This week I watched a program on KBYU-TV about Joseph F. Smith. President Hinckley said that he believed that Joseph F. Smith knew more about the doctrines of the Church than any other person, save Joseph Smith. They went on to talk about his focus on the Temple and Eternal Covenants and said his focus on them probably stemmed from the fact that he had so much loss in his life. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-05-1110-joseph-f-smith-documentary?lang=eng

His visions gave us so much more understanding of what we can expect in the eternities. I thought it was interesting that Joseph F. Smith let us know that our service to the Lord, “In any capacity, qualifies us for blessings, if we serve faithfully; “Do not think because someone has a higher office in the Church than you have that you are barred from receiving the fullness of the Lord's blessings. You can have them sealed upon you as an elder, if you are faithful; and when you receive them, and live faithfully and keep these covenants, you then have all that any man can get.” So, this tells us that our service can qualify us to have the temple blessings.   https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/joseph-f-smith?lang=eng

President Benson’s talk had some funny stories in it, but all of the experiences his family went through, helped him gain a testimony and deep appreciation for temples. His mother taught him about temple work and instilled a love of the sacred ordinances. He was able to marry each of his, children, grandchildren and his mother’s great-grandchildren, just as she hoped for.

Family was important to President Benson’s mother and as I worked on my genogram these past couple weeks, I was happy I was focusing on my genealogy. We actively work on our genealogy and we have tested the DNA on all our immediate family and have given DNA kits as presents to extended family and last week we sent 5 DNA kits with our niece who is interning in Poland this summer, along with information to help find family there on my husband’s side. As I completed my genogram, I realized there were some disturbing themes in my genogram and many of them may have been encouraged through my own father’s behavior.

I realized through the genogram activity, that we can find a lot more commonalities than what I expected. I realized how important it is for us to model our best behavior, especially to our family, because it can effect behaviors within our extended family.

I especially loved this section of our reading this week,

Elder Parley P. Pratt expressed beautifully the blessings that come to us as we learn about, understand, and strive to apply in our lives the doctrinal ideal of marriage:

“It was Joseph Smith who taught me how to prize the endearing relationships of father and mother, husband and wife; of brother and sister, son and daughter.”

“It was from him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be secured to me for time and all eternity; and that the refined sympathies and affections which endeared us to each other emanated from the fountain of divine eternal love. …”

We can see through the sacrifices and service of so many, that the opportunity to be together forever as families is the ultimate eternal goal. It is the brass ring of our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness. We should serve each day with our eyes focused on this wonderful eternal prize.