4 Ways to Strengthen Eternal Families

The opportunity to have an eternal family is one of the greatest blessings we receive from temples. Because of temple sealings, saying goodbye is not permanent—the relationships we build with our families in this life will continue into eternity.

In a 1995 BYU devotional, Henry B. Eyring stated, “Eternal life means to become like the Father and to live in families in happiness and joy forever.” We aren’t placed in families temporarily or because it’s convenient for the time being. Families are part of the definition of eternal life. They’re essential to God’s plan for us.

Family life—and life in general—isn’t always easy. However, there are many things we can do to strengthen our families and prepare for eternity:

Live Worthy of the Temple

In order to receive the blessings of the temple and eternal families, we must live so that we are worthy of the temple.

Hartman Rector Jr., a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy when he spoke at BYU in 1973, explained that:

Exaltation is a family affair, and so we build temples (houses dedicated to the Lord), but temples are family houses. They are set apart to create families for all eternity. The sealing room in the temple is a family room and the altar of the temple is a family altar. (“Prepare Yourself to Raise a Family in the Lord”)

Be an Example

We are to support and care for our family members. By living righteously, we can be an example to those in our family who might be struggling. In an address at BYU, Henry B. Eyring said:

“We cannot control what others choose to do, and so we cannot force our children to heaven, but we can determine what we will do. And we can decide that we will do all that we can to bring down the powers of heaven into that family we want so much to have forever.”

Spend Time Together

Creating family traditions can help strength our families. Former BYU president Merrill J. Bateman said:

Many programs and practices in the Church are designed to strengthen the family. These include family home evening, family councils, family history work, family prayer, father’s blessings, family scripture study, and others. It is important for families to build special traditions that tie children to parents and grandchildren to grandparents. (“The Eternal Family”)

Defend the Family

In a world in which the family is losing its value, Richard G. Wilkins, a professor of law when he gave his BYU devotional in 1999, advised, “We must be willing to engage in social discourse about the family even if the discourse (at times) becomes difficult. . . . We must retain faith in a faithless world.” (“Defending the Family”)

For more BYU Speeches on strengthening families, visit our family topic page.