Family is the most important unit in time and in eternity. Did you know that the importance of family was pulled from the Biblical record? Because of the celibate nature of the monks, translators, and transcribers, the importance of family was expunged from many records. Now we have many newly found ancient apocryphal records for our perusal. I have used several of these apocryphal writings in previous blog articles, and they give many very important insights into the life of the Savior and clarify ancient history. Many of them point to Family being first.
Importance of the Family
When I was Stake President in Boulder, Colorado, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we had the theme, “FAMILY FIRST.” Since then, I have learned to qualify that theme statement. God should always be first in our lives. Even though the family is the most essential unit in time and eternity. Without God’s help, the family cannot come to its full enjoyable potential and functionality. The family is the primary learning and growing place during our mortal journey. In addition, Jesus asked us to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect. Being like our Heavenly Parents is the ultimate fullness of joy we seek.
Love is the Primary Motivation
The family can only come to its full potential when keeping God’s commandments both in time and in eternity. The first of which is to love “The Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul (body + spirit (D&C 88:15)), and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Mt. 22:37-40) The most important neighbors are the members of our own families. Did you know the Torah is the “Law of Love?”
God’s Physics for Prayer for His Family
In Chapter 21 of my book, It’s About Time, I share that the Eternity domain is where God and His angels do their magnificent work. The Eternity domain is a fifth dimension beyond space and time. I share seven experiments documenting God’s physics and the existence of this Eternity domain. In Chapter 22, using the results from Chapter 21, I share how prayer works, and that each of us has a permanent diallel-field line connection to God. When we were born spirit children of our infinitely loving Heavenly Parents, we were given a diallel-field line umbilical cord made of spirit matter giving us 24/7 connection to our Heavenly Parents.
This is why prayer is the most oft-repeated commandment in the scriptures. Families can most effectively learn the truths of God by coupling into that prayer channel. The evil spirit teaches us not to pray. Personal prayer, husband-wife prayer, and family prayer are binding ties to best help us know the TRUTHs of God. It is through prayer that we can come to know of the Lord’s infinite love for us. Then, by knowing we can emulate, as we internalize His eternal truths. The Lord counsels us to pray always that we may withstand the fiery darts of the adversary. (D&C 10:5; 27:15-18)
Eternal Family is God’s Crowning Goal
God’s infinite love for each of us is beyond our comprehension, and eternal family is our Heavenly Parents’ crowning goal for each of us. This is depicted in the 4 ½ square-mile ancient earthworks near Newark, Ohio—mapping out Heavenly Father’s perfect plan of happiness. Ancient Newark Earthworks in Ohio, USA. These were built by the Jaredite civilization and perfected by the Nephites to tell the world of God’s marvelous plan for us.
God created the world in the first place for us, as Their spirit offspring. All of God’s creations are for us to enjoy. Heavenly Father’s perfect plan opens an incredible door for each of us toward a fullness of joy and eternal happiness in Their presence and as families.
“Until Death do us Part”
Due to misunderstandings of the Bible, distortions, and deletions in the Bible record, most Christians end their marriage ceremonies with the vow, “until death do us part.” This denies the obvious truth that true family love and true husband and wife love transcend the grave. Apocryphal writings help us clear up these misunderstandings. “Love is the power of God that binds two souls and makes them one; there is no power on earth that can dissolve the bond. The bodies may be forced apart by man or death for just a little time, but they will meet again. Now, in this bond of God, we find the marriage tie;” (The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ by Levi, 98:10-12)
In the perfect fairness of God, everyone will have an opportunity to be part of an eternal family before the end of the millennium. It is our choice whether to receive the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and celestial family ties or not. Therein is the doorway to the fullness of JOY! God will force no one to heaven; to do so would make it, not heaven.
The Family of Christ
The record of the family of Christ has also been in large measure expunged from the Biblical record. There is a lot of fascinating information in apocryphal literature about Jesus’ siblings, His extended family, and His offspring. Jesus had six siblings. His brother James was one of the Apostles.
His mother’s sister, Miriam, was a remarkable person and a great contributor to the cause of truth. She had a beautiful voice and knew of the Savior’s mission. She often sang at their gatherings—bringing the Spirit with lyrics that told of Christ’s mission. When Christ was resurrected, He first appeared to His mother, Mary, then to Miriam, and then to Mary Magdalene—His wife.
Jesus, as a rabbi, needed to be married according to Hebrew tradition. Jesus and Mary Magdalene’s daughter, Sarah, was born in Nazareth. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was probably the midwife. Mary Magdalene was a profound missionary in England. Their daughter, Sarah, married into royalty in France and died and was buried there. Our daughter, McKaylee, has traced my wife’s lineage back to Sarah.
I am guessing the drawing attached here depicts Nazareth. The people from left to right: or most probably Mary Magdalene, then Jesus’ mother, Mary, and then the little one Sarah.
Jesus built a lovely home in Capernaum for His mother, Mary, and they often had meetings there. It is often referred to in apocryphal literature as Jesus’ home, as well. Mary still had her home in Nazareth on Marmion Way. This home is probably where Sarah was born.
Jesus’ step-father, Joseph, died when Jesus was only seventeen, and while Jesus was ministering in Asia. But Joseph lived long enough to sire Jesus’ six siblings. Jesus’ siblings were close and knew of his diving mission. They could see how special He was. Their parents had taught them well.
Jesus loved to lodge and visit Lazarus and Lazarus’ sisters in Bethany. Apocryphal literature indicates they were relatives. Lazarus had three sisters: Ruth, Mary, and Martha. Ruth was married and lived in Jericho.
“Her husband was the keeper of an inn; his name was Asher-ben. Now, Asher was a Pharisee of strictest mien and thought, and he regarded Jesus with disdain. And when his wife confessed her faith in Christ, he drove her from his home.” (The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ by Levi, 77:4-6) Ruth—being greatly concerned with her husband’s rejection of Jesus–came to Bethany seeking Jesus’ counsel. He told her to be loving and kind and patient and her husband would come around.
After Ruth visited with Jesus, Jesus went to Jericho ministering and performing many miracles so that Asher would see His works. The scriptures tell us that Jesus’ works testify of Him being the Messiah. Asher could see this and came to be a believer. Later, he visited Lazarus and his family in Bethany, and so that he could learn from Jesus, the promised Messiah.
Destroying Family
Satan knows it is his last hour. He and his minions are doing everything they can to destroy the traditional family. The transgender movement is a case in point. Satan has set up confusing scenarios for the millennials. The media is complicit with the adversary. More and more young people are rejecting the good traditions of their parents, and atheism is on the increase.
The glorious purpose of life has been camouflaged by Satan and his minions, and now the suicide rate is skyrocketing. And the younger generation is being affected the most. People are tending to believe more in science than in God. Technology advances are impressive. But as a physicist, I have come to know the Master Physicist. To be in step with Him is the greatest opportunity of our existence.
Husband-wife relationship
The God-given sex drive by itself can be selfish. Not keeping it within the bounds the Lord has set can lead to pornography, rape, fornication, adultery, homosexual activities, and other sexual distortions. Within the bounds the Lord has set, it is sacred and beautiful, as the husband desires to please his wife, and the wife desires to please her husband. The sacred scriptural description is they become “one flesh.”
in their sacred marriage covenant, they have the divine potential to become co-creators with God to bring forth life on earth. The creative potential of that new life adds to the creative potential of humankind. Jordan Peterson, the world’s best psychologist, profoundly shares this same message.
When the husband and wife are bound together spiritually as well as physically, this is the beginning of the fullness of JOY the Lord has in store for the righteous. We cannot comprehend a happier path.
Satan, using the global elite, is trying to take it in the other direction with birth control, and depopulation strategies—like COVID-19. And is doing his best to destroy the traditional family.
A Strong US President
We need a US President who is strongly Pro-family. Vivek Ramaswamy is your man. One of his main platform bullet points is how important the traditional family is. And as he clearly points out, there are only two genders. His general platform is wake-up America and come to its full potential. And, he closes his talks with, “God bless America.”
I just received the following Fourth of July, 2023, e-mail from Vivek: “Happy Independence Day, David. We are the explorers, the pioneers, the unafraid. In God we trust, and in the government, we distrust… We are the land of the free, because of the brave.
“One year ago, we did our neighbor parade and then went straight to the hospital where Apoorva gave birth to Arjun. Today, [his one-year birthday] the little man joined us… so grateful for our family and our country.” Arjun now enjoys his older brother and his parents who are 100% devoted to the cause of liberty and to the American dream. Fifty years after signing the Declaration of Independence both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the Fourth of July. So, Arjun was born on the Fourth of July 246 years after the signing of the world-famous, Declaration of Independence.
If Vivek is elected, I believe we will have a much happier Fourth of July next year. If his message is heard during this presidential campaign, that will help a lot in moving America back to her foundation of liberty and in God we trust. In the poles, he has passed up all the other Republican presidential candidates except for DeSantis and Trump. He is now closing in on DeSantis with only 6 points between them.
Sacred Home Environment
Let us make our homes a sanctuary of righteousness—following the Son of Righteousness. There the truths of God are taught and lived and shared. A family that serves one another and serves others is a family filled with the love of God. The pictures on their walls, the music enjoyed, and the feeling in the home reflects God’s infinite love for each family member.
The media is largely biased in satanic directions. But by proper filtering of media material, a family can find enjoyable, educational, and spiritually uplifting material.
Guided by the Spirit, (D&C 91:1-5) we can learn much from ancient writings about “FAMILY FIRST.” What we find in our search is glorious, and it fills one with hope and understanding of the Lord’s great divine paramount purpose for family. Without the family unit in eternity, a fullness of joy is not possible. Most people don’t think of it, but without our resurrection provided by Christ’s infinite atonement a fullness of joy is not possible. (D&C 93:33-34)
It is my hope and prayer that your family and ours will have the Spirit of Zion, where everything we do is motivated by the pure love of Christ. In so doing, we are best preparing for His glorious return, and to be part of His eternal family where we will FIND A FULLNESS OF JOY!
David W. Allan
Photo: Family Photo