Our Heavenly Family

Gospel Principles 

Pages; 9, 10, 11, 12


                           Our Heavenly Family 
                                           Chapter 2



We Are Children of Our Heavenly Father


What do scriptures and latter -day prophets teach us about our relationship with
God?

God is not only the Ruler and Creator; He is also our Heavenly Father.
All men and women are literally sons & daughters of God.
"Man as a spirit , was begotten and born of heavenly parents,
and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior 
to coming upon the earth in a temporal [ physical body " 
( Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joesph  Smith [ 1998], 335 ).

Every person who was ever born on this earth is our spirit brother or sister.
Because we are the spirit children of God, we have inherited the potential to
develop His divine qualities. 
Though the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can become like our Heavenly Father 
and receive a fullness of joy. 

How does your knowledge that you are a child of God influence your thoughts
, words , and actions?

We Developed  Personalities and Talents While We Lived in Heaven

Think about talents and gifts you have been blessed with.

The scriptures teach us that the prophets prepared themselves to 
become leaders on earth while they were all were still spirits in heaven
( see Alma 13:1- 3 ) Before they were born into mortal bodies, God
foreordained ( choose ) them to be leaders on earth.
Jesus, Adam, and Abraham were some of these leaders.
( see Abraham 3:22 -23 ) 

Joesph Smith taught that every man a calling to minister to the 
inhabitants of the world was [ fore ] ordained to that very purpose"
 (Teachings of Presidents of the Church Joesph Smith [ 2007 ], 511 ).
However everyone is free to accept or reject to  any opportunity to serve. 

We were not alike in heaven. We know for example that we were sons and 
daughters of heavenly parents -- males and females 
( see "The Family A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102 ).
We possess different talents and abilities, and we were called to do different 
things on earth.
We can learn more our eternal possibilities'' when we receive our patriarchal
 blessings ( see Thomas S. Monson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 82 or 
Ensign, Nov. 1986, 66 ).  

A veil covers our memories  of our premortal life but our Father in Heaven
knows who we are and what we did before we came here.
He has chosen the time and place for each of us to be born so we can learn 
the lessons we personally need and do the most good with our individual
 talents and personalities.

Our Heavenly Father Presented a Plan for Us to Become Like Him

How does earth life help us prepare us to become like our Heavenly Father?

Our Heavenly Father knew we could not progress beyond a certain point unless
we left Him for a time. He wanted us to develop the godlike qualities that He has. 
To do this we needed to leave our premortal home to be tested and to gain 
experience. 
Our spirits needed to be clothed with physical bodies.
We would need to leave our physical bodies at death and reunite with them in the Resurrection.
Then we would receive immortal bodies like that of our Heavenly Father.
If we passed the tests, we would receive the fullness of joy that our Heavenly Father has 
received. ( See D&C 93:30-34. )

Our Heavenly Father called a Grand Council to present His pan for our progression
( See Teachings of Presidents of the Church : Joesph Smith, 209, 511 ). 
We learned that if we followed His plan, we would become like Him,  We would 
be resurrected, we would have all power in heaven and on earth;  we would
 become heavenly parents and have spirit children just as He does
 ( see D&C 132: 19-20 ).

We learned that He would provide an earth for us where we would prove ourselves
( see Abraham 3:24 -26 ) A veil would cover our memories, and we would forget our 
heavenly home.  
This would be necessary so we could exercise our agency  to choose good or evil
without being influenced by the memory of living with our Heavenly Father.
Thus we could obey him because of our faith in Him would help us when we heard it 
again on earth (  see John 18:37 ).

At Grand Council we also learned the purpose for our progression to have a fullness 
of joy.
However we also learned that some would be deceived, choose other paths, and 
lose their way.
We learned that all of us would have trials in our lives: sickness,disappointment, 
pain, sorrow, and death.
But understand that these would be given to us for our experience and our good 
( see D&C 122:7 ).
If we allowed them to, these trials would purify us rather than defeat us.
They would teach us to have endurance , patience, and charity
 ( see The Teachings of Presidents of the Church:Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 15 -16 ).
  

At the Grand Council we also learned that because of our weakness, all of us 
excepted little children would sin ( see D&C 29:46 - 47 ) 
We learned that a Savior would be provided for us so we can overcome our sins and 
overcome death with resurrection.
We learned if we place our faith in Him, obey His word and following His 
example, we would be exalted and become like our Heavenly Father.
We would receive a fullness of joy.


List some of Heavenly Fathers attributes , How does the plan of salvation
 help us develop these attributes? 

Additional Scriptures 

Hebrews 12:9 ( God is the Father of our spirits )

Job 38: 4- 7 ( premortal life implied )

Abraham 3:22 - 28 ( vision of premortal life )

D&C 29:31 -38  ( visions of premortal life )

Moses 3:4 -7 ( spiritual and temporal creations )

1 Corinthians 15:44   ( spiritual and temporal creations )
  
D&C 76:23 - 24 (  begotten sons and daughters )

D& C 132:11 - 26 (  plan for progression  )

Latter Day Saints

Gospel Principles 

                                                 Our Heavenly Father 
                                                                           
                                                                   Chapter 1

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Page 5 & 6& 7


There is a God

                                    What are some things that testify to you that there is a God?

Alma a Book of Mormon prophet, wrote, "All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there  is a Supreme Creator" ( Alma 30;-44 ).
 We can look up at the sky at night and have an idea of what Alma meant.
There are millions of stars and plants, all in prefect order.
They did not get there by chance. We can see the work of God in the heavens and on the earth.
The many beautiful planets, the many kinds of animals , the mountains , the rivers, the clouds that bring us rain and snow --- all these testify to us that there is a God.

The prophets have taught us that God is the Almighty Ruler of the universe, God dwells in heaven ( see D&C 20:17 ). Though His Son, Jesus Christ, He created the heavens and the earth and all things that are in them ( see 3 Nephi 9;15; Moses 2;1 ). He made the moon,the stars, and the sun.
He organized this world and gave it form, motion and life. He filled the air and the water with living things.
He covered the hills and plains with all kinds of animal life. He agve us day and night , summer and winter , seedtime and harvest.
He made man in His own image to be a ruler over His other creations ( see Genesis 1;26- 27 ).

God is the Supreme and Absolute Being in whom we believe and whom we worship.
He is "the Great Parent of the universe," and He "looks upon the whole of the human with fatherly care and paternal regard" 
(  Teachings of Presidents of the Church Joesph Smith (  2007 ), 39 ).


The Nature of God

What are some of Gods attributes?

Because we are made in His image ( see Moses 2:26, 6;9 ), we know 
that our bodies are like His body . His eternal spirit is housed in a tangible body of flesh and bones           (  see D&C 130;22  ) God's body, how - ever , is perfected and  glorified , with a glory beyond all description.

God is perfect. He is a God of righteousness with attributes such as love, mercy, charity, truth, power, faith, knowledge, and judgement.
He has all power . He knows all things. He is full if goodness.

Why is it important for us to understand the nature of God?

Coming to Know God 

How can we come to know God?

Knowing God is so important that the Savior said "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent'' ( John 17;3 ).

The first and greatest commandment is "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart'' 
( Mathew 22:37 ).

The more we know God the more we love Him and keep His commandments ( see 1 John 2:3 - 5 ).
By keeping His commandments we can become like Him.

We can know God if we will:

1. Believe that He exists and  that He loves us ( see Mosiah 4;9 ).

2. Study the scriptures ( see Timothy 3;14 - 17 )

3. Pray to Him ( see James 1:5 )

4. Obey all His commandments as best way as you can  ( see John 14:21 -23 ).

As we do these things. we will come to know God and eventually have eternal life.

Ponder what you cab do to draw nearer to God.

Additional Scriptures 

Acts 7:55 -56 ( Son at the right hand of the Father )

D&C 88:41 -44  ( attributes of God )

Psalm 24:1 ( the earth is the Lord's )

Moses 1:30-39 ( Creation )

Alma 7:20  ( God cannot do wrong )

Joseph Smith- History 1:17 ( Father and Son are separate beings ) 

Alma 5:40 (  good comes from God  )

John 14:6 -9 ( Son and Father are alike )

Mormon 9:15 - 20 ( God of miracles )

Amos 3:7 ( God of revelation ) 

John 3:16 ( God of love )