LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It would be ridiculous – for any of us to assume – we have sufficient wisdom – to know a better pathway – than that which Heavenly Father – has outlined for His children – to secure their journey back home!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Using the scriptures to gain a neighbor – is definitely going against the counsel – that those holy words – are not meant to be individually interpreted – this may be especially true – when we use them to justify political leanings!! (N3P)

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Heavenly Father’s children – will always feel a void in their lives – until they return home to His loving arms!! ----- One of the marvels of being engaged in Heavenly Father’s work – is we become more susceptible – to the comfortings of the Holy Spirit – which is another way our hearts can be filled with joy – though as yet – we fall short of the fullness – of His presence!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

A thought worth pondering – how extremely different our lives would be – if we were to change places – with one of our ancestors!!

Heavenly Father – has never asked any of his children – to do anything which would – hamper their progress!! ----- Heavenly Father’s everlasting promise to His children – has always been – that faithful following His Plan – would result in joy!!

ADDED UPON 1

Many years ago when I had my family submerged in the process of my earning a doctorate in the field of education, I read a statistic about the low percentage of High School graduates who ever read a book during their lives after graduation. In fact, if I am remembering correctly, the percentage of those who read a newspaper or a magazine was also dismally low.

In what would be considered a much less scientific observance, I have felt that a large percentage of those who are baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, rarely advance their understanding and, therefore, their testimonies beyond what they had obtained by the time they left the Young Men’s and Young Women’s programs of the Church.

If we were only to use the inactivity level of the membership of the Church as a measuring device, it would be an indicator that well over 50% of those who retain membership after their teen years have ceased to search in an effort to further their understanding and thereby strengthen their testimonies.

If we took a poll of those who prepare for the Sunday classes they attend by reading the lesson materials, the percentage would take another significant dip.

Not to labor the point, although I probably already have, if we were to register those who have read the Old Testament in its entirety, we would undoubtedly see the percentage drop again.

I have belabored the point because of the extensive promises the Lord has made to those who continue with diligence to seek knowledge of the truth and to live in righteousness.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10

For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.

Doctrine and Covenants 42:61

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

Doctrine and Covenants 121:26-32

A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest. All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ. And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times—According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.

In the first 8 chapters of the Book of Mormon we have become aware of Lehi having made the sacrifice of all his worldly possessions, his status in the community and had dedicated the remainder of his life to being obedient to the commands of the Lord. These commands included putting his son’s lives in peril to obtain the Plates of Brass from his kinsman Laban.

We become aware that both Lehi and his son Nephi make more than a casual perusal of those records which contained their genealogy as well as the history of his people from Adam down through Jeremiah.

The diligence which Nephi had in searching these records as well as recording the duel records of his father and his own history led him to proclaim in the last verse of chapter 9 of 1 Nephi, but the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

It is extremely interesting in the five chapters which follow they have revealed to them an extraordinary volume of information from that inexhaustible bank of the Lord’s knowledge.

During the next few weeks, which interestingly fall during the celebration of the remembrance of the Crowning Event of the mission of our Savior, I hope we will all contemplate the vast knowledge which was given to Lehi and Nephi because of their faithfulness and diligence, asking and being constant in seeking for knowledge of the truth.

(To be continued)


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The thought has come to me – when performing proxy sealings in the Temple – for couples whose mortal span was several centuries ago – whether the couple continued courting all those years – while they were waiting with anxious anticipation – the advent of their eternal sealing!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The thought often comes to me – when performing a live sealing in the Temple – whether the bride and groom – feel the same level of joy – as those couples in heaven – who are being sealed by proxy!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The thought often comes to me – when performing proxy sealings in the Temple – whether the deceased bride and groom – feel the same level of joy - as those couples – who have this experience – during mortality!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Sadly – we will probably never fully – witness – or – appreciate the talents and gifts – of most of our neighbors!! ----- In a very strange way – we may discover the greatest joy – we may ever experience during mortality – when we empathetically experience the joy of another!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If the blessings from our Heavenly Father – were totally dependent on our worthiness – they would rarely flow down upon us!! ----- We cannot escape the fact – that we are not only a product – of our own decisions – but - also those – of our parents – and – our parent’s parents!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

There is only one of Heavenly Father’s children – who has traveled the mortal path – who will not look upon the journey – with some regret!! ----- We can lessen – those post mortal regrets – by making better decisions today!!

THE ETERNALNESS OF HIS PLAN

I can't remember when I wasn't troubled by something I started observing while I was yet very young. If I were really pressured to pin point an event which triggered my concern, it would have to have taken place in Pocatello, Idaho, when I had not as yet reached the age of 8. I can be certain it was prior to this age, because of the importance being baptized at that age. There was a young boy in our neighborhood, who if I were to say it as kindly as possible, had been cursed to have a father who would have been removed from that stewardship, if he had started his reproductive processes during the latter part of the 20th century rather than the beginning. There were so many days before I became aware of what was really happening in this young boy’s home, that I couldn't understand how he kept running into things, or falling down and giving himself so many bruises.

As the years have multiplied into decades, I have had many moments, when observing the lives of others who very unlike myself and Nephi, did not grow up in homes with goodly parents, did not have sustaining support groups throughout their lives, did not have bodies or minds which functioned at a low levels and who seemed like every time cards were dealt they received a losing hand.

It isn't the fact that we live in a world which is dominated by greed, selfishness, pride and the rest of the deadly sins, whether they made the list of seven or not, but, it is what I read in the 18th verse of l Nephi; ‘The way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world!’ that triggers my concern.

Every time I read these words, the words of the Apostle Paul rush into my mind; ‘If in this life only we have faith in Christ, we are of all men most miserable!’ And I am overwhelmed with the whisperings of the Holy Spirit shouting into my mind, the work and glory of the Father to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children cannot be confined to this earth, else, why would the savior have gone to preach to those who perished before the flood?

Even our brief remembrances of what transpired while we lived with our Heavenly Parents prior to our mortal birth, gives us an assurance that the work of our Heavenly Father and Jehovah during that estate had varying effects upon His children. These ranged in degrees of progress from One being prepared to create this earth and be foreordained to become its Savior, to those who would be counted as noble and great during mortality, to those who accepted His Plan and finally to those who rejected His Plan and even one who became Lucifer.

The revealed understandings of the workings of our Heavenly Father, which are to be continued in the post mortal estate, aren't a great deal more enlightening, but we have come to know that those ordinances assigned to be vicariously done in mortal settings in Holy Houses of the Lord, continue to expand in an explosive way in our day and eventually every child of our Heavenly Parents born into mortality will receive these ordinances personally during mortality or vicariously after death. The other insight comes as we listen to the Lord’s anointed continually teach of the massive missionary work being done in the post mortal estate, which will continue until every child is able to confess that Jesus is the Christ.

Another reason I am troubled by Nephi’s words (The way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world) is that so many upon reading them immediately are convinced that they apply to us during the mortal estate alone. I believe the path spoken of does apply to those who are given much during mortality, but to a greater extent to those whom the Lord refers to as innocent or ignorant of His Father’s Plan during mortality, but even for they who have been given much, being wrought upon by the Father will not cease after they leave this brief span of existence.

(1Nephi 10: 17 – 20)

I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment.

When we put my bothersome passage back into its context and read it with the understanding of the Eternalness of Heavenly Father’s work, we begin to gain the understanding that although all of His children must fulfill the requirements needed to qualify for all of His blessings, the when, the where and how long this takes is probably as variable as the number of the His children.

ALL MUST

Believe in the literalness of being called a child of God

Believe Jesus is the Christ the Atoning One

Be baptized for the remission of sins – whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost – whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Be endowed in the House of The Lord – whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Receive the blessings of being sealed into the Divine Patriarchal Order –whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Become teachable and humble

Diligently seek to know the word of God

Gain a believing spirit

Align their lives with every word of God

We must not take it as a small thing that Heavenly Father’s titles include the words Endless and Eternal, nor should we limit our gratefulness for the eternalness of His work in bringing to pass our own immortality and eternal life!!


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

When speakers – for whatever reason – take their personalities out of their presentations – it will be a loss for everyone!! ----- Especially – when we try to present ourselves – the way we think - others – think we should be – it will be a loss for everyone ----- However there is a point – of being true to ourselves – which we will need to be careful – not to cross – or – the result will be a loss for everyone!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

We do not have – nor should we – ever suspect to have – sufficient knowledge – or – wisdom – to correctly judge – where our neighbor – is on the path!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Even good people – need to be careful – that they do not offend their neighbor – by referring to them with negative labels!! ----- The application of a negative label to a neighbor – is a sure way to keep them – from desiring to hear – whatever good – we might have to say!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It is sad – when we allow the fear – of what the reactions of others will be – to allow our desire to do better – to be diminished!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

We will never understand – the worth of our pence – until we freely give it!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

We would be greatly blessed – by living the life the gospel teaches – even if it were just a man-made plan – but – since it is established by Divine origin – and – continues to be guided by Divine revelation – the consequences of obedience – increases dramatically the blessings we receive!!

HEAVENLY MESSAGES

One of the talents with which I was gifted seems to diminish in functioning with each passing day. I have always been able to answer the telephone, which at one time was identified as a rotary dial, then a push button and currently as I write this thought a land line phone, and immediately been able to recognize the friend or family member who was calling. The thought just hit me that it is a probability that the tethered phone will go out of existence before the time clock on my mortal life expires.

I have noted that those who are more advanced technologically have set their cell phone notifications so that they know who is calling them before they look at their phones. Since texting is quickly replacing and even becoming the preferred way of intercommunication I have noted that names and even pictures identify the person on the other end of digital messages. The thought just hit me and made me wonder if the day will shortly come when cell phones are referred to as texting devices.

Along with easy identification of the caller, these modern mini computers which are always kept within arms easy reach, also have settings which can block someone from communicating with them. Also, they can delete messages as soon as they appear and, although it is seldom done, they even have the choice to turn the device off.

Although some have made theirs inoperable, our Heavenly Father created each of us with built in devices which were to be used to send and receive messages between heaven and earth during our mortal lives. We have given these interactions varying names which may also denote the clarity of our connectivity.

I suspect we universally identify that heaven to earth communicative device as ‘conscience’. The little voice inside of us which is oft times depicted as having a little angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other who are trying to influence us to make a decision in one direction or another, has frequently spoken to each of us. These universal communications start early, such as when we were given counsel as a toddler from a parent and seem to have the capacity to be able to continue throughout our lives.

There is another heaven to earth communicative device which is very akin to conscience which is often referred as having a ‘prompting’. This device differs from the ‘conscience’ since we are not usually making a decision, but it comes upon us while we are going about our usual routines of the day. We receive a ‘prompting’ that we should drop everything and do something unplanned. ‘Promptings’ can come at any age, but seem to intensify in women when they bear children and in fathers when their children become teens. All heaven to earth communicative devices seem to have a lifetime warrantee if they are maintained properly.

There is a heaven to earth communicative device which society has tried to identify as having a flash back or a Deja vu moment, but if properly identified we would refer to them as ‘remembrances’. These often come to those who habitually read the scriptures or listen to and read the words of living prophets. While reading about Gods, Eternal Plans or events like the Savior’s mortal birth, they will ‘remember’ an ‘as if they were there’ experience. It should be mentioned that this heaven to earth communicative device called ‘remembrances’ requires an effort by an earth bound mortal before the heavens respond. Strangely, although this is a very special and unforgettable experience, some of us can go weeks if not months without making the required effort to open this channel.

There is a special setting on the device within each of us which allows ‘whisperings of the Holy Spirit’ to be activated as a heaven to earth communicative device. Although the Holy Spirit seems to hold the mantle or the assignment to keep the heaven to earth communicative devices open and operating, this seems to be an extra channel which needs to be opened by the earth bound mortal through such means as righteousness, attentiveness, gifts and obedience to covenants. These ‘whisperings’ usually differ from previously mentioned heaven to earth communications in that they involve actions which if fulfilled will be beneficial to those who fall under one’s stewardship, such as parenting, church calling, citizenship or career.

‘Voices, Visitations and Dreams’ are but a few of the words used to identify the holographic skype (a feeble attempt to communicate to those inundated with technology) heaven to earth communicative device which moves our experience from reliance on the devices which were installed during our birth process to a level of communication the scriptures refer to as ‘a man speaking unto another man’. These special communications can involve the mind, eyes, ears and the id and even go as far as to involve the sensation of touch. Although the Savior has stated this level of heaven to earth communicative device is available to all of Heavenly Father’s children, we most often find the percentage of mortals who report visitations of angels and other Heavenly Beings as a relatively small representation of the mass of humanity who have dwelt on earth.

In chapters 8 through 15 of 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, we see all of these heaven to earth communicative devices happening to Lehi and Nephi. I will be writing several thoughts about their special experiences in the weeks to come, but for today’s Thought I want to concentrate on how Laman and Lemuel were able to put all of heaven to earth communicative devices into a permanent sleep mode.

Even though I am not a fan of negative teaching and usually try to avoid it, I feel a quick review of the activities which will silence, cause us to ignore, make us delete or completely shut off all communication with our Heavenly Home are made evident as Laman and Lemuel give us an irresistible opportunity to present these destructive practices in no particular order or progression.

Ignoring or rejecting heaven sent counsel found in the scriptures or delivered by living prophets

Ignoring or forgetting previous personal heaven sent communications or interactions

Rejecting the ring tones of heaven initiated communications

Neglecting or rejecting the idea of initiating communications through prayer

Believing that there is no such thing as heaven let alone believe a mortal can communicate with anyone there

Having selective recollection of sensations from personal imbedded device

Straying from or rejecting the path outlined by Heavenly Father for mortals to follow

Since I will be returning to the theme of heaven to earth interactions in the weeks ahead I will resist the urge to make an exhaustive listing of the actions these older less wise brothers used to cut communication off between themselves and their Heavenly Home.

I do think it would be beneficial to spend a few minutes pondering on whether we might have lost the ability to hear the Shepherd’s voice when He calls or whether we have become so hard of hearing that we can no longer hear whisperings or have built up resistances to the voices of our conscience or have ignored so many promptings that they no longer manifest themselves to us.

If I have become infected with the malady of Laman-ness or Lemuel-ness, it would behoove me to repent in order to repair any defects and thereby, reactivating my heaven to earth communicative devices, causing me to become more like Lehi and Nephi in valuing and keeping operational my heaven to earth communicative devices.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Because we lack the knowledge and understanding – sufficient to understand the readiness of our neighbor – to hear the word of the Lord – we are admonished to invite all – to come unto Christ!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

None of us has enough knowledge – or – understanding – to judge the readiness of our neighbor – to hear the word of the Lord!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

We don’t have to search long – to find something great to do – because – there is no such thing – as a small act of kindness!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

All the world needs to know – the secret to enduring to the end – is to live the next moment – as a faithful disciple of Christ!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Although it seems very simple – there is also another problem – with the admonition – to endure to the end – which is that we are also taught – there is no end – but – we will continue living – eternally!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Although it sees very simple – there is a problem with the admonition – to endure to the end – and – that would be – we never know – when the end will come!!

GOOD CHILDREN – BAD CHILDREN

If the theme of there being a good force along with the existence of a bad force were only to be found in those religions which claim their roots through Moses, Abraham, Jesus the Christ and Mohamad, it would have to warrant some investigation by anyone who was an honest investigator of the challenges we face in mortality. However, since we also find this to be a major theme in the ancient European and American religions and those originating in Africa, India and Asia, we must come to the conclusion that the world has been inundated with this principle from earliest of existence.

In Judaism and Christianity this theme is often represented by a good brother and a bad brother with the same parentage. We begin with Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac (maybe not the best of examples because of difference of opinion in the teachings of Islam and Judaism) along with a host of brothers who were sons of kings.

One of those doctrines traditional Christians have with the gospel as restored by Joseph Smith is the existence of a good brother represented by Jehovah and a bad brother represented by Lucifer as being the major voices in the verbal war which took place in our Heavenly Parents Abode during the creative period of our earthly home. Being one of those who adhere to this doctrine, I am able to proclaim that this theme is indeed older than the dirt of this planet.

From the beginning chapters of 1st Nephi until the final words of Moroni in the last chapters of the Book of Mormon a major thread and a very prevalent theme predominates because the good brothers Nephi and Sam were introduced and contrasted dramatically in their makeup from the bad brothers Laman and Lemuel.

Although the concepts of what constitutes a good brother and what constitutes a bad brother continue throughout the Book of Mormon, in the seventh chapter of 1st Nephi we find a fairly comprehensive list of the characteristics of both groups. I will resist the temptation to include all the references to the distinct characteristics of the two groups.

Since we have become a society of equal opportunity and sometimes blame, I will from this point forward call them good children and bad children. I think this nomenclature is valid since Nephi refers to the wives of Laman and Lemuel and their posterity (non-gender term) as having the same dispositions and characteristics and the wives of Nephi and Sam and their posterity as being inclined to have similar natures as their husbands.

I think we also need to point out that during the 1000 years of history written about in the Book of Mormon the familial makeup of the good children and the bad children exchange their gene pool so much, that we come to understand that being of one group of the other has little to do with DNA, but everything to do with an individual’s use of their Agency.

Now after this exhaustive and perhaps exhausting introduction, I will attempt to present the predominant choices or characteristics of those who have moved toward being bad children and those whose choices have caused them be identified in the good children category.

Whoops, one more little comment before I present the lists. It is important to understand, that as long as we are taking breath as mortal or immortal beings, we will continue to have the opportunity and ability to alter our choices and, therefore, alter our membership in the group with which we are identified.

And hopefully one last thought, my personal belief is that since all according to Paul, the ancient Apostle of the Lord, are not without sin. Therefore, it follows that all of us are not without goodness. In fact I suspect all of us have long ago lost track of the number of times we have made either good choices or bad choices.

Characteristic of those who make Bad Choices

Harden their hearts against the promptings of the Holy Spirit

Minds are blinded by the craftiness of men

Reject the words of the Lord’s prophets and servants

Repentance is often followed by a return to former waywardness

Forget or ignore the blessings they have received

Forget or reject the workings of the Lord during mortality

Do not hearken unto the Lord, the Holy Spirit or His servants

The nature of the natural man is comfortable to them

Easily moved to jealousy

Enjoy carnality and pleasures of the flesh

Overcome with ingratitude

Manipulate by force or deceit

Rebellious

Sorrowful

Believe the ends justify the means

Reject the idea that others might be inspired

Reject the leadership of the Lord’s anointed

Believe others are to blame for the injustices which have befallen them

Believe (I have to point out the irony here) that God has treated them unjustly

Arrive at the point where the Spirit ceases to strive with them

Characteristics of those who make Good Choices

Hearts are softened

Have faith in the existence of Deity

Faithful to their covenants

Quick to turn from evil

Hearken unto the voice of the Lord and His servants

Keep in remembrance the blessings of the Lord

Acknowledge and remember the workings of the Lord in their lives

Continue in their stewardships even when confronted with opposition

Recognize their weaknesses and shortcomings

Take accountability and responsibility for mistakes

Have faith that with the Lord nothing is impossible

Seek forgiveness

Readily forgive others

Prayerful

Remember the hand of the Lord in all their doings

Thankful for all things

Give thanks for all blessings

Submit to the will of the Lord and his appointed stewards

Seek the direction of the Holy Spirit in all their doings

Seek to be a good and faithful servant

Personally, I don't have to search very deeply into my list of variable choice making, to discover that I still have too many moments when I struggle with some of the items on the bad choice list and gratefully, I find some items on the good choice list where I have made some progress. I still have too much Lemuel and not enough Sam in my makeup to even imagine I can think of hearing the words, ‘well done my good and faithful servant’, when I return to my eternal abode.

I suspect there are relatively few mortals who would have perfect marks of eschewing the bad choices and embracing the good choices, but even if you have arrived at the point where you have become a good and honorable person of the world and are making zero bad choices and only good choices, there is yet a far piece to journey before you begin to be perfect like your Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus the Christ are perfect. But that is a list for another Sabbath Day Thought.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the most difficult things – we attempt to control – isn’t our words – or – our actions – but by far – it is our thoughts – but we will discover – when we control our thoughts – it becomes much easier – to control – our words – and – our actions!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of our highest quests should be – to live so others will recognize – how faithfully we bear the name of Christians – and – how well we represent ourselves as children of Eternal Parents!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

When we choose evil – we disgrace many names – including those of our parents – but – most especially the name borne by those professing – to be Christians – and – children of Heavenly Parents!!