This blog discusses all of this: the Family, marriage, relationships, dating, and connected ideas all supported by Gospel principles, scriptures, class discussions, books, scientific research and other reliable sources. The main focus, of course, is the Family.
Being Mormon there is so much emphasis on Family in the church ("the church" being The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Being a good family member, preparing for marriage, keeping a happy, healthy marriage: these are all important topics Mormons discuss with increasing frequency as we get older. Why the family? What is so important about it? Why is it even a good idea to get married?
These are all questions I hope to answer in following posts. Along with research and support, I want to express my own beliefs about the Family, how it is not an out-dated idea, and what I want for my own future family one day.
The idea for a blog on this subject was not a completely random idea however. The first time I thought of writing this blog was in the middle of my Family 100 class at Brigham Young University-Idaho. We had the choice of writing different papers, OR we could work on a project having to do with topics we discussed in class, read about, and researched. I opted for the latter since I learn better when I'm actively involved in doing something rather than plopping down a paper solely for the purpose of getting a good grade.
However, I also wanted to learn more about the Family and Marriage. These two topics are so interesting to me (Marriage and Family Studies is my minor after all), but I also want to be the best daughter, sister, wife, and mother I can be. It's sort of a self-improvement project.
I would like to say this will be a religious blog. Many of the sources I quote will be from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and scriptures, including the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
To begin this blog, I want to start with an important, inspired document from the church: “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”.
The Proclamation (as I will call it for short) was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley on September 23rd, 1995 during the General Relief Society Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was “a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines and practices” that the Church always had (1). The Proclamation was also “written to reinforce that the family is central to the Creator’s plan. Without the family… there is no reason for mortal life” (2). To quote just a section of the Proclamation, it begins:
“We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (3).
I believe this inspired proclamation. The Family is an integral part--the most important part of our lives. It is ordained by God. And we can achieve happiness in and through our families here on Earth.
Hopefully, I can delve deeper into The Proclamation and other issues related to the Family. This is going to be an exciting and enlightening semester for sure.
1. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand Strong Against the Wiles of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 100.
2. Julie B. Beck, “Teaching the Doctrine of the Family,” 4 Aug. 2009. http://lds.org/liahona/2011/03/teaching-the-doctrine-of-the-family?lang=eng&query=family%3a+proclamation+world#footnote2
3. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”. http://lds.org/family/proclamation?lang=eng
I think that family is such an interesting concept. I was asked to give a talk on Mothers' Day entitled "making Christ the center of your home."
ReplyDeleteFamilies aren't just about blood relationships, (as most of us know... in laws, adoption etc) so what are families? We call our wards "ward families" sometimes. So what are the elements that make a family? Very good questions.