The Gospel Isn't Just Forever Families – It's Building Families Worth Living With

Samuel the Lamanite climbed the walls of Jerusalem, a lone voice crying out a warning. Ammon, at the Waters of Sebus, faced down a fearsome adversary not with brute force, but with courage and the power of God. These are echoes of a deeper truth: the gathering isn't just about geography; it’s about hearts, about building a Zion of righteousness and love, stone by stone, relationship by relationship.

We are Builders, not Destroyers. That’s the filter that defines this gathering place. We’re here to nourish the soil, to plant seeds of hope and resilience, knowing full well the harvest will be a collective effort. And sometimes, the most fertile ground lies within the tangled complexities of family.

This week's episode of This Is Kingdom dives deep into Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk, “The Sealing Power,” and the profound questions it raises about family, pain, and the transformative power of the gospel. It’s a conversation that resonated deeply, because let’s be honest, who hasn’t felt that ache, that discouragement when family relationships fall short of the ideal?

One of the hosts, recalling his own experience teaching missionaries, realized a crucial point: people don't yearn for eternal families simply for the promise of reunion. They long for families they *want* to be with forever. A paradigm shift, he calls it – and a cornerstone of true gospel understanding. It’s not just about *being* with family forever; it’s about becoming the kind of family that makes eternity worth living.

This isn't a simplistic promise of blissful harmony. The hosts acknowledge the pain, the trauma, the contention that can exist within families. They understand the frustration of children feeling unseen, unheard, or wounded by the actions of those closest to them. But they also offer a balm: the gospel isn’t a magic wand; it’s a transformative power that can heal wounds, bridge divides, and foster a deeper, more resilient love. Like the five smooth stones David gathered to face Goliath, the gospel provides the tools we need to confront the giants in our own lives.

Think of Abinadi, standing defiant before King Noah, speaking truth even in the face of death. He understood that sometimes, the most courageous act is to speak truth to power, even when it’s painful. It requires courage to confront the uncomfortable realities within our families, to seek reconciliation, to extend grace – to be a digital stripling, armed with the spirit and a willingness to build bridges.

And that's where the charity flywheel comes into play. Your engagement here – your shares, your discussions, your support – directly funds gospel advertising in places like Ghana, bringing the light of the gospel to those who are seeking. It fuels the Missionary Fund, sending out internet missionaries to share this message of hope and healing across the globe. It’s a testament to the power of collective action, a modern-day version of the five sheaves of wheat gathered by Joseph Smith.

Outback Jack reminds us, as he does, that this work is not ours, but the Lord’s. He would say, “Look to the map, brothers and sisters. See where the Lord is moving, where the stones are being fitted, and lend your strength to the work. Every act of kindness, every moment of prayer, every connection forged – it all contributes to the building of Zion.”

The Stone cut without hands is being revealed – not just in grand pronouncements, but in the quiet moments of connection, in the healing of broken hearts, in the strengthening of families. It's in the willingness to see the divine potential in those around us, even when they seem most difficult.

Let us be those who build, who gather, who create families worthy of eternity. Let us embrace the challenges, the pain, the opportunity for growth, knowing that the Lord is with us, guiding us, and strengthening us every step of the way.

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