Earth Life, a Parent’s Perspective

One thing I love about being a parent is that it helps me understand God better.  I think that’s one of the reasons He organized us into families: so that we could experience being parents—with all the challenges and miraculous love—and relate to Him in that way.

Insights from Being a Parent

A while ago I took my toddler to a popular fast food Play Place.  It was his first time there and I thought he’d enjoy the experience, but I couldn’t play with him because I also had a small baby.  Sending him alone and watching from a distance made me wonder what it felt like for Heavenly Father to send us away to Earth.  Keep that thought in mind as you read my account:

• Before I set my child loose, I showed him the whole play structure and pointed to where he would need to go to reach the ultimate destination: the slide.  I knew he was capable of reaching his destination if he would follow my guidance.
• Once he was inside, he didn’t have the same perspective.  Vision was much more limited and he couldn’t remember where to go.  He was easily distracted and took some wrong turns.
• My boy could only see the areas immediately surrounding him, but from where I stood, I could see the entire play structure and beyond.
• I watched him the entire time (shadows in the tunnels) even though he couldn’t see me, except for a few glimpses he caught through windows.
• At one point, I sent a messenger to him—someone who was familiar with the structure whom he could trust to take him to the slide.
• Knowing he was lost, I went to the bottom of the slide and called to him.  He listened and followed the sound of my voice all the way to the end where I was waiting for him.  We were happy to be together again, and he was happier from having the experience.

As much as I love my children, I know Heavenly Father loves them and me even more.  He wouldn’t turn us loose on Earth without a plan.  He watches us with great interest.  He speaks to us, answers our calls.  Sometimes he sends messengers.  He provided a model (Jesus Christ) for us to follow and revealed a map (scriptures)showing the path.  He looks forward to our return.  Following His plan will make us happier than anything else.

Heaven and Earth

If you’re not familiar with the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here’s a summary of what we call The Plan of Salvation or The Plan of Happiness.  We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Parents.  Our spirits are eternal; we lived before coming to Earth.  Father created a plan for us to be able to live on Earth and gain bodies.  Earth life would be challenging because we’d be away from Him and because we’d experience mortal bodies for the first time.  He knew we would sin so He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus agreed to come to Earth as an example for the rest of us.  He was perfect and showed us the way to return to Father again.  He suffered terribly as though our sins, sorrow, and sickness were His.  It’s incomprehensible but true.  (This is what we call the Atonement.)  He died and rose again, overcoming death and making resurrection possible for all of us.  When we accept the Savior’s sacrifice, repent, and are baptized; He makes our burdens light and cleanses us of our sins.  If we endure this life faithfully, then we will be able to live in God’s presence forever.  It will be different from before we lived on Earth, because of the added joy of having bodies and because many of us will live together in families from marriage on Earth.

Got Spirit? The gift of the Holy Ghost

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23

The Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, can influence all of God’s children at critical times in their life.  It might be a time when they are seeking to know if God exists, if He knows and loves them.  It might be to bring peace during times of turmoil, a warning when there’s danger, or joy in the midst of beauty.  It might be a still, small voice or a strong feeling that leads them to do something right and important.  The Spirit’s main role before baptism is to testify of truth.

After a person is baptized into the church, they are given the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This means that they can always have the Holy Ghost with them, as long as they are faithful in keeping their baptismal covenants and repentant when they falter.  It’s like opening the window to Heaven from a little peak to full view, having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.  It gives the person full access to the cleansing power of Christ’s Atonement—like a refining fire, purging sinful tendencies, making them more Christlike.  This gift allows for so much more—more knowledge, more desire and ability to serve, more good feelings.  It’s wonderful!

I’ve been singing this song with the children at church and I love it.  It’s entitled The Holy Ghost.


     When Christ was on the earth, He promised he would send 
     The Holy Ghost to comfort us, our true, eternal friend. 
     The Holy Spirit whispers with a still small voice. 
     He testifies of God and Christ and makes our hearts rejoice.
     And when we are confirmed by sacred priesthood pow’r, 
     The Holy Ghost is giv’n to us to guide us ev’ry hour. 
     Oh, may I always listen to that still small voice. 
     And with his light I’ll do what’s right each time I make a choice.

Preaching to Believers

I had a nice conversation at the park yesterday with a Christian woman who has slightly different faith than mine.  We both really value the Bible and whole-heartedly believe Jesus’s claim: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  The whole conversation was so positive and I felt a kinship to this woman because of our common belief in Jesus Christ.

That’s why it seemed so funny when before leaving, my new friend offered me some reading material about prayer and trusting in God.  It didn’t surprise me because I’ve visited with members of her church before and received similar pamphlets, but I did wonder why she was giving this to me as though she needed to convince me when I already believed.  She clearly believed that her church had something to offer me, that my faith was lacking something significant.

I often think this is how other Christians feel when approached by exuberant members of my church.  After all, we’re not the only ones who believe in Jesus Christ and have real spiritual experiences.  So why do we promote our faith, our church, so much?  Particularly, what do we have to offer to those who already believe in Christ?  Here are my three best answers:

1. Pure truth
2. Priesthood blessings and ordinances
3. The Gift of the Holy Ghost