called
And we've examples plenty
Of how that sorrow does fall

For each loved one is missed dearly...
Here let me tell you from my own life
How I have lost a grown child to cancer
And known the loss of my beloved wife

There have been times I've held loved ones close
And wondered who gained the most comfort
Trying to not let pain enclose
While drawing on God for support

I have known and given deep compassion
And seen healing again and again
I have been blessed once more with a companion
As the blessings of heaven extend

What greater joy can life afford
Than to know we'll leave a legacy behind
To be remembered as one adored-
By our children and grandchildren in kind

Any parent would offer their very own life
To provide for their children of what they have known
And would give of themselves and surrender to a knife
If it would erase the pain with which their child does moan

In these days of disintegrating notoriety
Families with children need to be re-enthroned
As the fundamental unit of society
Acclaiming a "quiver full" as the greatest wealth known

And lest we see the worst yet of infamy
We must put the interest of the child first
And reestablish the definition of family
That from the beginning of time has been rehearsed

In the next generation
Who will replace the old?
Let's unite with renewed dedication
And let the family proclamation be told

The traditional family we firmly proclaim
Has been given in trust by our God
Where husband and wife gladly share the same name
Committed to tread gospel sod

For founded on principles of faith
They come to know their sacred duty
And desire their family to grow in names
That their home may grow in love and beauty

Let the father be present and preside
There to do all he can to discern and protect
And may he have sufficient to provide
That the children know not the dangers of neglect

Let the mother have time to give nurture
And raise children filled with her love
That they'll be prepared for the on rushing future
There to be what contributing citizens are made of

May the family ever encircle
And be given to offering prayers
There to prepare for life's eternal cycle
Joined by the faith each one shares

Elder Russell M. Nelson
at the World Congress of Families V
in Amsterdam, Netherlands
August 12, 2009

Celestial Marriage

In this world abounding more with misery
Marriage is in need of God's ministry
I'm profoundly grateful to know of His plan
That brings eternal joy to the woman and man

Like a shopper who selects what endures quite well
Love in marriage can bloom unto the Celestial raised realm
Beyond death what is of God forever continues
And unto this joy we are now free agents to choose

This kind of marriage cannot be found through urge
Of bargain, of theft, nor out of splurge
Nor can it be attacked and redesigned
For through proclamation its sanctity has been defined

And while other arrangements might now exist
Only the virtue of temple marriage can and will persist
Because what's been ordained of God and by Him sealed
Endures forever as unto covenants couples yield

Nonmarital options crafted in misery
Can through repentance be upgraded to destiny
This is the pivotal part of our preparation
Providing blessed assurance and hope of exaltation

For what's celestial we must ever more focus
And search outside ourselves as was taught by Jesus
Like the effort applied for the best orchestra
The holy order of marriage is concerted with something extra

Still,...there are those unwed through no fault of their own
Who have been endowed in the temples all alone
There are those who have died with the gospel yet unheard
Who would have embraced it if they had found The Word

In the Lord's plan they will not be excluded
For through proxy work they too might be included
How thankful I am for Heavenly Father's plan
And for the sanctifying vows given between God and man

Elder Russell M. Nelson
Celestial Marriage
Ensign, November 2008, 92

Family- What Matters the Most, Lasts the Longest

What matters the most, lasts the longest
And within the home, we are strongest
It should be strengthened and kept foremost
There is no question- love gives the most

When we've a conflict or crisis
There is a lot we must process
And we're reminded that families connect
As they are supportive, help, and protect

This is even more true after life
As a husband longs to see his wife
Where each spouse searches for mother,
Loved ones, siblings, and father

In the spirit world, there's no question
We'll need our families as we station
The prophet issued to all the world
A clarion call- stern in its word

As priorities shut the child out
Declined values confuse and doubt
Ahead of its time, and for our age
God's given counsel in simple page

As the notions of society
Contrast with all that they now should be
For the survival of the family
We must define the home so clearly

The solemn marriage- wife and husband
One woman, one man- with wedding band
Gender has purpose, that is premortal
It is essential and eternal

A husband and wife, God has ordained
And calamities arise when it's disdained
Couples now should live responsibly
With kept marriage vows of fidelity

Children should be reared or placed within
Honorable homes who've prayed for them
They are entitled to be cared for
As extended families lend their support

As though a banner of liberty
This proclamation waves perfectly
It's for everyone- we're meant to be
Raised in honored homes committedly

Parenting involves great sacrifice
When there's selfishness- who pays the price?
And if there's a change- a "tolerance"
Who is brunted with the consequence?

Our precious children... who are now confused
The family has changed- as pawns they are used
Our Heavenly Father provides us with vision
And proclaims to the world the home's mission:

The family is in need of scaffolding
Held up by daily prayers they are holding
And, weekly there should be one evening
Set aside for home and believing

Each member should feel they are cherished,
Known, and loved by their brother, Jesus
His message to all cannot be ignored or denied
"Love one another-For you I suffered. I died!"

We must now measure, we must fulfill
And live according to the Father's will
What matter's the most, lasts the longest
Believe this... With God and family we endure life's test
(For He's counseled families how to be their strongest)

Elder M. Russell Ballard
What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest
November 2005 Ensign

Congratulations Courtney you passed the
State Boards! And, I wrote this in the car, waiting,
while you took the test! 4/24/08