One of my favorite family nights we have ever had was when we placed about 30 items on our table in front of our sofa in our living room. There were hostess pies, ding dongs, Twinkies, scriptures, family pictures, and some $100 dollar bills. We went around the room and each family member got to pick one thing, then another, then another. My kids were loving it. They believed they were getting rich. They believed this was possibly the greatest family night ever. They wanted family night every night.

After carefully choosing a few items, the principle of the lesson began. We spoke of the plan of salvation and specifically of physical death. We then each “died” and were only able to take with us three things. We used the acronym “RIC” (Relationships, intelligence and character.) We allowed each child to keep anything that would make it through the veil of death. They were able to keep the scriptures (intelligence) and some pictures (relationships). Everyone and everything else had to be forfeited. Their money and their goodies were lost because they couldn’t take them with them.

This lesson really signified the power of righteous decisions. Do we chase in life things that will have no eternal value? Do we take these things with us when we cross the veil? When we make decisions, we must remember we are the sum of relationships, intelligence, and character. I have since changed my acronym to RICE because I believe we take with us our experiences as well. The things we have done, the experiences we have had, and the lessons we have learned will stay with us after this life. These are all probably part of our character and intelligence, but I have come to believe that God wants us to have faith-based and faith-building experiences and create righteous traditions that are lasting, even into the eternities. Every decision we make must have these consequences in mind.

Alma--just before his ascension--taught his son Helaman the greatest approach to choices. Here is Alma’s approach to decision making: “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 37:37).