Author: isbjorn

Had a great evening as a family watching/listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Watched a massive lightning storm all across the sky on the drive home. Bracing for a 180 mile long storm system with 80 mph winds, expected to hit in about two hours. We may not get much sleep…

The girls have been very into fairies recently. They spent all afternoon under the maple tree building a fairy house with friends. This picture was taken right before bed, Aubrey and Alyssa had to run back out and check on it one more time. If you ask them, they saw a fairy fly in and out!

See the swan on its nest behind the stylin’ girl?

Link to Deseret News article describing our views on marriage:
Mormon Parenting: The conjugal and revisionist views of marriage

Awesome article about an awesome young man in our ward, Josh:

http://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/10/the-glad-hatter?lang=eng

And you can’t forget his little brother, Spencer, one of my Deacons Quorum presidents and patrol leaders.

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This was dessert today, and Alyssa’s creative side shown through. Instead of just putting fruit on, she made me an owl.

I hear we have 500,000 people without power in the Columbus area, and there’s been a lot of damage. Power company says it could take a week to get everything restored. As I wake up with my air conditioning still working, I am grateful for the faith and prayers of little children.

We just picked Emma up from marching band practice. It’s not usually this hot in Ohio, so people say. Our first year was definitely cooler and wetter. I never thought I’d say it here, but we need some rain!