****
TODAY'S THEME
LDS Temples viewed above: from the left to the right, top to bottom: Caracas, Venezuela Temple; Tokyo, Japan Temple; Madrid, Spain Temple; Littleton, Colorado Temple (seen behind the couple); and the Manila, Phillipines Temple.
MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN IS ORDAINED OF GOD. WITHOUT THE BIRTH OF BABY JESUS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO LDS TEMPLES AND NO SEALINGS OF FAMILIES FOR ETERNITY.
This LDS couple posing in front of the Littleton, Colorado Temple represents what our Savior, Jesus Christ, has in mind for each of His Church members, the making of sacred covenants with an eternal marital companion of the opposite sex. This is done with the approval of, and under the direction of Him, their God.
Inasmuch as married couples are physically capable of bearing children, or if they are not, and are willing to adopt children, if possible for them, they are forming an eternal family unit that fits what the Lord has in mind for each of us. When sealed together in one of His holy temples they become part of a family tree which extends back to our first parents, Adam and Eve. As long as they each remain worthy of their temple covenants, and the plan Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, have in mind for them, they remain a vital part of the very extensive family to which they belong.
This union does not end at death. If they keep the covenants they make with each other and with Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, they will continue their relationship with one another and their worthy children, for all eternity.
All of you who may be reading this blog post have seen examples of happy marriages. Such marriages can be such a great source of true joy.
14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—
15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—
16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.As LDS Church members form their own families, they have the great responsibility of researching their family lines and ensuring that each of their ancestors, as far back as can be researched, have had their temple work done vicariously. This is something LDS Church members cannot neglect. While remaining worthy of a temple recommend, they have the responsibility of attending the temple regularly and doing ordinances for the dead there, even if they are not in their family line. Husbands and wives doing this together, as regularly as possible, will not only bless those on the other side of the veil, whose temple work they are doing, it will actually strengthen their marital relationship.
Now let's turn again to the writings of Lehi's descendants who were anxiously looking forward to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Book of Mormon prophets knew, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation, that Jesus would be born at the promised time: about 600 years after their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem. Lehi left Jerusalem in about 600 B.C.
In our pre-mortal existence as spirit children of our Heavenly father, all of us mortals chose to follow Jesus, our elder brother and not to follow Satan. This is evidenced by our having been allowed to gain a mortal body. The fact is, as each of us should know, Satan works on us now to get us to be disobedient to God. Satan, and those spirits who chose to follow him were denied the privilege of gaining a mortal body.
I would like you to now read the scripture below to see how Satan was trying to cause the Nephites and Lamanites to disbelieve in the coming of Christ. You will read there about the very challenging experiences of another Nephi, a descendant of Nephi, the son of Lehi. This Nephi was the son of Helaman and would become one of Jesus's Nephite apostles.
Please read this scripture: (Because it starts at verse 1 you might enjoy listening to it as well as reading it. III Nephi 1:1-30
Painting: Del Parson
As you have just read, the new star in the heavens was seen by the Nephite-Lamanite Nation in Central America as well as by the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, about which, we learned from the Bible. The shepherds heard the angels singing and were told by an angel where they should go to find the baby in a Bethlehem manger. The three wisemen from the East were guided by that same star as they traveled to bring gifts to the baby who was born "king of the Jews." 
(Painting by: Hans Memling 1479)____________
_____________
DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.
____________
TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: (The First Christmas, Did Lehi and His Descendant, Enos, Look Forward To that? -Post 30a. . . When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).
____________
I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.
If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.
Neil Birch
