The Savior's Love

I feel like I've learned a lot about love these last few weeks. Dakota and I have been writing on our marker board almost every day, and it has been so much fun! I've learned that a simple act of kindness can truly go a long ways. Last week I was trying to finish up all of my homework in time and was getting a little frustrated with it. Dakota left me alone and went and did all of the dishes and then came into the living room with some cookies and milk. It was simple, but I really appreciated it! I love that he observes and then serves me as well as those around him. He really loves everyone!

We then went to his parent's house this last week and I spent a lot of time doing homework. So I was pretty boring... but Dakota got all of our laundry done and folded it all while I was doing work! He even came in and out of the room a few times to check up on me. He seriously is the sweetest guy I have EVER met.

This last week Dakota and I decided to more fully study the life of our Savior as we approached Easter Sunday. It truly is a humbly experience to learn all that Christ did in His earthly ministry. He spent His time teaching the people in parables and serving those that were in need of His help. In Matthew 22 it talks about the question about tribute. Christ basically tells the people to give Caesar what is his, but most importantly, to give God what is His (OURSELVES). As we pondered that we both knew that we needed to be better at serving those around us. Then on Friday evening we went and visited Dakota's grandparents. As we were talking, they told us that they needed to go help one of their friends move, and that they would be back soon. We told them that we'd love to help and tagged along. We were able to serve a lady that was in desperate need of some help. Because of her health, she couldn't move all of her belongings! This may seem like an inconvenience to some, but it was such a great experience. I knew that there was nowhere else that I would've rather have been than serving that lady when we did. It truly just made our Easter experience that much greater!

I know that we come to know our Savior as we follow His example and serve as He did. I know that just as the Proclamation says, "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan." And also that "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." Our Savior is the way to peace and happiness if we will but follow and come unto Him.

Love

Have you ever taken the love languages test before? Well, I hadn't until about yesterday. You can find an online quiz for it here. So anyways, after I took the test I immediately got my results back. It told me that I scored high in both acts of service and physical touch. Which I'd say is pretty accurate! Last week Dakota cleaned the whole house for me because he knew that I had a ton of homework. It was thee sweetest thing ever! He's seriously just a giant teddy bear. And who doesn't love to hug a giant teddy bear?! I know I sure do. :) Ha. I'm grateful that he shows his love for me each and every day.

For my Eternal Family class this week we had to take the love language test and then figure out someone else's as well. So I had Dakota take the test and his highest scoring one was words of affirmation. After we figure someone else's out, we're supposed to do things to show that person in their love language just how much we love them.

I came up with this super simple way to write down the reasons why I love Dakota. I bought a cheap frame and dry erase markers from the dollar store and made this!

This is what it looks like in this little phone slot that we have in our house. But clearly we don't use it for a phone.. ha.

In the 6th paragraph of the proclamation it says, "HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."

I absolutely love this paragraph. We all need to love and feel loved as well! So I challenge you all to show someone each day just how much you love them. :) 

Faithful

This week in my Eternal Family class we have been talking about the law of chastity. In the fourth paragraph of the Proclamation it states, "THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." 

So I've been pondering that lately and why it's so important for us to keep the law of chastity which basically is not having sex before marriage and being completely faithful to your spouse after marriage. 

In the world today, a lot of people don't see this need for this commandment! They think that they can do whatever they want and sleep with however many people they please. But that's not God's ways. He wants us save ourselves for the one that we will be married to for time and all eternity! 

In his talk entitled "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments", Elder Jeffery R.Holland said,"Sexual union is . . . a sacrament of the highest order, a union not only of a man and a woman but very much the union of that man and that woman with God." Our relationships truly should be between us, our spouse, and God. Together with our spouse, God has given us the power to create life and bring His children into this world. It's such an amazing opportunity we have! But we have to take this responsibility seriously. We have to provide a safe environment for these precious souls to come into, and that is in a home where a husband and wife are legally married. 

In that same talk, Elder Holland goes on to say, "we will never be more like God at any other time in this life than when we are expressing that particular power. Of all the titles He has chosen for Himself, Father is the one He declares, and creation is His watchword–especially human creation, creation in His image." 

I know that we are God's most prized possessions, His greatest creations. He loves us perfectly. Yes we mess up, but we can repent. We can change! And we can be forgiven. If we aren't already, we can choose to be sexually pure and live a virtuous life. We just need to do our very best and have faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I'm so grateful that Dakota and I were married in the Temple and that we keep the law of chastity. It brings us closer to one another and to our Heavenly Father. 

  

Together Forever

Today I'm just extremely grateful that I'm married to my best friend for time and ALL eternity. :) In my Eternal Family class, we're discussing The Family: A Proclamation To The World, which you can find and print a copy of here.

This week we are discussing the third paragraph which says," In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally." 

These ordinances and covenants are necessary for everyone to enter into if they want to live eternally with God. Our Heavenly Father loves us so dang much. He truly just wants us to be happy! And as we obey Him, he pours out his blessings upon us.  

In The Book of Mormon in Mosiah 16:7-8 it says, 

 7 "And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

 8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ."

I'm so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we will live again! He has taken away that sting of death because of his perfect love towards us.