Married and He's Still Teaching Me

I know my father is still alive and probably (hopefully) will be for a while, but I want to write down the things I remember about him now. I can make a running memory of him. I want to do this, because I respect and look up to my dad more than any person that I know personally.

My first memoir is a memory from last week.

We were having a discussion about what will happen to us after we die. We were specifically talking about the three degrees of Glory. My dad said, “These three degrees are evidence of our Heavenly Father’s love for us. If we can only live, or only want to live, a Telestial law we can go to that kingdom. If we want to be good people, but don’t want to serve others-maybe want to be a little selfish, that is a Terrestrial law and we can go to that kingdom. Our loving Heavenly Father will give us as much Glory as we want. As much Glory as we are willing to work for.”

This got me thinking about what I really want. Sometimes I think it might be nice to say I’ve done enough. I’m happy with following the easy commandments, and that’s good enough.

To this idea of thinking he commented, “Sometimes the lower Glories seem good enough, but I know that only in the Highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom will I be able to have an Eternal family. I can’t imagine what it would be like to spend Eternity alone. It would be so lonely and sad to not have my sweetheart for eternity.”

In jest I said, “And your wonderful kids.”

He said, “Yes, but you will be with your sweetheart. I don’t want to be alone. I want to be with my sweetheart forever. So I’m willing to do whatever I have to, to make it to that kingdom with that Glory.”

This really put things into a greater perspective for me. I always knew I wanted Celestial Glory, but being recently married, I could 100% relate to the wanting to be with my eternal companion, well, eternally. I always thought about kids and a family forever. I will have my kids, just like my parents will have me, but my dad made a lasting impression on me: My kids will grow up and have eternal companions of their own. I will have Matt and he will have me.

Realizing that I don’t want to be alone for Eternity either, I know that I must nurture and create a loving bond and relationship with my husband so he’ll want to be with me forever.

Man my dad is smart.