My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in a lesson titled “The Family Is Central to the Creator’s Plan.” The lesson was introduced by the following information.
Even before we were born, we were part of a family—the
family of our heavenly parents. That pattern continues on earth. Families here,
at their best, are meant to echo the perfect pattern in heaven.
Of course, there are no guarantees that earthly families
will be ideal or even functional. But as President Henry B. Eyring taught,
families “give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with
the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental
love” (“Gathering the Family of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 20). Knowing that families are
imperfect and subject to attacks from the adversary, God sent His Beloved Son
to redeem us and heal our families. And He sent latter-day prophets with a
proclamation to defend and strengthen families. If we follow the prophets and
put faith in the Savior, even though mortal families fall short of the divine
ideal, there’s hope for families—on earth and in heaven.
The family proclamation declares numerous principles. The lesson outlined the following four principles: (1) “The family is central to the Creator’s plan.” (2) “Each [person] is a beloved son or daughter of heavenly parents.” (3) “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (4) “We call upon responsible citizens … to maintain and strengthen the family.” This essay will discuss principle #3 about happiness in family life, which is taught in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the family proclamation as follows.
The Family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and
woman is essential to his eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within
the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor
marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to
be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles
of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and
wholesome recreational activities. 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. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate
individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity,
who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities
will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the
disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and
nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
The overall principle taught in these two paragraphs is “Happiness
in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of
the Lord Jesus Christ.” Therefore, there are additional principles to support and
instruct about the main one.
·
God ordains family, and marriage between a man and a woman
is crucial to His plan. Why are opposite sex partners necessary in marriage?
Because a man and a woman are needed to make a baby, and every child is entitled
to be born to parents who are married to each other and committed to the
family.
·
Happy and successful family life is most possible when all
family members live the teachings of Jesus Christ by living the principles of
faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and
wholesome recreational activities. Families who pray together, go to church
together, work together, and play together are more likely to stay together as
well as respect, forgive, and love each other.
·
God’s design is for husbands/fathers to preside over [lead],
provide for, and protect his wife and children, AND for wives/mothers to
nurture the children. However, husband and wife, father and mother are to work
together for the good of their family. Extended family can also be called upon
to help.
·
Adultery, abuse of spouse and/or children, and failure to “fulfill
family responsibilities” are serious sins. Disintegration of the family unit
will bring calamities to individuals, communities, and nations.
The family unit is the core unit of any society, community,
or nation. When the family is strong, it forms a strong foundation for the
community. When fathers and mothers are teaching their children to be honest,
kind, and obedient, the community is a safer, kinder place to live.
Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy spoke about the importance of family during the April 2020 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He shared four observations about what makes a fine home. (See “The Finest Homes,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 107-90.)
First, from the Lord’s perspective, establishing the finest
homes has everything to do with the personal qualities of the people who live
there…. The finest characteristic of any home is the image of Christ reflected
in the home’s residents….
The attributes of Christ are acquired in the “process of
time” by intentional progress along the covenant path. Christlike attributes
adorn the lives of those who strive to live with goodness. They fill homes with
gospel light, whether the floor is mud or marble….
Second, residents in the finest homes make time to study
the scriptures and the words of living prophets every day. President Russell M.
Nelson has invited us to “transform” and “remodel” our homes through gospel
study. His invitation recognizes that fine homes house the tender, vital work
of personal growth and remodeling our weaknesses. Daily repentance is a
transformative tool that enables us to grow a little kinder, more loving, and
more understanding. Studying the scriptures brings us closer to the Savior,
whose generous love and grace assist us with our growth….
Third, fine homes follow the blueprint created by the Lord
for His finest home, the temple. Building a temple begins with basic steps –
clearing brush and leveling land. Those initial efforts to ready the ground
might be compared to keeping the basic commandments. The commandments are the
foundation on which discipleship is built. Steady discipleship leads us to
become firm, steadfast, and immovable, like the steel framework for a temple.
This steady framework allows the Lord to send His Spirit to change our hearts.
Experiencing a mighty change of heart is like adding beautiful features to the
interior of a temple.
As we continue in faith, the Lord gradually changes us. We
receive His image in our countenance and begin to reflect the love and beauty
of His character. As we become more like Him, we will feel at home in His
house, and He will feel at home in ours….
Fourth, the finest homes are refuges from the storms of
life. The Lord has promised that those who keep the commandments of God “prosper
in the land.” God’s prosperity is the power to press forward despite the
problems of life….
[For those who live in the finest homes, their] faithful
living provided them the strength, vision, and heavenly help they needed [to
face the problems of life….
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