Declare with Unwearyingness

Hey Family!

This week has been a pretty great week!  A lot of biking and walking and sweating as usual:) There really isn't too much to report so I'm just going to cut to the chase and share some thoughts that I've had this week...

They may or may not connect or make any sense but here it goes! :P

Helaman 10:4

Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but has sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

3 Nephi 19:2-3

Yea, and it was noised abroad among the people immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would show himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus...

Jacob 5:71-74

Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might...

And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard...

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Okay, now let me see if I can tie this jumbled mess of thoughts together...

We know that God has a divine plan for us, and we know that a family is central to that plan. We know that marriage is between a man and a woman who can bring precious spirits to the earth and raise them up in love and righteousness. We know that families are under attack.

It's a testimony builder to me, thinking of the recent Supreme Court decision, that our last General Conference was completely centered on the family. I know that our leaders are truly inspired by God, and that if we heed their counsel, we will be able to withstand the evil in our day.

I have come, over the course of my mission, to have a very solid testimony that I am on a mission right now to prepare me to marry in the temple to a worthy priesthood holder and raise a strong family centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ. That is why the missionary age was lowered. That is how the Lord is hastening His work.

We have a responsibility to declare to the world our standard on families and the importance of families. We need to not be afraid to make our position known and to defend it. Those verses in the Book of Mormon have some words that I really like:

• Unwearyingness
• Immediately
• All the night
• Might
• Diligence
• Labor

President Eyring said, "You begin by holding up the Lord's standards clearly and without apology. And the more the world drifts from them and mocks them, the bolder we must be in doing that. "

Elder Holland said, "Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don't live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, BUT DEFEND THEM."

I know that greater power and spirit will come into our lives and our homes as we put in, not just a little more effort, but all of our effort in defending the Lord's standards for families. There are so many ways to do that, and any and every one of them is good. But I think the best thing we can do is resolve to do better in our own families. Love and show love more. Serve each other more. Read and pray together more. Spend more time doing quality things. Live the Gospel better, as a family.

It makes me think of Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty.

Alma 46:12-13

And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it- in memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children- and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins...

Its time to put on our armor and hold our banner high!

I commit to make marriage a priority when I return from my mission. I commit to settle for nothing less than marriage for time and all eternity in the temple of God. I commit to make child-bearing and raising a priority. I will not put my own restrictions on when or how many but trust in the Lord's will and timing. I will always make prayer, scripture study, and family time a priority. I will do all in my power to raise my family on the principles of "faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities." I recognize that my role as mother is divine and my sacred responsibility is to nurture my children. I commit to do my very best in all of these things.

I love the primary song The Family is of God:

God gave us families,

to help us become what he wants us to be.

This is how he shares his love,

for the family is of God.

I know that Heavenly Father loves us. His plan is for us to return to live with Him someday, as a family. I know that God will bless us as we defend and declare the standard He has set.

I love you all!

Sister Rowland