How Eternal Familes fit into the Plan of Salvation

The Proclamation to the Family teaches that "The Family is Central to the Creator's Plan." As Latter Day Saints we have been taught about the great plan of happiness, or the plan of salvation. This plan included life before the Earth (pre-exisistence), life on Earth, and our life when we leave this Earth. Understanding this plan and having this knowledge, is important because it shapes the choices that we make daily. If we choose to make correct choices, live worthy and keep our covenants, then we will be with our family when this life is over. What a powerful blessing! We can be with our families forever.

 Families are also central to the plan because through fulfilling our duty to be a father or a mother, we learn to become more like our father in Heaven. I can testify to this principle. When I was pregnant with my second baby, I was so concerned about how I was going to love my new baby as much as my five year old son. I could not understand the concept of being able to love two children the same. I had been with Shaun (my oldest) for five years. I was attached and bonded to him, and could not imagine there being room for me to love someone else as much. I agonized over this for many months and as my pregnancy drew to the end, I was a nervous wreck. Then,through the spirit, I was taught a valuable lesson. As I thought about my heavenly parents, I realized that the attribute of love is a divinely given gift. To me, this meant that I could love just as my heavenly parents loved. They loved divinely, loved more than only me, and I had never felt less love from my father in heaven because he loved others too. I had always felt close to him, and  knew that he was there for me. I could do the same for my children! I had been given the divine ability to love. I can happily report that my second son was born, and I felt endless love for him. There was also plenty of room left in my heart for Shaun as well, and as my third child was born there was not a shortage of love. It was through this experience, as well as many others throughout my life, that I have learned to become more like my Heavenly Father. It is through rearing children that some of my most treasured experiences and god-given knowledge has come. I learn to be  more like him, as I appreciate and follow the Plan of Salvation.