In a world where the definitions of marriage and family are ever changing, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands as a constant defender of the family unit. It calls the family “the most important social unit in time and eternity.” Families are held to be sacred, not loose collectivities that begin or end as convenient. According to the Proclamation on the Family issued by the First Presidency of the Church in 1995, “The family is ordained of God.”
And families are eternal. When a family is sealed in the temple by the proper priesthood authority, that family unit can endure forever. , siblings, grandparents, and more – can also continue for time and all eternity.
So Latter-day Saints have a different perspective on their families than some people do. They don’t see them as just an arrangement that will last for this life only; they see them as something that can last forever.
Why do we even have families? I’m sure the Lord in His wisdom has more purposes than we can fully grasp right now. But one reason is explained in a beloved children’s hymn that Latter-day Saints often sing: “I am a child of God, and He has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.”
Imagine a loving Heavenly Father who is sending one of His beloved spirit children to earth to gain a body and mortal experience. This child deserves parents who will love him, care for him, take care of his needs, and teach him those things that are right. In fact, the song continues with a plea to the child’s parents, teachers, and other who love him: “Lead me, guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday.”
Children are a sacred gift from the Lord. He has entrusted us as parents with one or more of His precious children. According to the Proclamation on the Family, “Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.”
So how can we find happiness in our families when these very units seem to be behind so much sorrow and contention in the world today? Again, according to the First Presidency in the Proclamation on the Family: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ … Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” We’re all human, and we all make mistakes, but this counsel doesn’t leave room for selfishness, manipulations, put-downs, infidelity, abuse, or many other actions that can ultimately cause a lot of pain in relationships. Joy in marriage and family life is truly possible. It takes work, sacrifice, patience, and a lot of selflessness – but the results are more than worth the effort.
