Family is Forever, Family is Apart

    In my family and culture we believe that our families are eternal, that we are sealed for all time. That a man and a woman are meant to be married for all time, forever, which, admittedly, is hard to take in or fully grasp. But, if we love each other enough, if we are devoted and dedicated to each other for all the great moments in this life, then we should be happily together forever in the eternities with God. And Jesus. And the rest of the righteous. Not bad, right? We hope you really love that mate!

    What about the kids? Kids grow and become their own adults; most of them join up with their own spouses and pair off to become eternal couples. Are they still the children of those that reared them?

    At church a couple months ago two smart and faithful men in a priesthood class (all of us men have the priesthood, we are lay clergy), had a debate as to how we are or we are not the parents of the children that we have birthed and raised. One said that the offspring separate and move off to their own spheres, more or less, while the other said that we as parents will be the father and mother of the child as the Lord Jesus Christ is to us. Always a mantle and stewardship in deference to the younger, as it were.

    Which is it? Neither? We all have our own thoughts.

    Discuss.