ESTABLISHING A ZION WORTHY FAMILY

(2nd of a series)

By: Norberto Betita

In this dispensation of the fullness of times, the same call and warning are raised for us to claim the cause of Zion and to prepare for the cleansing of the earth, no longer by flood but by fire, from so much wickedness, which is even greater perhaps than that of the time of Noah and Enoch. This is to be in preparation for the prophesied event of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for Him to undertake and start His millennial reign. His coming is dependent upon us as a people. Although the second coming of the Lord is already fixed by Heavenly Father, and He is the only one who knows when, yet He wanted us to do our part in the establishment and redemption of Zion. We need to understand and be taught to live the law of the Celestial Kingdom. We need to have the kind of faith and obedience as those people in the days of Enoch. We need to learn to be more diligent in our duties and experience the joy of magnifying our callings in service to God’s kingdom and his people.

Since the family is the fundamental unit of society and of the church, it is important that we need to first teach the principles of Zion to our children and slowly establish a Zion worthy family. It is more worthwhile to teach our children the fundamentals of a Zion like people and help them learn to obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel until they will eventually be made to understand and obey the higher laws of the Celestial Kingdom of God. 

As a father, in partnership with my wife, I felt it our solemn and fundamental duty to raise and nurture our children into the paths of righteousness and virtue. It is in the family circle that we are able to develop the attributes of a Zion people by showing them our deepest love and teaching them how to love and serve others.

We need to impress upon them the principles of proper behavior that are enshrined in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and help them feel the joy of living a clean life. It is in the home that we are able to build within our children the characters that might merit the qualifying virtues of Zion in the family. Elder Boyd K. Packer taught it this way:

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

We need to understand that the establishment of Zion, first in our homes, is not just for ourselves but for our children and our coming posterity for all to be able to claim the privilege and blessing of being a part of a Zion Society---the New Jerusalem. Therefore, it is a paramount imperative for each of us to sacrifice in creating upon us a clean heart and live our lives as to be worthy participants in claiming for the cause of Zion which is the very purpose and mission of this dispensation. 

Such is a magnificent and remarkable privilege which I wanted my children and grandchildren to know and understand while I am yet in this life. I wanted them to realize that my thoughts and prayers is for them to at least contribute in this grand and marvelous opportunity to take part in welcoming the Lord during His glorious return to end the horror and bloodshed in this troubled world.

Besides, our efforts to try to establish a Zion worthy family is actually to create within the family circle the very spirit and substance of the blessings of Zion and even the Millennium. President Kim. B. Clark explained:

“This great millennial day of the Lord surely will come. And He surely will come. But we do not have to wait for His Second Coming to receive the blessing of His presence and His coming. Indeed, we must not wait for those supernal blessings. Just as we must gather now and establish Zion now, so we must seek the blessings of the Millennium now if we are to enjoy them then. In 1863 George Q. Cannon said this about establishing the Millennium in our hearts and in our homes:

““By the Saints refusing to be led by the influences of Satan, and not yielding to his seductive temptations, he is virtually bound so far as they are concerned; and, when the head of the family can attain unto this power, and persuade his wife and family to do likewise, the power of Satan will be bound in that habitation, and the Millennium will have commenced in that household; and if all should take this course, man and the earth would soon be prepared for the coming of Jesus and the ushering in of the full Millennial glory, and the complete binding of Satan, of all of which glory they would already have a foretaste.”” (George Q. Cannon, 17 July 1864, Millennial Star, XXVI:514; emphasis added)” The Work of the Lord in the Kingdom and in Our Hearts, President Kim B. Clark, Brigham Young University–Idaho Education Week Devotional, July 20, 2007.) 

This is the very reason why as a father I have tried the best I can to live a family centered life, supported and reinforced by the everlasting principles and doctrines that are in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The knowledge and testimony I gained from my long and serious study of the doctrines and commandments and Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness, allowed me to set, as a significantly vital priority, those interests that are closely associated with strengthening and edifying my children and encouraging them to be active defenders of the ideals and tenets of truth and righteousness and the redemption of Zion.

I know how important my children, grandchildren and the rest of my posterity in the life hereafter. They are to be part of the family kingdom that Heavenly Father has promised to every worthy family who covenanted with Him in a sealing ordinance in the Holy Temple. So that I write my thoughts about them and express my love and counsels that all of us may unitedly follow the covenant path which the Lord has provided for us to attain our desired glorious destination in the Celestial Kingdom after we have been able to comply with the required worthiness, even to build a Zion worthy family in this life. It is only in mortality that we are to build the foundations of our kingdom in the eternities. President Joseph Fielding Smith reminded:

"We should remember, as Latter-day Saints, that outside of the celestial kingdom, there is no family organization [after death]. That organization is reserved for those who are willing to abide in every covenant and every obligation which we are called upon to receive while we sojourn here in this mortal life." (Joseph Fielding Smith, In Conference Report, Oct. 1948, 153.)

There are no perfect families, but all are to struggle towards that end. Perfection is not in this life, but we are given this mortal time to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12.) It seems that in each family there may be a prodigal or two whose hostile attitudes poses to be a challenge against our efforts towards our goals. Yet the divine gift of repentance and forgiveness and love will ever be the healing balm that will bridge the divide towards a stronger and unified family unit.

I have always been a positive person, yet there are times when adversity would drag me back into negativity as to become a deterrent of my progressive spiritual efforts. I understand, however, that I need to always take the motivation to fight and overcome every negative influence that impedes and blocks my optimistic goals. I believe that in our failures there follows successes and in our continued struggles there will be triumphs. I am getting old and physically stricken and would like to do one last memorable venture to turn my heart to my children. I, therefore, write my thoughts about them and keep them for a memory of my greatest desire and relentless efforts for us, as a family, to become worthy of Zion and to finally live with Heavenly Father in the celestial realms of His Kingdom, forever.