I Believe (Final Post in Series): A Warning Voice

Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Family:  A Proclamation to the World.  As readers have commented throughout this series of posts, occasionally the comments have been of the ". . . but that's not how things actually are in some families" variety.  The final paragraphs of the proclamation acknowledge that truth.

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.

Families are vitally important to the development of the individual, as well as to society at large. 

Photo:  A father carries his daughter on his shoulders.  The quote from Elder Quentin L. Cook is:  "How we preserve time for family is one of the most significant issues we face in most cultures."source 

Children who are in foster care often exhibit troublesome behaviors due to past abuse or neglect, as well as the emotional upheaval caused by the disruption of their families.  I've heard teachers say that they can tell a lot about a child's family life by observing the child's behavior in the classroom. 

Divorce causes heartache for adults, and yet divorce ranks higher on the Holmes and Rahe stress scale for children than for adults (90 versus 73).  I'm not implying that there is never just cause for divorce; I'm simply stating what should be obvious--that relationships impact emotional state. 

Our loving Heavenly Father recognizes the importance of family to our development, and to the world.  Because of this, He has given us a warning voice.  The more closely we are able to maintain loving, stable families, the better off we will be.  The further we move from loving, stable families, the more problems we will face. 

Even though we don't live in a perfect world, we shouldn't give up on the ideal.  We might not feel like we can change the world, but we can make a world of difference just by striving to do our best with our own families. 

Photo:  A family is seen through their living room window.  The caption from President Harold B. Lee is, "The most important of the Lord's work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home." source

Thanks for families, and the blessings that come as we put effort into our families.