The Most Important Things

Dear Katherine,

Today you are 5 months old. I could easily fill up this letter to you with all the amazing things you are learning and doing. But that is not what I want to tell you today. Today I need to tell you something really important.

I want you to know that you are a child of God, and that he loves you. He loves you so much that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for your sins and for the sins of the whole world. Right now you are just a little baby, and are free from sin. But you are growing up, and one day you will make mistakes. That's why your Heavenly Father sent you Jesus Christ, so that you could be clean and happy again after you make mistakes.

Heavenly Father knows what a special spirit you have, and he saved you to come to Earth to live at this time. Sometimes I am really scared for you, because the world can be a scary place. But Heavenly Father knows how strong you are. He brought you here to Earth at this time, to live with our family, because He knows that this was the right time and place for you.

I want you to know how important families are. Your Heavenly Father's plan is all about families. Right now the world doesn't think that families are very important. You need to know that they are. When your Dad and I got married, we were married in the temple of God. Through the power of the priesthood, we made a covenant (that's like a promise) to be married for time and all eternity. When you were born, you were born into the covenant we made. You, and your dad and I are sealed to each other, which means that we are connected by ties that cannot be broken. This means that our family can be together forever. No matter what happens here on Earth, if we follow the plan of Jesus we can live together as a family in heaven.

I want you to know that I have a testimony. A testimony is a special feeling we have inside of us, that tells us things are true. I have a testimony of everything I have just written to you. I know that God and Jesus Christ live, and that they love you more than you will ever be able to understand. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for you, so you can be happy and return to live with Him again. I know that temples are very special places, and that because of temples and priesthood power our family can be together forever. There will be people in this world who will tell you that these things aren't true. But I know that they are. As you grow up, I promise that I will teach you how to pray, so that when you are old enough you can ask God for yourself.

I love you so much, and hope that no matter how many amazing things you accomplish in this life, you will remember that these things I have just told you are the most important.

Love,

Mom