My name is Kristi and I am an online student at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
I am in the Marriage and Family Science program, so everything in my academic world seems to lead my thoughts back to the family.
I am also a wife and mother to 5 beautiful children.
The reason why I chose this major is because it's the one subject that I can't seem to get enough of.
I absolutely love the topic of family!
This blog is for a New Testament class, but even the New Testament is about family...
Just look at how it begins, with a family.
In fact, the first chapter of Matthew begins with a lengthy genealogical tree leading to the Savior.
I find this fascinating!
As I study the New Testament I will be looking for
Principles That Apply To The Family
This week I would like to share some of my thoughts about the first public miracle that Jesus performed, which is found in John chapter 2.
1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?
(Mother, what can I do for you?)
mine hour is not yet come.
(I still have time to help you)
5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
(A firkin is equal to 10.8 US gallons)
7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.
And they bare it.
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse:
but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
12. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of them temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16. And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
17. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of think house hath eaten me up.
18. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign she west thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21. But he spake of the temple of his body.
22. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
This past week I had the privilege of attending the World Congress of Families convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This was the first time that this convention was held in the United States.
Representatives of all faiths, from all over the world, were attending- all of which advocate for the family.
I was interested to hear what the first speaker, Elder M. Russell Ballard, would say to start the week.
I wondered how he would address this very large and very diverse crowd.
He spoke, unapologetically, of the Plan of Salvation.
He explained that in the Pre-Existence we lived together as a heavenly family, with Heavenly parents.
He spoke about our purpose here on earth, that man and woman are intended to enter holy temples where we make [and keep] sacred covenants with our God in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage.
He spoke of leaving the presence of God and our heavenly home, in order to create earthly families and earthly homes, while utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ so that we may return to live, once again, with God as eternal families.
He concluded that the reason that we care so much about the family is because from beginning to end-
our doctrine is all about the family.
He was bold and unashamed in his convictions.
It was awesome!
Why must there be such mighty warriors who must fight for the truth about the family?
Because the adversary knows that the family is essential to The Plan of Salvation, The Plan of Redemption,
and The Plan of Happiness.
He seeks to destroy everything about that plan, starting and ending with the family.
Man and woman are commanded to leave their father and mother, cleave to each other and none else and "be one",
however, the prospect of a man and a woman being "one", with all of our uniquely divine differences, seems almost as impossible as the prospect of turning water into wine. Especially since the adversary loves to work on those differences and confuse every issue possible that relates to a man and a woman.
On our own, the battle simply cannot be won.
But with Christ, everything is possible.
With so much controversy in the world today, and with such a mighty battle to fight, many are asking,
'why is this the perfect plan for a man and a woman?'
I love how Elder David A. Bednar answered this question in his June 2006 Ensign message entitled Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan:
"Reason #1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation."
"Reason #2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children."
Christ's first public miracle is performed at a ceremony with a man and a woman entering a covenant with God to be one, which will require the same miraculous and symbolic power as turning water into wine.
Did you know that this is why the Catholic Church calls their mandatory Marriage Prep course "Pre-Cana"?
The name is derived from this miracle performed by the Savior at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee.
Isn't that cool? I think it is!
Christ's response to the disrespect shown to the temple is even more evidence of how sacred these things are to Him.
These two accounts of the Savior speaks volumes to me about how much Christ cares about marriage, families, and the holy temples where sacred and binding covenants are made.
I have been married for almost 26 years.
I love marriage, even though it is not easy.
It's been 26 years of literally watching the miracle of water slowly turn into sweet wine.
These miracles have taken place inside of us, slowly changing us, and miraculously molding our marriage into a unified "one".
The temple is the place that I gain the perspective and strength needed to fight for my marriage and my family.
I must never forget that family is worth fighting for!
The reason that every book of doctrine points to the family is because from beginning to end- it's all about family.
I am in the Marriage and Family Science program, so everything in my academic world seems to lead my thoughts back to the family.
I am also a wife and mother to 5 beautiful children.
The reason why I chose this major is because it's the one subject that I can't seem to get enough of.
I absolutely love the topic of family!
This blog is for a New Testament class, but even the New Testament is about family...
Just look at how it begins, with a family.
In fact, the first chapter of Matthew begins with a lengthy genealogical tree leading to the Savior.
I find this fascinating!
As I study the New Testament I will be looking for
Principles That Apply To The Family
This week I would like to share some of my thoughts about the first public miracle that Jesus performed, which is found in John chapter 2.
1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?
(Mother, what can I do for you?)
mine hour is not yet come.
(I still have time to help you)
5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
(A firkin is equal to 10.8 US gallons)
7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.
And they bare it.
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse:
but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
12. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of them temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16. And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
17. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of think house hath eaten me up.
18. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign she west thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21. But he spake of the temple of his body.
22. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
This past week I had the privilege of attending the World Congress of Families convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This was the first time that this convention was held in the United States.
Representatives of all faiths, from all over the world, were attending- all of which advocate for the family.
I was interested to hear what the first speaker, Elder M. Russell Ballard, would say to start the week.
I wondered how he would address this very large and very diverse crowd.
He spoke, unapologetically, of the Plan of Salvation.
He explained that in the Pre-Existence we lived together as a heavenly family, with Heavenly parents.
He spoke about our purpose here on earth, that man and woman are intended to enter holy temples where we make [and keep] sacred covenants with our God in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage.
He spoke of leaving the presence of God and our heavenly home, in order to create earthly families and earthly homes, while utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ so that we may return to live, once again, with God as eternal families.
He concluded that the reason that we care so much about the family is because from beginning to end-
our doctrine is all about the family.
He was bold and unashamed in his convictions.
It was awesome!
Why must there be such mighty warriors who must fight for the truth about the family?
Because the adversary knows that the family is essential to The Plan of Salvation, The Plan of Redemption,
and The Plan of Happiness.
He seeks to destroy everything about that plan, starting and ending with the family.
Man and woman are commanded to leave their father and mother, cleave to each other and none else and "be one",
however, the prospect of a man and a woman being "one", with all of our uniquely divine differences, seems almost as impossible as the prospect of turning water into wine. Especially since the adversary loves to work on those differences and confuse every issue possible that relates to a man and a woman.
On our own, the battle simply cannot be won.
But with Christ, everything is possible.
With so much controversy in the world today, and with such a mighty battle to fight, many are asking,
'why is this the perfect plan for a man and a woman?'
I love how Elder David A. Bednar answered this question in his June 2006 Ensign message entitled Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan:
"Reason #1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation."
"Reason #2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children."
Christ's first public miracle is performed at a ceremony with a man and a woman entering a covenant with God to be one, which will require the same miraculous and symbolic power as turning water into wine.
Did you know that this is why the Catholic Church calls their mandatory Marriage Prep course "Pre-Cana"?
The name is derived from this miracle performed by the Savior at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee.
Isn't that cool? I think it is!
Christ's response to the disrespect shown to the temple is even more evidence of how sacred these things are to Him.
These two accounts of the Savior speaks volumes to me about how much Christ cares about marriage, families, and the holy temples where sacred and binding covenants are made.
I have been married for almost 26 years.
I love marriage, even though it is not easy.
It's been 26 years of literally watching the miracle of water slowly turn into sweet wine.
These miracles have taken place inside of us, slowly changing us, and miraculously molding our marriage into a unified "one".
The temple is the place that I gain the perspective and strength needed to fight for my marriage and my family.
I must never forget that family is worth fighting for!
The reason that every book of doctrine points to the family is because from beginning to end- it's all about family.
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