The Family; A Gift from God

 

I love Holidays! Holidays bring families together. I can't think of a better way to spend a holiday then with those you love. My family is everything to me! I don't know what I would do with out them. For those of you who don't know anything about me, let me just tell you, I have a HUGE family. My Mom comes from a family of 9 children and my Dad from a family of 10 children. You could say that our family gatherings are more then just a small event. I have OVER 7 times the number of cousins that my fingers can count. Life with my family is ALWAYS a party and I wouldn't want it any other way!

 

 

 

My Sister and I

A few of my Cousins and I

My Cousins (who also fills the roll of my best friend) and I

 
Why is family so important to me anyway? In 1995 Gordon B. Hinckley, (President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - Day Saints at the time) came out with "The Family: a Proclamation to the World" that states,

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.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

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. 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. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation

Life without families would be sad. We learn as a family and we have fun as a family. God gave us families to show us that he loves us. Families truly are a gift from God. You become stronger as an individual as you work at the position you hold in your family. By helping in the family that you are currently in, you also help your future family and the generations that are to come after you.

I am the oldest child in my family and what a great responsibility that it. Sometimes it can be extrememly overwhelming. I have all these siblings younger then me who look up to me in every situation. They are constantly watching me even when I don't know that they are. When my position starts to take a toll on me I turn to the scriptures and pray to my Heavenly Father for help. As I do that, I am reminded that Heavenly Father put me in this position because he knew I would be good at it. No position in the family is Better or Lesser then the other. EACH and EVERY member of the family has a DIVINE roll, and EACH one is Important. Remember who you are and that because of your position in your family you can do great things and YOU are the one who helps to strengthen YOUR family UNIT. Without YOUR help in YOUR family, your Unit wouldn't be the same.

What Is Your Position In Your Family? How does Your Position in Your Family Help The Members of Your Family Become A Stronger Unit?