May 12 lesson--sacred family relationships

Sister Maggie Kopp gave the lesson about Sacred family relationships. Lorenzo Snow related a story about his family: Anticipating his 70th birthday, Lorenzo Snow invited all his children and their families to gather in Brigham City, Utah, for a "grand re-union and anniversary celebration." He arranged for their lodging and food and for programs that all, including the young children, would enjoy. "The more I reflect upon this subject [of a family reunion]," he wrote, "the greater are my anxieties and desires for a family gathering, that I may see you all once in my life, and give you a father's blessing." He urged them to let nothing prevent their attendance "except the most serious and insurmountable obstacles."1 Sisters said they are grateful for their families and that they realized that families are work. Sister Kopp said she liked Facebook to keep track of cousins. Sister Linda Campbell said she appreciates her family reunions. Sister Adele Hickman said reunions help us know how alike we are. Sister Emily Campbell said she looks at family as if we are all from the same tribe. Many others said we have families for a reason. Sister Kopp said it is good we will have eternity to get to know our families and Sister Bahr said we will have grand family reunions. We had a discussion on the roles of mothers. If more mothers understood how important it is to pay attention to teaching their children to be better and know the gospel, the world would be better. Sometimes to save our families we have to follow inspiration, which can solidify our families. Others told of going on trips together and going camping together even if they are all poking each other in the back if the mini-van. We can still love each other even if we do not agree. Sister Craig said she learned the value of work. sister Gibson said she learned a lot in Family Home Evening. Sister Bahr said itbwas a wonderful experience to take her family to the temple to do baptisms for the dead and go to the cafeteria together. Sister Lewis said it is unifying to go through trials together and allow her children to serve her and cry together. fights can be unifying if they are done correctly, because there is something to value. We have to measure our love for each other beyond material things, because Christ would want us to have things that are not of this world. How do we teach our families to value eternal thi ngs? It is in the things we value. Where we put our time and efforts. If we put time into our family and develop relationshipsnwith them, we can rely on each other in hard times. It will bring us closer together. If we can value missionary work and contribute to the missionary work of our family members, it will pull us closer together. Our children are taught by example and they learn even if we don't think we have taught them anything. Lorenzo Snow said, "In this we will see a spirit of determination that will enable us to become one, that we may learn how to love each other, and I pray to the Lord that he will deposit that love in each of our hearts which he deposited in Jesus his Son, and that he will continue to deposit a knowledge of that which is good."