Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Family: A Source of Happiness

             It seems to me that publicity, both positive and negative, about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is increasing every day. On many fronts, church members are attacked on political views and societal views. Often we are ridiculed for the “old-fashioned” views we have of marriage and family. It’s sad to watch the family begin to deteriorate in society. Many children are fatherless, lack the influence of sober parents, or are raised by people other than their biological parents. Some of these circumstances come by necessity, but for the most part they are a personal choice and our current society condones these behaviors.
              The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the gospel principles we believe in teach us that people are not accountable for that which they do not know and do not understand. From 2 Nephi chapter 2 we learn, “the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. … Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh…And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” In the same chapter it is explained, “Because he [the devil] had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of mankind.”
            In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” the First Presidency of the church tell us that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the church and its teachings, many also refer to this plan as the Plan of Happiness. If the family is central to the Plan of Happiness created by our Father in Heaven, then it is logical to assume that the family is a place where we can receive the most happiness. I can honestly say that in the presence of my parents, grandparents, siblings and extended family is where I receive some of my greatest happiness. I can also honestly say that being with my husband, married under the authority and power of God, is where I’ve experienced the most happiness in my life.
            Following a logical flow, if the family is where we can receive so much happiness, and Satan desires and works for the misery of all men, it makes sense that the family is what he works his hardest to destroy. He convinces some that abortion is acceptable; he convinces others that spending time with their children is of little importance, and he can convince some that a family is a foolish thing and a career is more important.

            I am grateful for the knowledge I have gained of the importance and happiness of families. For those of you who would like to know more, I suggest you visit lds.org. For those of you who know the joy the family can bring you, I encourage you to share this happiness with others.