The Family
Today I want to write about something that has been on my mind a lot lately. No not food or how I'm going to get to Harry Potter World. It's been my family. If there has been one thing that I've learned on my mission, it's been that the family is under attack. Have you ever wondered how you can strengthen your family? Well I have a very strong testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints focuses their entire teaching around the family. Here's a little view into what the church teaches on how to raise "Christ centered families."
It's 6:30 am I hear dad's footsteps coming down the stairs. He knocks quietly on each bedroom door, then returns to the kitchen and sits down at the table. Struggling to open our eyes, we all shuffle to the table, scriptures in hand. Family scripture study. The church has been advising families, for years, to make this a daily routine in our homes. I am a firm believer that my family became stronger and more united because of this. We ended each study with a family prayer and rushed off to school or work. But not before our parents had given us the "spiritual armor" we needed to get through the day. LDS (Latter-Day Saint) families are also advised to do "Family Home Evening." It is a night, set-aside each week, where the family gathers and has a spiritual lesson, council, activity, etc. In my house we knew that this was Monday night and that we should make sure we were home with the family to be able to take part in "FHE." We weren't always consistent in doing it, but I know that Heavenly Father blessed us the weeks that we did.
"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of the,And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye e converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kindgom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive on such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
If that doesn't show you how important children are to God, then I don't know what does! The emphasizes this so well! They actually have a class that you can take that helps you become better spouses, parents, and disciples of Christ! I'm pretty sure that my parents memorized this book, because I've been going through it and they did so much from it that really worked!
My favorite part of the whole book is where it lays out what the roles are for each spouse.
Fathers- You are to be the breadwinner, lead the family spiritually, love your wife, and make sure your family has the necessities. This isn't where it ends though. The church also highly encourages fathers to go on daddy daughter/father son dates, give your family blessings (if the Priesthood is held), have one-on-one interviews with your kids to see how they are doing, teach your kids to work, hold scripture study and prayer, serve happily in church callings, attend the temple, encourage good music etc, develop family traditions, and do good activities with the kids.
This might seem overwhelming, but these things are emphasized and taught every week in church! I know that it can be done. I have an incredible father that somehow managed to hold 2 jobs and be an incredible dad.
Mothers- You are the nurturers. Mothers are advised to stay at home (if financially possible) with their children. They are raising the next generation! This is looked upon as one of the most important jobs in the entire church! They are encouraged to play with their kids, teach their kids the gospel, help them to learn good values and to do well in school, teach them talents and skills that will be useful to their lives, read to them, love them, encourage them, build them up, and help them to know they are sons and daughters of God. THIS is one intense role. And that's not the end of their duties.
My mom. I have no idea even where to start with her. All the days I came home from school and she just sat there and listened to my complaining, then went and cleaned the house, then taxied us everywhere, then made sure we had a nice meal to sit down to together as a family, then got all our homework done, helped us get ready for bed, read us stories and said prayers with us, then got up continually throughout the night when we had bad dreams or just wanted to see her. That takes some serious awesomeness. There's a very special place for mothers in Heaven. Family is central to God's plan. Central. Like, as important to God as a wand is to Harry. God gave a commandment to Adam and Eve that they were to "multiply and replenish the earth." Being a parent is the most rewarding thing that Heavenly Father says you can do. It's the only thing that will continue to bless you for the rest of your life. It must be hard! I don't know, I've never done it. But I do know that through the teachings of the gospel, we can learn how to raise our children with God. We can help them become the next generation of disciples. We can prepare them for salvation.
"Marriage and Family Relations" manual
http://www.lds.org/manual/marriage-and-family-relations-instructors-manual?lang=eng
"The Family: A Proclamation to the World"
http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation
How to do Family Home Evening
http://www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening?lang=eng
