The Church

Have you ever thought about why God sends us to earth as members of families? It is because in our homes with our families is the best place to prepare for eternal life, to build eternal homes and eternal families.

“The family is the most important unit in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church exists to help families gain eternal blessings and exaltation.” (Gospel Principles, The Family Can Be Eternal, 2011, pp. 207-211)

“While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family… When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities.” God conceived, organized and ordained the family unit to last into eternity and it is within the eternal family that God bestows His highest blessings. (Elder Robert D. Hales, “The Eternal Family,” October 1996.)

Since God’s highest blessings are received within the eternal family, it seems reasonable to assume that God has prepared a special home where the eternal family can dwell and partake of these glorious and preeminent blessings.

So what do you think this exalted home will be like? What will take place there? I believe the answer to these questions can be found in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 109.

The revelation in D&C 109 was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in March of 1836 as a dedicatory prayer for the newly built Kirtland Temple, a place for the Son of Man to visit “… that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people.” Or in other words, a home for Deity here on earth. (D&C 109:5)

Establish a House

In D&C 109: 6-8, the Prophet Joseph accounts to the Lord for the completion and fulfillment of the Lord’s earlier commandment (D&C 88:119,120) to “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” (Bold used for emphasis.)

“That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all our salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.” (D&C 109:9)

With this latter day revelation and heavenly counsel comes valuable knowledge as to what God’s house is like, on earth and in heaven, and what ours must be like if we hope to live as an eternal family in a Celestial environment in God’s presence.

These scriptures are very insightful regarding the spiritual focus and ethos of a Celestial home, but what about the actual dwelling itself? What manner or style of house will it be? Do you ever think about it?

Many Mansions

John 14: 2-3 of the New Testament (KJV) provides us with the Savior’s answer to this intriguing question.

Jesus is talking to His disciples trying to comfort and reassure them that there is a place for them in His Father’s house on high. He tells them “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am, there ye may be also.”

However, I find it curious that the Savior refers to where we will live in the eternities (Himself included) as “mansions” (which naturally brings to mind images of large and impressive houses) especially since He warns us against the lure of the things of this world! “And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.” (D&C 25:10)

But are large and impressive houses – luxurious abodes, mansions within mansions within His Father’s house (hard to envision houses within houses) – what Jesus really meant when He told His disciples that there were many mansions in His Father’s house? Maybe not!

Let’s take a look at other possible interpretations of John 14:2 to see if perhaps what the Savior was really saying to His disciples, got lost somewhere in translation.

Remember that a translation is more than just copying words from one language to another. Every translation calls for some interpretation by the translator. (Even though the Gospel of John was originally written in Greek * Jewish thought and Hebrew linguistics can help give us some insight into this scriptural text, especially since John was born a Jew, was one of the Savior’s twelve apostles, and would have been influenced by Jewish thought, life and traditions of his time.

One Word – Many Meanings

The English words “house” and “home” have many layers of meaning and emotion associated with them. But the Hebrew word “bayit” (Bet – ancient use) means both “house,” and “home” and carries even broader, more diverse meanings and images such as tent, dwelling, abode, palace, (mansion) temple, even holy place!

So when the word “bayit” is used – with all of its possible meanings and implications – the context in which it is used is of utmost importance if you want to understand its intended meaning.

For example, the Jewish synagogue near our home is called Temple Beth El and like many other synagogues all over the world, includes the word “bayit” (Bet) in its name meaning “The Home of God.”

“Bayit” can also mean an inner feeling or a place of spiritual longing. Many Israelis refer to the state of Israel as “bayit shelishi” – Israel’s third home, or third “bayit” for the Jewish people – their spiritual home and gathering place.

Home Is Where The Heart Is!

“In Aramaic (the language of the Talmud; a language closely related to Hebrew) the word for spouse is “bayit.” So, according to the Talmud home is one’s spouse … one is at home when with one’s spouse.” (Rabbi Phillip Graubart, San Diego Jewish Journal)

Using this interpretation of “bayit” home really is where the heart is!

But in addition to house, home, tent, dwelling, abode, palace, mansion, temple, holy/ spiritual place, inner feeling, spiritual longing and spouse, (quite a list) “bayit” can also mean “family.” (See Ancient Hebrew Translations and Characteristics; Hebrew Heritage Bible Society, Translations and Interpretations)

Talmudic rabbis refer to the chuppah – the Jewish marriage canopy – as a “bayit” and whenever they bless a couple under the chuppah, they pray that the newly married couple will build a “bayit ne’ eman” – a Jewish household – a home and family one is committed to.

A common designation for a Jewish family, and ancient Hebrew practice, is to identify the “house” (household) after the family patriarch. Such as “The house of Jacob,” (later designated “The House of Israel”) “The house of Joseph” … even “The House of God.”

Further evidence of this ancient practice is found in the book of Moses, in The Pearl of Great Price.

Moses 6:57 and 7:19 tells us that in the language of Adam, Jesus Christ was called “Man of Holiness,” and that the City of Enoch was called “The City of Holiness,” revealing its patriarchal designation and identity after God’s Only Begotten Son … even Jesus Christ.

In My Father’s House Are Many Families

So now let’s experiment with the word! If in John 14:2 the word “mansion” is replaced with the Hebrew word “bayit” – meaning “family” – we get a very different interpretation of what the Savior was saying to His disciples when He talked about “mansions” within His Father’s house.

Here is John 14:2-3 with that change – which has been italicized.

“In my Father’s house are many families. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (plural, meaning you and your family) … that where I am, there ye many be also.”

From this interpretation emerges the Savior’s divine knowledge of eternal families, assuring and revealing to His beloved disciples that eternal families dwell with God (and Him) – In God His Father’s house – as part of His Father’s exalted family, instead of in heavenly homes of their own; and it is the Savior Himself – through the power of the atonement – that makes this possible.

“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God … and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.” (Mosiah 2:41, bold used for emphasis.)

For “…I will receive you …and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17,18)

Then we will be known to all throughout the Universe and throughout all Eternity as “The Family of God” … even “The House of God,” designated and called after the Supreme Patriarch of us all; to live in endless happiness in His loving and divine presence, partakers of His Celestial glory …forever.

Something wonderful to think about in these troubled times!

Endnote – The Bigger Picture

Considering the eternal potential of the family, is it any wonder that Satan and his followers have waged an all-out war against marriage and the family? However, destroying the marriages and families of mortal man is just the tip of the iceberg – a means to an end. What Satan’s really after – his ultimate goal – is to destroy what God loves the very most … the family of God! It is critical that we see the bigger picture here.

*The word “mansion” does not appear in Greek. However, the Greek word for “house” translated means “an abode,” a place to dwell or gather, and by implication can mean “a family.” So even the Greek interpretation suggests that Jesus is saying that there will be many people in His Father’s family – all abiding together in His Father’s House.