The Ultimate End

The following statements are all from President Packer in General Conference:

·         “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home and that the family can continue through eternity.” (April 1981)

·         “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church centers in the home and the family.” (October 2007)

·         “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children might be happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood.” (April 2010)

·         “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home.” (October 2010)

·         “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see a husband and his wife and their children happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood.“ (April 2012)

·         “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home.” (April 2014)

I’m sensing a theme!  The Proclamation on the Family tells us that this happiness in the home is “most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  So we could rephrase President Packer’s statement perhaps this way: “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can live the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ in their home.”  After describing the ways that his people kept the commandments, Nephi wrote, “And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27).  That “manner of happiness” was simply seeking to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in their family.  In our dispensation the Savior gave an incredible revelation in supernal language to the Prophet Joseph Smith telling the Saints how they could see God’s face and “receive a fullness of joy” (D&C 93:1, 33).  I think it’s interesting, then, that in the same revelation the Lord chastened four of the Church leaders because of their failures in the home.  To Frederick G. Williams He said, “You have not taught your children light and truth” (D&C 93:42).  To Sidney Rigdon He commanded, “Set in order thy house” (D&C 93:44).  To the Prophet Joseph He said, “Your family must needs repent and forsake some things” (D&C 93:47).  He said of Newel K. Whitney, he “hath need to be chastened, and set in order his family, and see that they are more diligent and concerned at home” (D&C 93:50).  I think that the lesson for us is that to have the ultimate spiritual blessings to see the face of God and receive a fullness of joy, we must focus on our homes and families, just as President Packer teaches us.