The Church: Mormon Beliefs About Families
The Church: Mormon Beliefs About Families
What do Mormons believe about families that is so different than the rest of the world? Why did The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints become so involved in the California fight to protect families? How can people who are not LDS come to understand what we believe? I will attempt in my own humble way to explain my beliefs and hopefully shed some light on the subject.
Families are central to God’s plan. He created man and woman and placed them in the garden of Eden to be together forever and to multiply and replenish the earth. He sent us to earth to a mother and a father and each child coming to earth deserves to be born into a family, where they can be taught about God and His love for them. Families have a responsibility to teach their children to obey God and follow His commandments. It is in the family that important truths are learned and characters are built. We cannot leave what is meant to be taught by the family to society. Although many families are not living up to their responsibility in rearing up children in righteousness, it is still their responsibility to do so.
Any time Satan wants to destroy God’s plan, he always attacks the family. He uses television, movies, commercials, games, drugs, and other influences to constantly attack families and break down the structure of our society. Why? Because he knows that the family is central to God’s plan, and that it is in the family that children can learn to trust God and have faith. It is in families that people learn to pray and to go to church and to value honesty and hard work.
When families break down, then society follows. In our country and in the world, the family unit is being attacked. Divorce rates are up. Teenage pregnancies are up. Families are falling apart and it is becoming much harder to maintain a strong family. Our society is suffering and will continue to suffer as long as we allow this to continue. Crime and abuse levels have risen dramatically. Jails are crowded and morals are breaking down. Gangs are increasing. What will our world be like for our children’s children?
Many people have criticized the LDS church for its involvement in actively fighting against gay marriage. It’s not that we don’t like gay people, we just don’t want to promote that behavior as an OK alternative to families. It is another way that Satan is attacking families. Marriage was meant to be between one man and one woman. God intended it to be so. To let families be attacked in this way would have grave consequences for our society. Children need to have a mother and a father in a loving home where they are taught about true gospel principles. To allow this breakdown of families would be a sad mistake with terrible consequences.
Men and women are not the same and it is for this reason that God brought them together as man and wife. What the woman is lacking, the man can provide and what the man is lacking, the woman can provide. Men and women have different roles in the family and each role is vitally important in raising children in righteousness.
I have tried to explain how I feel about families and why they are instrumental in God’s plan of happiness. Without families, we would not be. Without mothers and fathers together, our existence would end. If we allow the breakdown of the family unit, our society will suffer and our crime rates and our abuse rates will continue to rise. People need to get back to the basics of building stable, happy, functional families that can withstand the attacks of the adversary.
Hi Amy, You’ve done it again. You are such a good writer. The repercussions of the breakdown of the family are seen every day, at work, at school and all over the country. The news is not good. Another great post.
Thanks, Bill. It is something I feel very strongly about.
I have a situation maybe someone can shed some insight in. I have been together with a man for a few years and we have a child together. He has not told his parents who are very dedicated mormons, he is not as dedicated.
He is also not a part of the child’s life and no matter how much I try it has not changed.
I want to reach out to his parents who live in Idaho because I think they would want to know about their grandchild. I am not sure if I am out of bounds. I have wanted to contact them for the past three years and have not as we continue seeing each other. I have finally become so disappointed by his lack of interest in marriage and becoming a dedicated family man that I have decided to give up and move on. I am not Mormon and was raised Christian, I was thoroughly impressed with this forum. Please advise. Thank you! jules
Jules,
Thank you for commenting and trusting me with your story. I think that a family is a good goal to have and that it is necessary to have that commitment of marriage when you have children, not the other way around. I know this advice is a little late when you already have children together. I’ve made mistakes, too. In fact, I was a single mother for a while and it was the hardest time of my life. Heavenly Father blessed me to find a wonderful man who could help me raise my children and my ex-husband has become more of a dad than he used to be. I know this doesn’t always happen. Hang in there and pray hard. The ideal situations don’t always present themselves in our lives, but we can move closer to that ideal when we have it as a goal.
As far as contacting the grandparents, I would want to know my grandchild, whether born in the covenant of marriage or not. In fact, one of my stepchildren has a child out of wedlock and we don’t know him at all because his other parent has kept him from us. I feel that we could help out in areas where they want help if we knew what needs there were and if they would include us in his life. I feel so sad about it. It’s like we are missing a link in our family and we pray for him a lot.
Hi Amy
The family unit is so important for a well rounded upbringing but when human beings an ego’s are involved, things don’t always go as hoped. Putting God first, your Self and family 2nd. and everything else third things may turn out for the best.
I always try to remember, everything happens for the best.I have been married now for 28 years, on March 5th. Four kids later we have survived. Yeah!!!! That is an accomplishment I have been told.
Dear Amy,
Wow you have really given me some encouraging words, I really appreciate it. I have actually been praying about this for quite some time and have always felt the burden of including the grandparents in her life. He always give me excuses i.e. they know about her and they don’t want to meet her etc. I recently found out of their email and address. I don’t know what approach is best in this situation. I would love to extend my invitation of having them in her life. I simply always felt like I was betraying him. Is it normal to feel a guilt for not respecting his wishes of secrecy?
I don’t know what he is ashamed of. I am finally just making the decision to break things off for good in hopes to create a relationship with his parents.
Thank you again for your time and attention. You have such soothing words, I thank God for your loving insight.
Jennifer,
That is quite an accomplishment. Marriage can be a tough thing at times. You are doing great to have made it this far with 4 kids and a wonderful husband. I like your order of priorities. God should always come first. Thanks for the comment.
Jules,
I’ll be praying for you, too. I hope things go well. I’m sure you’ll be inspired as to what the best way to handle this situation will be. Thanks for responding back.