In class this week we have been talking about the importance of having children. As we have done so, my testimony that children really are "an hearitage of the Lord" has grown. A powerful quote by President Brigham Young was shared that I want to pass on to you. “There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?—To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can.” To me this is a stark reminder that life is precious, is scared and should be treated as such. Children in this world are so often looked at as a nuisance, problem, and a distraction from personal desires... but I would like to put it out there that children are a blessing, and a sacrifice made in faith. I am not married yet, much less have children of my own, but I have had the blessing of younger siblings. Had my parents stopped at 1 or 2 kids, or maybe even 3 or 4, I would not be who I am today. My younger siblings have taught me more than I can express. They have helped me prepare for my future family (and someday, my kids will thank them because I got to practice on my siblings first). I have been able to grow special relationships with each of them, and I would not trade them for the world (on most days). The home really is the training ground for life, and for the rest of eternity. I love my family, they have taught me what is important in life and someday I will follow the example of my parent and have "children in faith". Time, money, education, they are all important but family is the reason we are here. As we prepare in faith to bring children into this world, remember that the greatest scarifies bring forth the greatest blessings. Family is the greatest of all the blessings of heaven. 

 In some of my free time, I ran across a Mormon video that really stood out to me and fit with the things that we have been discussing lately. Enjoy :)