Chosen generation: Elder Bruce R. McConkie defined a chosen generation as “not those living in a particular period or age, but … the house of Israel both anciently, in the meridian of time, and now in these latter-days. … [It includes] faithful members of the Church who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ and been adopted into his family” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 3:294).
Royal priesthood: Christ is the king of all those he calls his own-those who are mad royal by virtue of holding and honoring his priesthood. Bruce R McConkie says " Whenever the Lord has a people on the earth he offers to make them a nation of kings and priests- not a congregation of lay members with a priest or a minister at the head- but a whole Church in which every man is his own minister, in which every man stands as a king in his own right, reigning over his own family-kingdom. The priesthood which makes a man a king and a priest is this a royal priesthood" (McConkie, DNTC, 3:294)
Holy nation: A holy nation is also a phrase that requires definition and detail. Holiness in its Hebrew root means dedication, loyalty and an ability to break down the barriers of society that oftentimes prevent us from achieving spiritual satisfaction and nobility of purpose. A holy nation must therefore mean a nation that is able to retain its unique identity. It cannot be swallowed up by the prevailing and ever changing majority cultures that will always surround it.
Holiness requires the ability to care for everyone while
remaining apart from everyone at one and the same time. Holiness refers to the
body and not just to the soul and the spirit. It speaks to discipline and
order, self-control and resisting impulse. The great challenge here is to
instill these virtues and traits of character and behavior in an entire nation
and not only in a few special chosen, extraordinary individuals. (Rabbi Berel Wein, Torah.org)
Peculiar people: Peculiar as used in the King James version comes from the Latin peculim, meaning "private property". Though today it has come to mean "strange or unusual", it carries the same idea - a characteristic or quality belonging to something. It means that the Saints are God's own. President Joseph Fielding Smith added: "And we will be a peculiar because we will not be like other people who do not live up to these standards" (CR, Apr. 1971 p. 47)
The price paid to help us become God's "peculiar people" was the blood of the perfect Christ. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for our sins and when we accept Christ and repent then we can become God's people. (1 Peter 1:18-19; Mosiah 3:7)
When followed, this list will help us to remain God's "peculiar people". (1 Peter 1:13-25; 2:1-17; 3:10-11; 4:8; 5:6-8)
hope to the end obedient holy in conversation call on the Father
purify our souls love our brethren love one another baptism
lay aside malice no hypocrisy no evil speaking spiritual sacrifices
believe on Him abstain from lust honesty submit to ordinances
honor men fear God seek peace love life
charity be humble be vigilant
The Family Proclamation states that "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners." In 1 Peter 3:1-12, three principles that relate are...
First: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, (vs 7) Husbands should teach their families.
Second: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing (vs 9). We should not have contention within the marriage.
Third: Be ye of one mind, having compassion one of another (vs 8). We are a team in marriage and in our families.
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