My Eternal Family

   Right now I would like to share something a little personal. It is something that comes deep in my soul. It is one of the desires I have had since I was a young child. It is hard for me to share this because it is so personal, and taking something so close to you and sharing it to the whole world--or at least on my blog--is a really big challenge. However, I've learned that you kind of have to put yourself out there and let yourself be heard and let others do what they will with what you've shared.
   What I want to share is not just the truth and reality of eternal families, but my own personal desire for an eternal family. I remember going to church when I was young and singing the primary song Families Can Be Together Forever and just getting this feeling like, "I really want that and I'll do whatever I need to to have that." That feeling has been with me since then. I don't know why, but that has been a major driving force behind all the decisions I've made.

   This photo (above) is just a glimpse of the happiness that can be felt in an eternal family. It's a picture of my sister Brooke, the one in the pretty white dress, and her husband Adam, the stud-man right beside her accompanied by the George and Crook families. (In case you were wondering I'm the big tall guy on the left.) This picture is really special because it was taken just hours after the two newlyweds were sealed together in the temple for all time and eternity.
   There is a sense of happiness that cannot be described or measured when two people, or better yet two families, that are sealed to one another. It is a happiness that continues from that point on, if we remain faithful. See, in the temple there are a lot of promises, or covenants, that are made with our Heavenly Father and we have to do all we can to keep those promises and remain faithful to them in order to be with our families for all eternity.
   That's something we should all want, an eternal family. I hope from reading this that you get that same desire to do all you can to have your own eternal family. Its such a wonderful blessing that should be sought after with all energy and effort to receive that special blessing of a "forever family".
   This special message I leave with you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.