- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Just something I wanted to bring up… We’re always told families are forever. Well, I love my parents, but my grandparents are a different matter. I only really knew one of them, but other than my mother’s father, I don’t really see too much that would make me want to spend eternity with them. I just found out yesterday that my grandfather and great-grandfather signed a certain political petition over a century ago for something I completely disagree with, and has caused untold trouble, and even violence which is still going on. I don’t know how we would actually get on, if we ever met. My mother didn’t get on with her mother, and she told her that she was having an adulterous affair while married to my grandfather.
Both of my parents’ families fight like cats and dogs. Some of them haven’t spoken to each other in decades. It’s not something I can do much about in some cases, because I don’t know how to get hold of them. There are other relatives that I just don’t get on with myself.
So how does all this fit into temple work really, and are there any cases when people shouldn’t be sealed?
Hi Sambee, Good questions. One of the most difficult things about joining the church for my friend in Denmark was on this very topic. His father and mother both beat and sexually abused him as a child and to him families are a nightmare. He hates the song, “Families can be together forever” and the words ‘I have a family here on earth, they are so good to me..” . Even though I have logically tried to explain to him that we will not be with anyone that was horrible like that or has not repented, emotionally, it does not matter and triggers him. Of course he suffers from PST and it is understandable. Brigham Young said something to this effect: ‘that our families are not ours yet. Even though we may be sealed together. It is something we have to earn by how we treat our families.’ Because none of us know what happened to our parents or grandparents that screwed them up, we have to wait and see how things play out in the next life after the greatest psycologist (Our Father in Heaven) sorts this all out.
I could not stand my mother in law while she was alive and was not able to do temple work for her after she died because I still had such bad feelings toward her. But, after all these years she may have really repented and changed in the spirit world….so I choose to hold judgment.
I find this to be a very controversial topic. I actually do not believe in “forever families” the way the church teaches it. However, I will try to attempt to give you a reply on this topic. If there is an afterlife I do not believe we would have to be with anyone we wouldn’t want to be. Not sure one this, but I think the church teaches that we will all have to be perfected in the end before receiving our exultaion. I would assume that any strained relationship, wrongful acts or decisions that caused pain to another would have to be resolved before a person would move on to the “eternal life and exultation” part of the plan. I guess that’s why we are encouraged not to judge others as we (in mormon belief) will need to go through that stage of refinement just as the rest of our family. The concept of forever families comes from the teaching that we will become as gods and be able to have spirit children just as he does. In that sense our families are forever because they will always continue on through out time, never ceasing. For those who have negative feelings towards certain families members I would encourage them to apply the concept of forever families to those they have positive feelings towards and with those they can create positive relationships with. To me, families being together forever represents a wonderful ideal for this world (a great motivation for the sincere to treat each other the right way) – and it’s always hard when reality here doesn’t come close to matching the ideal, or even represents its opposite. I’ve already said my view on relationships after death are heterodox, but, if you really stop and think about it, if eternal marriage of any kind has validity as an eternal concept . . . we won’t be with our kids anyway. So, “sealing” for me has to mean a binding of the HEARTS and SOULS in unity – not that we actually will live together as a family unit. With that description, everyone in the same kingdom would be part of “one sealed family” (my “Council of the Gods”) – and that fits the overall picture of temple work FAR better for me than how we normally talk about it in church.
Yeah. What Ray said. And also what Swedenborg said in Heaven and Hell. Same thing. Ray, you been reading Swedenborg or sumfin? One Sunday in High Priest’s, our instructor asked what our vision of eternity was. I opted for the Native approach, a Muscogean village next to a rushing stream, the forest full of animals behind. The patch of corn & veggies in the nearby sandy place, peach trees, the drums and sacred open ended shades in the town center. Family & loved ones laughing, cooking and singing and being together. There was no reaction to my vision for a full minute, till the instructor started clapping. Apparently I had made his lesson for the day. Some HPs disagreed I’m sure, but I was at peace. Quote:One of the most difficult things about joining the church for my friend in Denmark was on this very topic. His father and mother both beat and sexually abused him as a child and to him families are a nightmare.
That is shocking, but I’m not surprised to hear that. Some families were good, and I was lucky with my parents in many ways, even if they were far from perfect. My father did cane me once or twice, and could be strict, but it was not something he enjoyed doing, and he also stuck up for me when I needed it sometimes, looked after me when I had night fears etc. (I was physically abused by teachers at school. No sexual abuse, thank God though) However, my mother and her mother didn’t get on. I never had much love for my grandparents, since I only knew one of them, and that one did hit me, and squash me into the floor etc. Their reasons for disliking me were complex I think.
Quote:I could not stand my mother in law while she was alive and was not able to do temple work for her after she died because I still had such bad feelings toward her. But, after all these years she may have really repented and changed in the spirit world….so I choose to hold judgment.
Just out of interest, what if relatives were not keen on the church in life? Are we supposed to think that they’ll all change their mind? I haven’t informed the church about my parents’ deaths as I am uncomfortable doing temple work for them for that reason (I’ve never been temple worthy, so it’s not something I’ve been asked to do yet.)
George wrote:One Sunday in High Priest’s, our instructor asked what our vision of eternity was. I opted for the Native approach, a Muscogean village next to a rushing stream, the forest full of animals behind. The patch of corn & veggies in the nearby sandy place, peach trees, the drums and sacred open ended shades in the town center. Family & loved ones laughing, cooking and singing and being together. There was no reaction to my vision for a full minute, till the instructor started clapping. Apparently I had made his lesson for the day. Some HPs disagreed I’m sure, but I was at peace.
I like that. My idea would be something along those lines. Maybe not a Muscogee village though, because I don’t know what one looks like!
A typical Muscogee center was built four square. There were four open ended shades built, with sitting under each on raised platforms. The various clans of the tribe were assigned specific shades. In the center of the square was an open area where drums were brought, dancers came to entertain and chiefs spoke to the people. Food was prepared outside and brought in, with elders fed first. Individual houses were built tiny compound style & surrounded the village center. ALso a river or stream was prominent, for ritual prayers & bathing each morning. Once a year old and broken things were thrown away and new items; furniture, kitchen aids, etc., were made and distributed. A community storehouse supplied food for widows and orphans.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.