Lovin Every Moment!: Family

Lately I've been really struggling to read in my BOM. For some reason, I've just lost my focus! I've noticed a huge difference in my life. As one of my goals for this year I decided to study the Ensign every month, underlining and making notes like I would in my scriptures... Woooow! That was such a good idea for me!! I have the sweet spirit back! That extra happiness and confidence! The Ensign has truly become my Modern-Day scripture, like it was always meant to be... Silly Catharine, always learning things the hard way.

Teaching the Doctrine of the Family (notes):

"Many of our youth are losing confidence in the institution of families. They're placing more and more value on education and less and less importance on forming an eternal family. Many don't see forming families as a faith-based work." ----Marriage is a faith-based work, it really is! And there's no better thing to keep a marriage strong, active and inlove than Faith.... Faith in eachother, faith in Christ, Faith in the Lords counsel, Faith in our temple covenants...FAITH. I also feel like -wow- placing more value on educaton has really, truly put priorities out of order when it comes to forming an Eternal Family. It's sad that such a brilliant, wise thing (like being Educated) has become a tool to confuse Good people.

"Live in your homes, in your families, in your marriags so that others will develop hope for Eternal Life from watching you. Live in your homes so that you're brilliant in the basics."

"This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before." ----Wow, that is so true...we've seen the definition of family changing all over the world with same sex marriage, divorce, children out of wedlock, declining marriage rates, the age of marriage rising, legalizing abortions, ppl choosing to have less children, careers taking priority over family...and it's only increasing. THis is evidence that the family is becoming less important. Yikes! I hope I can prepare my children to gain the moral and spiritual strength they will need, so they will understand. It scares the crap out of me! Without the family, there is no plan-there is no rason for mortal life.

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 worshiped 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 his or her divine destiny as an heir 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" (Psalms 127:3). 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. 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.