The Church of Latter Day Saints puts families as a top priority and is an important part of our culture. I remember growing up and being in primary singing “Families Can Be Together For Ever”. This song brought a lot of joy to my heart and to be quite honest, it is all I ever knew. We believe in families being able to be together forever through temple work and enduring to the end. I believe this knowledge to be a blessing that other nonmembers do not have the luxury of knowing, which is why missionary and temple work is of great importance within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The church’s literature in “The Family Proclamation” clearly states, “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.” It also states “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.”
We have a culture we follow as a church. Many people know LDS members as a husband and wife with a lot of kids, when those children get old enough they get married. Although this is true to a certain extent, I would also like to note the importance of a strong family structure.
Growing up my mother’s struggled with addiction any my father worked crazy hours within his career in law enforcement in order to support our family. My father was not around a lot when I was growing up due to his working conditions. My mother was sick, my sisters and myself took care of each other, but also our mother. My parents divorced when I was twelve and the family structure within the home changed greatly.
I was not raised in the most active household and it definitely took a toll on my sisters as well as myself. My sisters and I struggle with relationships due to the fear of going through a divorce just like our parents did, especially because they were in love at one point. I got closer with my father after the divorce and once I was spending time with him, I began to start learning how to be a man. My sisters struggled because our mother was not the best example when we were growing up, it became hard to identify what character traits they would like to strive for.
I say all of this because I have life experiences regarding a flimsy and a strong foundation within the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would like to think when I have a family of my own I know what not to do. My father remarried my step mom and became a power duo in the doctrine of the church. I once saw a family which went through the motions to a family which had the church and Gods love at the center of everything. This is when I began to see the importance of the family structure.
Families can be together forever and in order for that to become a reality it all starts in the home. Father, it is crucial for you to practice the priesthood in your home. Lead by example and take the time away from work to spend with your children, they need you. Mothers, love your children unconditionally and be supportive in all you do. Lead by example and take the Lords council into consideration when making decisions which effect your children’s lives. Show them how our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the answer to all of our struggles. In order to endure to the end it is crucial to have a home which invites the spirits into our hearts and a foundation within the Gospel, to strengthen our testimonies.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints may be old school, however if we follow the direction of the prophet and his revelation on how to return us all to our Heavenly Father, we will be in good hands. It all starts within the home, we have the opportunity to be a light in dark places. I hope you all find yourselves on your knees often, praying for guidance on how to best prepare your families to endure to the end. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are with us always. They will not lead you astray because families can be and will be together forever through His plan.
