Joseph Smith defined
faith not only as a belief but as “The principle of action in all intelligent
beings” So what is the connection between faith and successful marriages and
families?
The Family Proclamation teaches us that, “Successful marriages and families are
established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance,
forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational
activities.” We are
taught to start our marriages in the faith of the gospel and to raise our
families in that faith.
In chapter 18 of “Successful Marriages and
Families” by Alan J. Hawkins, the importance of praying together as husband and
wife and then as a family. “Praying
together as a family and reading the scriptures…..together is probably the best
thing we do to pull us toward Heavenly Father and each other, it feels
right. It feels good” (p.188) When I think of my own family, when things
get tough and contention sets in, I immediately realize that we are not praying
together and reading our scriptures. It
is true that those two things invite the spirit into our home.
One Christian Mother explained:
“We have disagreements in our marriage, we have
things we don’t see the same sometimes, and faith is a source of help. We can pray about things together and the
Lord can help us work things out.
Sometimes one person has to give in and accept the other person’s point
of view and it helps to be able to pray about things. The Lord, He’s the best counselor you could
ever have” (p. 189)
I love that the Lord truly is the best
counselor we have. I was watching Dr.
Phil the other day who is a modern day counselor. He was trying to help a family out of control
and was frustrated in their responses.
When they showed clips of this family’s home life, all I could think of
was that faith was missing from their home.
They felt hopeless and distraught.
I just wanted to tell them to pray for help, pray for peace in your home
and pray for guidance.
Bringing faith into our marriages and family,
we know is an act ordained of God. Russell M. Nelson said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is a sure foundation upon
which we can build our individual faith. Some of us are weak; some are strong.
We can waffle “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James
1:6), or we can anchor ourselves with cords of spiritual steel, rooted and
grounded to the eternal truths of the gospel. Such faith will
not prevent life’s problems but will help when things go wrong. Bad things
happen to good people. Accidents occur. Some married couples may not be blessed
with children. Others may not marry in this life, or they may find themselves
married to one who fails to keep the commandments of God. The Lord is aware of
these circumstances. He will bestow all the blessings that He has in store for
His faithful children—in His own way and in His own time. Be righteous, be patient, keep an
eternal perspective, and you will be protected. (Russell M.
Nelson, “Faith and Families”, BYU Speeches, Feb 6, 2005)
Joseph Smith defined
faith not only as a belief but as “The principle of action in all intelligent
beings” So what is the connection between faith and successful marriages and
families?
The Family Proclamation teaches us that, “Successful marriages and families are
established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance,
forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational
activities.” We are
taught to start our marriages in the faith of the gospel and to raise our
families in that faith.
In chapter 8 of “Successful Marriages and
Families” by Alan J. Hawkins, the importance of praying together as husband and
wife and then as a family. “Praying
together as a family and reading the scriptures…..together is probably the best
thing we do to pull us toward Heavenly Father and each other, it feels
right. It feels good” (p.188) When I think of my own family, when things
get tough and contention sets in, I immediately realize that we are not praying
together and reading our scriptures. It
is true that those two things invite the spirit into our home.
One Christian Mother explained:
“We have disagreements in our marriage, we have
things we don’t see the same sometimes, and faith is a source of help. We can pray about things together and the
Lord can help us work things out.
Sometimes one person has to give in and accept the other person’s point
of view and it helps to be able to pray about things. The Lord, He’s the best counselor you could
ever have” (p. 189)
I love that the Lord truly is the best
counselor we have. I was watching Dr.
Phil the other day who is a modern day counselor. He was trying to help a family out of control
and was frustrated in their responses.
When they showed clips of this family’s home life, all I could think of
was that faith was missing from their home.
They felt hopeless and distraught.
I just wanted to tell them to pray for help, pray for peace in your home
and pray for guidance.
Bringing faith into our marriages and family,
we know is an act ordained of God. Russell M. Nelson said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is a sure foundation upon
which we can build our individual faith. Some of us are weak; some are strong.
We can waffle “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James
1:6), or we can anchor ourselves with cords of spiritual steel, rooted and
grounded to the eternal truths of the gospel. Such faith will
not prevent life’s problems but will help when things go wrong. Bad things
happen to good people. Accidents occur. Some married couples may not be blessed
with children. Others may not marry in this life, or they may find themselves
married to one who fails to keep the commandments of God. The Lord is aware of
these circumstances. He will bestow all the blessings that He has in store for
His faithful children—in His own way and in His own time. Be righteous, be patient, keep an
eternal perspective, and you will be protected. (Russell M.
Nelson, “Faith and Families”, BYU Speeches, Feb 6, 2005)
No comments:
Post a Comment