Boyd K. Packer stated that, “The end of all activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to see that a man and a woman with their children are happy at home, sealed for eternity.” I’m not sure that all members are aware of that message. With all the meetings and activities of the church that keep members busy, such as; regular Sunday meetings, teaching assignments, priesthood callings and meetings, home teaching, etc. Family home evening is the only assignment that is directly related to the family. The others are indirectly related—designed to make us or help us become better people. The strongest message that came from the brethren a few years ago is the message in a formal pamphlet titled, “Families are Forever” If each member could, in fact, keep that message in mind and work on it while doing all the other assignments and where possible including family members in those assignments the end goal and purpose would not seem so remote. There is no question in my mind that, in this life, families are where the greatest happiness is found. If all things are equal it will hold true in our next life as well. There is no question that members of each family can test our endurance but those tests become sources for humor in history and remembering. For example: Six-year-old Dan decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Dan was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very special for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very messy.
He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, and he didn’t know how the stove worked! Suddenly, he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically, he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. Just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Dan’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.” That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky, we insult a friend, we can’t stand a job, or our health goes sour.
Sometimes, we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying for God or for others. Sooner or later, we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried. Now, the other shoe drops: “A son took his old father to a restaurant for an evening dinner. Father, being very old and weak, while eating, dropped food on his shirt and trousers. Other diners watched him in disgust while his son was calm.
After he finished eating, his son who was not at all embarrassed, quietly took him to the washroom, wiped the food particles, removed the stains, combed his hair and fitted his spectacles firmly. When they came out, the entire restaurant was watching them in dead silence, not able to grasp how someone could embarrass themselves publicly like that. The son settled the bill and started walking out with his father.
At that time, an old man amongst the diners called out to the son and asked him, “Don’t you think you have left something behind?”
The son replied, “No sir, I haven’t”.
The old man retorted, “Yes, you have! You left a lesson for every son and hope for every father.” The restaurant went silent.
Moral: To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors. We all know, how our parents cared for us for every little thing. Love them, respect them, and care for them. Why? Because families are forever!