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.