Mormon Monday: Why Do We Call Him Heavenly Father?

John 17:3 states:

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

This doesn't mean that we need to know OF them, but that we actually need to know about them and understand them.

Many truths about God have been lost in the centuries since Christ was on the earth.  However, because of the vision that Joseph Smith received some wonderful truths have been restored to the earth.

Heavenly Father is the literal father of our spirits.  He created us before we were born and we have the potential to become like him.  He is a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to receive incredible blessings, but he also wants us to learn and grow.  In order to do that, he has given us the opportunity to choose.  When we make righteous decisions, we become more like him and we receive promised blessings.  When we make poor decisions, we receive the promised consequences. 

This is the only way for us to learn to become like our Father in Heaven. 

For children who grow up in families with wonderful fathers, it is easy to understand this relationship with our Heavenly Parent.  However, in this world, many children grow up fatherless, or even worse, with abusive parents.  For those children, they may struggle to understand how someone could love them unequivocally.  The Father has no hidden motives or deceitful plans.  He only wants what is best for us.

He is perfect and righteous.  The past, present, and future are all present before him.  He has foreknowledge of all events to come, and thus can guide us without error. 

The father has a body of flesh and bone, like the resurrected Savior did when he appeared to his disciples.  He is not a formless cloud "without body, parts, or passions."  In numerous occasions, we see God weep for the sins of his children. How could he do that if he didn't have passions? 

I'll not write too much more today, because Kevin has a fever and is sick, but I do want to end this post with my personal temtimony.

I know that I am a child of God.  I have felt his overwhelming love for me on numerous occasions and the Holy Spirit has testified of this truth to me.  God loves everyone of His children.  We are all sinners before Him, and He does His best to lead us to His Son.  Due to Christ's sacrifice, we can all return to our Heavenly Father if we simply do our best to follow and keep his commandments.  If you don't know of God's love for you, kneel down and ask Him.  I promise you that if you have faith and believe, He will answer you and you will know that this life does have a purpose. 

Let our Heavenly Father into your life.  Let him comfort you and guide you.  He will not lead you astray.  He cannot make mistakes, and if we are trying to follow Him, we will be led to happiness.

I say these things in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.