March Visiting Message: Why Must I Defend the Doctrine of the Family?
Posted by Molly | Under Relief Society | Monday Mar 9, 2009If you're a new Molly, "for sure" subscribe to Molly's feed. Thanks for visiting!
I tried to summarize this months message in my own words, but, because this subject is something that I have seemed to relate all of the past year or so’s worth of Visiting Teaching messages to. For several years my husband and I have known that the one single thing that Satan has been working towards is bringing families down. We watched it with families around us, and in certain other family situations. Below is the Visiting Teaching Message straight from the church website, but, you can read it there if you like, and then below that is my thoughts on the subject.
Why Must I Defend the Doctrine of the Family?
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).
Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president: “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, every woman in this Church is given the responsibility for upholding, nurturing, and protecting families. Women have distinct assignments given to them from before the foundation of the world. And as a covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint woman, you know that raising your voice in defense of the doctrine of the family is critical to the strength of families the world over” (“What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 110).
How Can I Defend the Family?
D&C 88:119: “Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”
President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985): “Home is a haven against the storms and struggles of life. Spirituality is born and nurtured by daily prayer, scripture study, home gospel discussions and related activities, home evenings, family councils, working and playing together, serving each other, and sharing the gospel with those around us. Spirituality is also nurtured in our actions of patience, kindness, and forgiveness toward each other and in our applying gospel principles in the family circle” (“Therefore I Was Taught,” Tambuli, Aug. 1982, 2; Ensign, Jan. 1982, 3).
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “I call upon members of the Church and on committed parents, grandparents, and extended family members everywhere to hold fast to [the family] proclamation, to make it a banner not unlike General Moroni’s ‘title of liberty,’ and to commit ourselves to live by its precepts. …
“In today’s world, where Satan’s aggression against the family is so prevalent, parents must do all they can to fortify and defend their families. But their efforts may not be enough. Our most basic institution of family desperately needs help and support from the extended family and the public institutions that surround us” (“What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2005, 42–43).
Elder Robert S. Wood of the Seventy: “For too many, responsibility seems to end with hand-wringing and exclamations of dismay. Yet talk without action accomplishes little. We need to be vigorously engaged in the world. If our schools are inadequate or destructive of moral values, we must work with fellow members of the community to bring about change. If our neighborhoods are unsafe or unhealthy, we must join with the civic-minded to devise solutions. If our cities and towns are polluted, not only with noxious gases but soul-destroying addictions and smut, we must labor to find legitimate ways to eliminate such filth. … We have the responsibility to be a blessing to others, to our nation, to the world” (“On the Responsible Self,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, 30–31).
Now for my 2 cents:
I have witnessed first hand how Satan is trying to attack the family, and what he is willing to do in order to win. I have had a neighbor accused of a horrible crime, that have been convicted of crimes that they did not commit. I typically trust most juries to weigh the evidence and decide, but, they are not all perfect, and Satan is willing to go to any length to win. Without going into all the circumstances and stories, let me just say that I had a personal confirmation that the person was not guilty. For ten years this man will be in jail (he has been in over 7 years now) and will not be allowed out or have his time reduced unless he admits he has done the crime and apologizes. He refuses to say that he did something he did not do. His family even though it was rough, made it the first couple of years, but since then has fallen prey to Satan.
The one thing that we as parents have to know is that we have to be as smart as possible, to be smarter than Satan and his helpers, and we have to be strong. We have to arm our children with knowledge and strength. We have to teach them respect and responsibility, and to love the Lord. They have to have a testimony. It has to be THEIRS and theirs alone. Do what it takes to give them everything they need to stand the test of time. If they have a testimony, they have a chance to make it back if they ever fall or are led away.
Love your children enough to do what is right, no matter the consequences.
Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts
.png)
