We are created in God's image

Today's scripture mastery is Genesis 1:26-27:

 26 ¶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

We have been created in the image of God.  What does that mean?  That means we look like He does.  In previous posts, I have talked about how others have seen God, and have reported that fact.  I have given the example of Joseph Smith, Stephen, Isaiah, and Moses.  God is called Father in Heaven not just in a figurative way.  He is the father of our spirits.  We are his children.   He loves us, and desires our success.  He wants us to return to His presence after our test here on earth.

There are many scriptures that teach us about how God wants us to be like Him.  For a large list of scripture references, take a look at the Topical Guide, under "Man, Potential to Become like Heavenly Father"

I think that one of the reasons families are so important to God, is that this life is a training for us.  One of the things that we are supposed to do while here on earth is to learn to be good parents.  The better parent we become, the more like God we become.  That is one of the reasons that the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 issued The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  That is why we focus so much energy in the church in protecting and supporting the family unit in the church.