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Joseph Smith Jr. D&C 93:21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;

Honestly we don't know the mechanics behind God's relationship with His children, so there's not much to say. We know that the Son has always existed in some form, and the Father is His Father. Likewise we know that the rest of us have always existed in some form and the Father is our Father. Christ is special.

Time for Step 2.

It can be very frustrating to have things not go according to plan, especially when you have very good reason for the way you wanted things to go. As someone who is a big planner who has seen his plans get completely derailed here is how I make sense of it and adjust. I have plans for me... The Lord has a better plan for me but I can rarely see it or understand it until afterwards... I want the Lord's plan over my plan, but when the Lord's plan overrides mine or even appears to counter it... It can be a hard thing to accept. I need to take a step back... Say "Not my will Lord, but thine be done" and then work the new situation. And yes that some time means making plans to deal with issues you had originally planned to avoid. That can be very very hard. That is a good time to double down on your faith and trust that the Lord knows what he is doing... Even if we can not see or understand it now. Sorry you are going through this... but there is a light at the end of this Trial and that light is Christ, lean on him and he will get you through.

It would be sad to leave Saint Nicholas at the mall. The better option is to bring back Saint Nicholas especially to the children.

I actually appreciate this comment. Though it is not a hill I would die on, as I grow older I have noticed how Santa has grown further and further out of my life and now I can honestly say Christmas is more about Christ and family and I feel better off without him. I would vote to “leave Santa at the mall”, but would also respect that vote of 90% of the ward and be just find with him coming.

The history of Cain and Abel is much older than our Old Testament. I suspect much has been lost in the transmission of the story through the millennia. Not sure what, if anything, we can rightfully infer from this story.

My take on this part of the story is that we should not seek vengeance. Additionally, mortal probation is supposed to be the time in which people repent. If God were to allow Cain to be killed, it would terminate his time to change his heart. God was not giving up on Cain, and the mark placed upon him was a reminder to the righteous that they should not give up on him either.

Well done, seems like things are all going in the right direction

I could be wrong, but I suspect that the OP is wanting to know about the origin, within the Church, of the belief that Jesus is the literal offspring of God the Father and (again, I presume) Mother. My understanding, from my years here, is that this belief is taught and believed, but that it does not get very specific, and is not a huge day to day emphasis.

It is interesting to me that you (as a Catholic) used the phrase LDS prophet - which means a prophet of the Latter-days. This is because it is my understanding that Catholics do not believe in Latter-day prophets. Let me be very clear - I follow the teaching of Isaiah that man separates themselves from G-d by: Transgressing the Law, Changing the Ordinances and Breaking the Everlasting Covenant. To help us understand both the divine nature of G-d and his creation of his image and likeness (which is the man and the woman) we are given scripture that symbolically represent divine doctrine. Firstborn does not mean the oldest - it means the most noble and in the case of the firstborn of G-d (the Father of our spirits) it means that individual being a spiritual son (eternal creation sired of the Father) chosen to be his heir of his Kingdom. This means that Jesus Christ (being the only begotten son - Heir) is the example of G-d to all fallen mortal men and women. Because we are fallen and exiled from the Father - Jesus Christ (meaning Jesus the Messiah) is the example of G-d to we that are fallen. This understand of Jesus Christ; being the only example of G-d to fallen man can also be expressed by the doctrine among Latter-day Saints as follows: As man is, G-d (Jesus Christ) once was - This means that the one example of G-d (Jesus Christ) once lived and walked among us in such a manner that his being was indistinguishable from other men by any empirical means. As G-d (Jesus Christ) currently is, man may become - this means that as Jesus Christ was resurrected and sat down on the right hand of G-d the Father (as seen by Stephen) - so also can man likewise be glorified and became a joint heir of the Father and in Glory sit on the right side of the Father in the kingdom of Heaven. By the Law of G-d it is the destiny of man to be glorified and an heir of the Father. It is a transgression of the law to teach otherwise. By the Ordinance of G-d man is cleansed of sin and a worthy heir of the Father. It is changing G-d's ordinance to prepare man for anything else. By the Everlasting Covenant of G-d - man is not without the woman nor is the woman without the man. Marriage is the divine means of the covenant to bring about eternal seed (the breath of life) and is the essence of the Everlasting Covenant of G-d. Without marriage there cannot be divine seed the breath of life nor can there be creation. To define marriage and the creation of seed (life) as original sin breaks the Everlasting Covenant of G-d. The Traveler

As the wise Yoda taught... let yourself feel and feel deeply. Let it completely flow through you. Then let it go so you an act.

Here are some study links: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/tg/jesus-christ-firstborn?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/firstborn?lang=eng In Christian circles, there are interpretations on what it means to be First Born. Apparently this pastor wants to make sure you understand that He is not a created being, and that the term is more symbolic of Him being the author of creation. https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_216.cfm But I guess I want to emphasize the notion of Christ being the firstborn is not foreign to Biblical scripture or doctrine.

Not your voiced question, but prompted by the thread title and the quote you shared, here is what Latter-day Saints believe about Jesus Christ: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/36035_000_25_livingchrist.pdf

I’m not sure to what degree Joseph Smith may have taught this; but Brigham Young certainly did. This is understood from the Bible, not only by the Latter-day Saints, but also by the Christian world. Jesus Christ, first begotten of the Father, of all the rest of the children, and of all they possess, alone is the lawful heir. This is no mystery. —Journal of Discourses 6:307

I know exactly how you feel. Been there, done that (though without the CF component). It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. It will pass. Some things that helped me was letting people in my life know that I was pregnant. They are great people, and their reactions were perfect and helped me remember the joy of it. Also, the Savior knows how you feel and can help you bear the burden. Rely on Him. And remember that these things will give you experience and be for your good.

I can somewhat understand. My two boys were both born with hypospadias. Our first was so severe, the doctor and nurses thought he was a girl when he was born. They are androgen insensative, which means their bodies don't respond very well to male specific hormones. Both boys have already had multiple surgeries and the older one will have more when he's closer to puberty age. They will need to get testosterone shots. After our second son, we didn't want to bring more genetically defective people into the world. A couple months ago, my wife was a week late in her cycle and we went through a lot of similar feelings that you described. After a day, I felt better about it, even excited. After it was clear she wasn't pregnant, it was a little disappointing. We even started talking about adoption. I'm sure you'll find joy in your pregnancy and your new child. Have hope and trust in the Lord.

Learn from some troubles I've seen! - If you're dispensing drinks from big water coolers on tables in the cultural hall, put a dang towel on the floor under it. Not a bunch of paper towelettes from the bathroom, not a washcloth, but at least a dishtowel-sized towel - larger is better. Otherwise, old people will be breaking hips and little kids will fall on their noses. Lemonade and basketball court floors don't mix. - If you let them, the kids will go through the line first and take all the good stuff. A good solution seems to be to call folks to the food line by table. Or have someone manning the tables to tell the kids "Go through the line with your family". - Buffet-style is probably the best option. Make it so people can go down both sides of the food tables. Stacking the tables against the walls means the line moves half as fast. If someone wants to get fancy and make plates and serve them, you'd better have at least 10 people manning the kitchen and 30 servers, or it will take an hour just to get everyone their food. - Have someone assigned to empty garbage cans during the event. Don't let the ward building look like Colorado Marijuana Day at the park.

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time and I understand why you are upset. I am praying for you and I hope you will be able to find some peace and strength from the Holy Ghost.

Leave Santa at the mall.

Just don't say that 3 times in a row.