The Eternal Family

Learning Goal Study Guide

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1. The Eternal Family and the Nature of God

Understand that the nature and work of God reveals our divine identity and destiny
 What have prophets taught about God and His work, both before He created us and into eternity?
 What do we learn from Lorenzo Snow's couplet that informs our understanding of the nature of God and
His work?
 What does God do pre-mortally, mortally, and post-mortally with His perfection?
 How does that knowledge inform our understanding of our identity and destiny?

Know that God’s work and glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life
 What have prophets taught about God and His work, both before He created us and into eternity?
 What do we learn from Lorenzo Snow's couplet that informs our understanding of the nature of God and
His work?
 How does this knowledge inform our understanding of our identity and destiny?
 What can we learn about coming to know God from our experience coming to know other individuals in
our lives?

Know our Heavenly Parents are an exalted man and woman who are married for eternity
 Why is eternal marriage an essential requirement for godhood?
 What have prophets taught regarding Heavenly Mother?
 What three scriptural and prophetic teachings “root” our understanding of our heavenly parents?

Know eternal destiny is to become like our Father and Mother in Heaven and experience a fulness of joy
 What are two distinct aspects of God’s nature that we inherit as part of our “spiritual genetics”?
 What evidence exists that we are not the only people who believe in the concept of deification?
 What does God do pre-mortally, mortally, and post-mortally with His perfection?
 Over time, what theological and philosophical corruptions were introduced that widened the divide
between God and His children?

Know why marriage and family are essential to becoming like our Father and Mother in Heaven
 Why is marriage central to our theology of the nature of God?
 What have prophets taught regarding obstacles to experiencing eternal marriage in this life?

2. The Plan of Salvation and Eternal Family

Know the major doctrines of the plan of salvation: creation, fall, and atonement
 How do the “three pillars of eternity” help us understand the plan of salvation beyond having a
knowledge of the “map of salvation”?
 Why must we understand the Creation to understand the Fall and, similarly, why must we understand
the Fall to understand the Atonement?
Know how the spirit, spiritual, and mortal creations facilitate our eternal destiny as perfected fathers and
mothers
 What does the Creation teach us about God and about ourselves?
 How do the spirit, spiritual, and mortal creations fit into the six-step creative process that leads to our
exaltation?
 What does the Creation teach us about the doctrine of eternal families, and how does the Creation
enable us to become part of an eternal family?

Know how the Fall of Adam and Eve facilitates our eternal destiny
 Why have prophets taught that Adam and Eve were intended, commanded, and ordained to “partake of
the forbidden fruit”?
 What four important principles should we know about the Fall?
 What do we know about Adam and Eve's transgression, and what impact it had on humankind?

Understand the definition of moral agency and its role in our eternal destiny
 What is the definition of agency, and how does it differ from the definition of freedom of choice?
 What conditions must exist for mankind to have agency?
 How does the Fall make possible Eternal Family?

Know how the Atonement of Jesus Christ facilitates our eternal destiny
 How does the meaning of the word atonement help us better understand what Christ did for us?

3. Jesus Christ – The sure Foundation of an Eternal Family

Know the doctrines regarding Jesus Christ being chosen from the beginning to be our Savior
 What were the Savior’s and Satan’s roles in the premortal council? 
 What have prophets taught regarding Jesus Christ being chosen as our Savior from the beginning? 

Understand the reasons why Jesus Christ is the only being capable of being our Savior
 What four reasons make Jesus Christ the only being capable of being our Savior? 
 Why was Christ able to satisfy the demands of both justice and mercy? 

Understand how Christ makes eternal family possible

 How did Jesus Christ make eternal marriage possible? 
 If we keep our covenants, why don’t we need to fear being sealed to a person we don’t want to be with
for eternity? 

Know how Christ’s atonement impacts marriage and family life in mortality
 What is the role of justification in our personal and family life? (Know the three ways)
 What is the role of sanctification in our personal and family life? (Know the three ways)

Know the central role of Christ’s example and teachings to the eternal family and how to more
purposefully be guided by them
 How can Christ’s example and teachings help us prepare to become an eternal family?
 What can we do to invite the Savior’s influence more fully into our personal and family life?

4. The Role of Prophets, Seers, and Revelators in Teaching the Eternal Family

Understand the nature of truth and how we can know truth

 What are six means of knowing truth (epistemology) that God expects us to use?
 What are the strengths and weaknesses of each epistemological method?
 How can combining epistemological methods (triangulating) strengthen our ability to recognize truth
and avoid error?
Know the definition and role of prophets, seers, and revelators in God’s plan for His children
 What is the definition and role of prophets, seers, and revelators?
 What does prophetic infallibility mean? What is our belief in relation to prophetic infallibility?

Know the role of prophets in revealing and teaching truths regarding the eternal family
 Why are prophets necessary to understand the role of the family in the plan of salvation?
 What is the role of prophets in helping us create eternal families and live in such a way as to make
eternal families possible?

Know what the Lord requires of us in relation to His prophets and their teachings
 What is one of the main reasons people struggle to accept modern prophets and follow their teachings?
 What do our Heavenly Parents require of us in how we respond to prophetic direction?

Know the definition and difference between doctrine/principle and policy/practice

 What is the difference between doctrine/principle and policy/practice?
 What criteria have modern prophets given us to help us know if a teaching is Church doctrine?
 What are four keys in learning to recognize truth?

5. Gender is an Essential Characteristic

Know the difference between the eternal and essential nature of gender and biological sex or cultural
gender and how eternal gender relates to our eternal destiny
 What is the difference between eternal gender, biological sex, and cultural gender?
 Why is it important to remember that eternal gender predates biological sex and cultural gender?
 How do cultural / societal gender norms often confuse and limit our ultimate potential?
 What is the connection between eternal gender and the nature of our Heavenly Parents?

Know the complementary nature of men and women—both in mortality as well as eternity
 Why does a belief in the equality of men and women not equate to a belief that men and women are the
same?
 What is the definition of gender complementarianism, and what role does it play in the perfecting of
God’s children?
 How can a focus on completing rather than competing with each other help us understand gender
complementarianism better?

Know that it is God who determines who holds and exercises priesthood authority now and throughout
history
 Why do we believe that priesthood is an eternal doctrine, but whom God asks to hold priesthood offices
is not?
 What are church leaders teaching about Latter-day Saint women exercising priesthood power, and why
is this important?
 What is the highest order of the priesthood and who is allowed to hold it?

Know the doctrines related to prophetic instruction on same-gender attraction and same-gender
marriage
 The common narrative in the world is that LGBTQ Latter-day Saints are faced with two choices: Either
choose to live true to their sexual attractions or gender identity and experience joy and fulfillment or
live true to their religious faith and experience sorrow and loneliness. How does an accurate
understanding of the restored gospel and the real experience of thousands of LGBTQ people in the
Church make clear that this is a false dichotomy?
 How is understanding God's approach to love and law crucial to understanding these issues?
 Why does the church continue to define marriage as a relationship between men and women?
  How does the nature of our Heavenly Father and Mother and the plan of salvation inform our
understanding of same-gender attraction and gender dysphoria? 

Know how to engage in a kind, intelligent, and faithful way with all on these sacred issues
 How can we show love and kindness to our LGBTQ brothers and sisters regardless of whether they
choose to live their lives according to the restored gospel?
 Why is it important to remember the order of the first and second great commandments as we support
our LGBTQ brothers and sisters and in how we interact with those who may disagree with our teachings
on these issues?
 How does our love for our heavenly parents help us know how best to love our LGBTQ brothers and
sisters?

6. Eternal Covenants and Ordinances

Know the role of priesthood keys and the holy spirit of promise in eternal covenants and ordinances
 What are priesthood keys, and what is the holy spirit of Promise?
 How do priesthood keys and the Holy Spirit of Promise relate to eternal marriage and families?

Know how saving ordinances and foundational temple ordinances prepare us for the ordinance of eternal
marriage
 What are the non-temple and temple ordinances which are necessary in preparation for eternal
marriage?
 How do these preparatory ordinances inform our understanding of eternal marriage and family?

Understand the doctrines, covenants and blessings associated with the ordinance of eternal marriage
 What do we learn about marriage in God's plan from D&C 131?
 What is the patriarchal order, and what is its connection to eternal marriage?
 What are the four primary aspects of the sealing covenant?

Know how and why family history facilitates eternal families

 How does the coming of Elias and Elijah fulfill the prophecy given in Doctrine and Covenants 2:1–3?
 What blessings flow from binding our ancestors and posterity together?
 How can I begin or continue to do the essential work of family history and the associated temple work?

Know the principles associated with divorce, remarriage, and plural marriage
 What does an understanding of the nature of God and the marital covenant teach us about future
relational possibilities even with the complexities of life?
 What four overarching principles help us make sense of the sometimes-confusing reality of family lives
in such a way as to help us find joy in this life and the life to come?

7. Single Life, Dating and Courtship

Know that living a consecrated, joyful life as an individual is necessary to living a consecrated joyful life
in our family, both the family we were raised in and in our marital family
 Why is it more accurate and helpful to view our life prior to marriage as “in-process” rather than as
broken or deficient?
 Why is creating a joyful and fulfilling (not a perfect and easy) life a necessary prerequisite to a healthy
marriage?

Know the important principles and practices related to dating and courtship
What counsel have prophets and other church leaders given in relation to dating, such as:
 The what, when, why, and who of dating?
  What are some of the common obstacles to dating and courtship and how can lessons learned from
missionary service help us overcome them?
 What steps can we take, regardless of our relational status, to exercise our agency in the dating and
courtship process?

Know the true nature of love and how to recognize it

 What three aspect of love help us differentiate true love from counterfeit forms of affection?
 How do these three aspects of true love help us not only avoid the counterfeits but also develop more
meaningful and passionate relationships?
 True love requires personal decisions followed by what?
 Why is it important to realize that we create feelings of love?
 Though true love is other centered, why is it inaccurate to state that it should be selfless? 

Know the essential characteristics of an eternal companion and how to differentiate between what is nice,
necessary, and essential
 As defined in our course, what is the difference between a personality trait and a character trait?
 What is the difference between a moral, an immoral, and an amoral trait, and why does this matter?
 What principles and practices help us recognize these necessary character traits in real life?
 How do these principles influence the amount of time it takes to know what we need to know before
making eternal commitments?

Know the role of the individual and the role of the Spirit in making the engagement and marital decision
 What is the role of analysis, courtship, and agency in our decision of who to marry?
 As a general principle, why won’t God make the marriage decision for you?
 What principles help us work through the concerns of "cold feet"?
 Who has stewardship in the marriage decision and for whom?

8. The Law of Chastity

Know that our sexual nature is God-given and is an essential part of our eternal destiny
 Why have prophets taught that our sexual nature is by divine design and is God-given?
 Why is it crucial to not conflate sexual immorality with sexuality?
 How can seeing our sexual nature as God views it help protect us against the improper use of our sexual
nature and help us approach sexuality in a healthy, joyous way?

Know the definition of the law of chastity for both before and after marriage, as well as the primary
challenges to living the law
 Why does Satan focus so strongly on issues of sexuality?
 What are some of the primary challenges to living the law of chastity in our day?
 What is the definition of the law of chastity according to modern prophets?
 Why is the law of chastity related to marriage?

Understand why the law of chastity is essential to our mortal and eternal destiny
 How does living the law of chastity help us prepare for and create a happy family in this life?
 What are some of the relational consequences of premarital sexual relationships?
 How does living the law of chastity prepare us for our ultimate destiny to become like our Heavenly
Parents?
 What three reasons did Elder Holland give for why chastity is so important to our eternal progression?

Know the principles and practices that help us keep the law of chastity and how to apply them in our lives
 What was the primary reason one study found for violating the law of chastity?
  Why is desiring that the Holy Spirit be our constant companion crucial in our attempts to live morally
pure lives?
 What principles and practices help keep us on the Lord’s side of the line?
 What is the primary gateway to sexual immorality for believing Latter-day Saints, and how can knowing
this help protect us?

Understand that complete forgiveness and healing of sexual sin is possible through genuine repentance
 Can I really be forgiven from sexual sin?
 Why is the concept of “damaged goods” so harmful and contrary to our beliefs regarding the worth of
souls and the Savior’s Atonement?
 Besides forgiving us, what does Christ want to do for us?

9 - Intimacy in Marriage

Expressions of Intimacy
 What are other essential aspects of intimacy besides sexuality, and why are these aspects necessary as
part of both overall intimacy and sexual intimacy?
 What are the three "ends" of sexual intimacy?
 What are the three levels of chastity spoken of in the video?
 What are the three categories of intimacy spoken of in the video?

Sexual Intimacy
 How does our understanding of and approach to chastity and sexuality while we are single influence
our view of and approach towards sexuality once we are married?
 What are the dimensions of sexual intimacy?
 What is sexual fragmentation
 What four principles should guide sexual decision-making in marriage?
 What is the relationship between charity and marital intimacy?

Individual and Gendered Differences

 What are some of the basic principles related to sexual fulfillment?
 What is a stereotype and a generalization, and why should stereotypes be avoided?
 What are some of the specific gendered differences between men and women in relation to marital
intimacy?
 How can charity help us benefit from rather than struggle with those gendered differences?

Procreation / Infertility / Adoption

 What evidence is there to indicate that Latter-day Saints often allow cultural considerations rather than
doctrinal considerations determine when they have children and how many children they have?
 What role should God have in a couple’s decision of when to have children and how many children to
have?
 What principles should inform our decisions regarding procreation?
 What principles can bring peace and comfort if we face infertility?
 What have prophets taught regarding adoption and the use of reproductive technologies for infertility?

Sanctity of Life
 What are the two theological reasons given in this lesson that affirm the worth of a soul or the sanctity
of life?
 What is the Church’s specific policy regarding abortion and what principles direct that policy?
 What is the Church’s specific policy regarding euthanasia, and what principles direct that policy?
 What principles have prophets taught relating to suicide?
 10 – Principles of Happiness in Family Life

Principles of Effective Communication

 What principles of effective communication have the scriptures and modern prophets taught?
 How does a Christlike nature lead to healthy communication?
 Besides the spoken word, what are other important ways we intentionally or unintentionally
communicate in the family?

Obstacles to Effective Communication

 What are some of the obstacles to effective communication, and how can we overcome these obstacles?
 What are some of the documented differences often inherent in male and female communication?

Nine Proclamation Principles

 What are the nine proclamation principles that lead to familial love and happiness?
 What are some of the reasons these principles are important to family life?
 What are some of the practices associated with these principles that we can use to create harmony in our
families?

Continued Courtship after Marriage

 What are some specific ways we can purposefully continue our courtship after we are married?
 What have modern prophets taught regarding priorities that help us continue to focus on our marriage
relationship?

Obstacles to Continued Courtship

 What are some of the obstacles husbands and wives must overcome in order to continue nurturing their
relationship?
 What are some lessons we learn from the secular research on marital enhancement?
 How can we purposefully keep our spouse as our highest earthly priority?

11- By Divine Design – Partnership in Marriage

An Equal, Interdependent Relationship

 What have prophets taught about the equality of husbands and wives?
 Why does equality not mean that husbands and wives are interchangeable—unisex?
 What is the difference between independent and interdependent in the context of marriage?

Couple Resiliency
 What principles and practices help couples become more resilient?
 How can couples approach adversity in a way that draws them nearer to each other and to God?
 Troubles will come to all. What must we decide?

Involving God in Our Families

 What can couples do to more purposefully involve God in their marriages and family?
 What specific practices have prophets encouraged?
 What does the marital triad refer to, and how does each member of the Godhead influence our families?

Prophetically Taught Priorities

 What do the scriptures and prophets teach about our supreme priorities?
 How do you determine the difference between perceived priorities and actual priorities?

Living True to Priorities

 How can we apply the Lord’s priorities in our daily life?
 What were President Nelson’s three suggestions for putting in place priorities in marriage?
 12 – Parenting

Provide / Preside / Protect / Nurture

 How have prophets defined the terms provide, preside, protect and nurture differently than the ways the
world defines these terms?
 Why is it essential that we see parental responsibilities as God has defined them rather than as the world
has defined these responsibilities?
 What is the relationship between a father’s responsibilities to provide, preside, and protect and a
mother’s responsibility to nurture?
 What does it mean to be equal partners in marriage while emphasizing unique responsibilities?

Teach Divine Nature

 What have prophets taught parents regarding parents’ responsibility to consistently teach the gospel to
their children?
 How does learning about our eternal parentage help us to understand our own identity?
 What is our primary identity and how does understanding this help us see all our other, less central
“identities” more accurately?

Creating a Christ-Centered Home

 What promised blessings have prophets spoken of regarding family scripture study, family prayer, and
family home evening?
 What is the difference between wholesome recreational activity and aimless leisure?
 What does it mean to think of the “weight-bearing beams” as means to an end instead of as ends in and
of themselves?
 What is the end we should use the “weight-bearing beams” for?

Strengthening Relationships
 Why is it crucial to be intentional in our relationships with our children?
 What is the connection between parenting and the parable of the sower?
 What principles and practices do we learn from the Savior’s experience with the Nephites after His
resurrection regarding how we should build our relationships with our family members?

Agency and Discipline

 What does the word discipline mean in Latin?
 What are the four recognized parenting styles related to discipline and agency?
 What is the difference between agency and freedom when it comes to parenting?
 How do love and law relate?
 What is meant by love, limits, and latitude, and how do these principles change as children grow?

13 – Provident Living

Health and Wellness

 Why is it important to start early to take care of your health?
 What three areas help prepare you both personally and familially by way of health habits?
 
Materialism
 What has recent research told us about the priorities of the rising generation?
 What are some of the right reasons for seeking wealth?
 What practices can help keep our focus right, even in the midst of prosperity?

Financial Practices and Principles

 What is the overarching purpose of God’s commandments and counsel regarding financial issues?
  How does faithful payment of tithing indicate our willingness to put God first in our lives?
 What did President Hinckley say was part of the “temporal gospel in which we believe”?
 What Church and BYU resources did we recommend?

Education
 What reasons have prophets given for the importance of continuing education?
 What are some of the non-occupation-related reasons why education is important?
 What is the connection between education and the family?

Young Married Finances

 Where can you find a free, detailed course that teaches young adults and young married couples how to
wisely manage their finances?
 How can parents’ positive or negative financial practices impact their children?
 What are wise principles when it comes to financing your education?
 What are basic principles when it comes to credit, car ownership, and wedding planning?

14 – Promoting and Defending the Family

Prophetic Teachings and Public Implications

 How do Satan’s primary attacks relate specifically to our individual salvation and familial exaltation?
 Why does it seem that the greatest opposition is directed towards those who are trying so hard to do
what is right?
 Why should we see those who disagree with us as our brothers and sisters and not our enemies?
 What did Joseph Smith teach about his willingness to fight for the rights of others, even those who
disagreed with him?

Informed and Respectful Engagement

 Why do we need more than a surface level understanding of the revealed truths related to the eternal
family?
 What does it mean to “respectfully engage” with others about these eternal truths?
 What are some of the principles that can guide our efforts to respectfully engage with others?

Promote the Strengthening of Family

 Why is it important that we share the truths about the family both in and out of the church?
 What did President Nelson say about being a disciple of the Lord and being a quiet, comfortable
Christian?
 Why have prophets made a special plea for sisters to stand up and defend / promote the family?
 What are some specific ways we can promote and defend the family?

Abuse
 What have prophets and church leaders stated in regard to abuse?
 What approach is the Church taking to combat abuse?
 What resources have been made available to leaders and members alike to prevent abuse and protect
individuals?
 What have leaders taught regarding the ability to and means of healing from abuse?

Accountable to God
 How is the warning of accountability to God a manifestation of His love?
 What tactics does Satan use to deceive and discourage us from believing in God’s promises?
 What counsel have prophets provided to those who are not married yet?
 What promises have prophets given to each of us related to eternal family?