What I learned - Gathering the Family of God

Gathering the Family of God

April 2017 General Conference

By President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

 

God the Father wants His children home again, in families and in glory.

 

 

When I was little, I went to many churches.  I believe that there is truth to be found in all of them.  The one principle that I had a really hard time with was the teaching of a vengeful God.  The old Testament type of God that had to keep disciplining his people because they kept falling away. 

Sometimes, I really was scared that there was no hope for me.  That God would take one look at me and send me away from Him forever.  That He would tell me that I am not good enough.  What I loved about President Eyring's talk, is that he reminds us all of how great our Heavenly Father's love is for each one of us.  We were not sent her to fail.  We were sent here to succeed and return to Him. 

"You see, the names “brother” and “sister” are not just friendly greetings or terms of endearment for us. They are an expression of an eternal truth: God is the literal Father of all mankind;"

Now, I should tell you that a large part of the talk concerned Genealogy and  finding our ancestors.  Turning the hearts of the hearts of the children to the fathers.  I am trying to learn to do family research, but right now, I am absolutely sure that my daughters are much better at it than I am.  So, I am struggling to do that. 
For me, I loved the talk most because he mentions a loving Heavenly Father who really does want us to return to Him.  That is such a contrast from the angry God that I grew up knowing.  I love feeling like there is hope in my own journey. 
I love that we were not sent here in the dark.  That each one of us has an innate sense of right and wrong.  We may choose to ignore it, but it is there. 
We may choose not to be gathered "home", but it is a choice we will each make.  It doesn't depend upon our birth.  It depends on our own choices while we are here.  There are millions of Heavenly Father's children who have not had the chance to hear about Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us.  They don't know anything about the atonement.  But they are not penalized for that.  They also will be given the choice to decide. 
That is what I love about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It shows me, always and in every way how much our Father loves us, and also how individually He knows us. 
It reminds me, that He wants us to come Home.