The Doctrine of the Salvation of Little Children

"Jesus loves and blesses children. They are the companions of angels. They shall be saved. Of such is the kingdom of Heaven" (Bruce R. McConkie)

My greatest fears and worries are not being able to have children, having miscarriages and stillbirths, and experiencing a death of a child. I believe those are worries all potential mothers have. I'm surrounded by young couples who are building and strengthening their marriage, pregnant, and with children. However, there are several who have, at this young age, suffered loss of children already.

What comfort can we receive and give to those that worry about and experience such a terrible loss?

Keeping the Marriage Strong: Transition from Childless to a House Full

The transition between being married and having no children to then having children is a big one. One young mother of two I interviewed said, “It is the hardest transition you will ever go through. Much harder than from single to married.” The concept of bringing little children into the world, raising and supporting them, teaching them how to be productive members of society and return to our Father in Heaven, causes me to stress and worry. I am already nervous about such a big transition. The responses from parents I interview truly helped me gain advice and counsel that can help me prepare for that new stage of life. I hope that it can help you too. I interviewed four individuals: my mother, my father, and three young mothers. If you have any other advice or answers to these questions, comment!

Date: Love Map 20 Questions Game

As a Marriage and Family Studies Major, we study dating, marriage, and families a lot. As such, I end up taking a lot of classes with the titles of "Family Stress and Coping" or "Parenting" and even "Family Theories and Dynamics." This semester I'm taking a class entitled "Marriage." One of the reading materials for the class is John M. Gottman's (and Nan Silver's) The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert.

I truly love this book. The basic premis is that a successful marriage should be based on a foundation of friendship. With that in mind, the books has seven principles to strengthen that friendship; things married couples should do.

At the end of the chapter, the book has certain activities (exercises) for couples to do together that would strengthen the underlined friendship. They're perfect things to do on a date.

The first is: Love Map 20 Questions Game. As a couple, you can do this during your date. It's so the couple can get to know each other better. People change. If you're not paying attention you could find yourself married to a stranger. This game helps you so you can always be updated with each other.

Engaged: What to Register for?

My husband and I have almost been married for 6 months. In that time, we've been extremely grateful for our wedding gifts, but we realized that we missed a few things we really should have added to our registry. Since I have a few friends and relatives getting married soon, I just wanted to give a list of things to consider adding to the registry. Obviously, the wedding registry depends on the couple and their own personal needs and wants; not everything needs to be included and more could be added.

A few things to know before you register:

1. What colors you'd like in your home.
2. The size of your mattress.
3. What you both already have.

Dating Advice for Guys

Being a girl, married and majoring in Marriage and Family Studies, I've been asked by guys for advice on dating. Before anyone reads any further there are a few things to mention.

Rule #1: I do not know everything. I'd like to. Sometimes I'd like to think I do. But I don't. My advice is only that, advice and opinion. I'd like to think that my advice counts for a little more because I am a girl, married and majoring in Marriage and Family Studies, but honestly, I'm just giving advice that you can choose to follow or not and I have no idea what harm or good it will actually do for each date.

Rule #2: Girls are crazy. While it's relatively accepted that men will be men (though should still be respected by women), you have to recognize that girls are crazy. The level of crazy is varied. But we are. I can't predict everything that girls will or will not do. Remember, I don't know everything.

Now onto the questions. If you have comments or more questions, please comment at the end of this post. I'd really like to hear other's thoughts on these questions or what else people would like to know.

Individual Worth #1

"You are a daughter of Heavenly Father, who knows you and loves you. Read Psalm 8:4-6; Jeremiah 1:5; John 13:34; Doctrine and Covenants 18:10; Abraham 3:22-23; and Joseph Smith-History 1:1-20. Write in your journal how these scriptures teach you that Heavenly Father knows you, loves you, and is mindful of you."

I know that I am a daughter of God. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me. When I look around at the life I have and all the blessings I have within it, it becomes evidence to my eyes that I am loved. The scriptures assigned reinforced that.

When David saw a few of the grand things God made in just looking at the sky, he asks, Why art thou mindful of man? It is a good question to ask in faith. Why is God mindful of me when there are so many great things for Him to pay more attention to? It's because He loves me. He loves who I am. He knew me before I was born (Jeremiah 1:5; Abraham 3:22-23). He knows me now and knows my name, just as He knew Joseph Smith's (Joseph Smith-History 1:1-20). I mean a great deal to Him, as the worth of souls are great in the sight of God (D&C 18:10). He loves me, and everyone else, so much that He wants us to love each other too (John 13:34).

It is a great comfort to me that my Father in Heaven is aware of who I am, loves me, and is mindful of me. I am not ever alone. I will never be unloved. Neither will anyone else.

Past and Future

2012

Such a significant year for me where a lot of really great moments happened.

• BJ and I officially started dating in January.
• We both were blessed with wonderful friendships and roommates.
• BJ proposed April 12 during Spring Break.
• My soon-to-be-husband met most of my extended family on both my father's and mother's side.
• I met much of his extended family.
• August, we were married and sealed for all time and eternity in the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.
• August, I also saw Les Misérables for the first time at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah.
• We moved into our first home together August.
• My brother was able live nearby for a semester as he attended BYU-Idaho.
• In General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced that young women can serve missions at 19 years and young men at 18 years. My brother turned in his mission papers and was called to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission.
• BJ and I had our first Thanksgiving together and I cooked my first turkey!
• I experienced my first snow of the season (I'm a Cali girl. I used to only show up at school after it was also on the ground).
• BJ and I had our first Christmas together. We had our first Christmas tree. We made homemade ornaments. I cooked my first ham and with a perfect glaze, and created an altogether awesome first Christmas dinner.
• It was also my first White Christmas ever.

2013

This year, a lot of exciting things are going to occur! I'm so excited for them!

• My brother reports to the Provo MTC January 1st.
• The snow will eventually melt and the weather will eventually get warmer.
• I'll graduate BYU-Idaho.
• My husband and I will have our first anniversary.
• My brother-in-law will return from his mission in Southern California.
• My other brother, serving in the South Carolina Columbia Mission, will return home after two years on the other side of the country.

My husband and I have had a great year. We've gone a total of 5 days the entire year of not seeing each other for the whole day (it helps that he lived right across the parking lot and that Rexburg, ID is rather small). We survived the end of the world together. I have a partner in life aiming for the same goals for our family. I'll have him as my husband for eternity; we won't ever lose each other. We had a really blessed year.

We are looking forward to our first year together as a married couple. We are excited for every day and the gifts each day reveals to us. We are so blessed.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you make it the best year yet.