Mormon Family Blog

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About Families

admin — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:31:19 +0000

This blog will be about families. It will be especially for those families that want to be together forever. This doesn’t necessarily imply a belief in the Mormon doctrine about families but it implies at least a belief in the importance of having healthy and happy families. More soon !

Families Forever don't happen by chance

admin — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:39:41 +0000

The Mormon Church focuses its attention of families because one of the basic Mormon beliefs is about the eternity of families. When people realize that their family relationships are supposed to last for all eternity they start thinking and behaving differently. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon Church said: “We cannot and we must not allow the school, community, television, or even Church organizations to establish our children’s values. The Lord has placed this duty with mothers and fathers. It is one from which we cannot escape and one that cannot be delegated. Others may help, but parents remain accountable. Therefore, we must guard the sanctity of our homes, because that is where children develop their values, attitudes, and habits for everyday living.” ( M. Russell Ballard, “Teach the Children,” Ensign, May 1991, 79-80) I have noticed how easy it is for our kids, especially teenagers, to be influenced by their peers. Even when parents are teaching the correct principles they still are tempted to follow the crowd of their friends without always thinking properly about consequences. Fathers and mothers have the duty of teaching their children and they can’t delegate this duty to anybody else. However, fathers and mothers are more motivated and inspired to teach their children when they have an eternal perspective, when they know the real purpose of what they are doing. This is one of the reasons because if we desire to live in a better world we should be promoting missionary work. Probably more good people will improve their parenting by learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ than by participating in most parenting seminaries.

BYU Professor David Dollahite publishes a new study on Religion and Marital Conflict

admin — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:47:04 +0000

Shared religious beliefs and practices within marriage help couples prevent, resolve and reconcile marital conflict, according to a new study out of Brigham Young University. Dollahite interviewed 57 highly religious, middle-aged married couples from “Abrahamic” or major monotheistic faiths comprising Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Participating couples from New England and California were asked several questions regarding the influence and impact of religion on their marriage. (Read More)

10 Myths About Preparing for Marriage according to Jeffry H. Larson

admin — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:48:43 +0000

Marriage is very important for most people, but this should be even more important for members of the Mormon Church since they believe in eternal marriage. There are certain myths that are prevalent among people in our society and even in the Church that can mislead our decisions. This interesting list of myths about preparing for marriage is found in Jeffry Larson’s book, “Should we stay together”. Myth #1: There is only one right person in the world for you to marry. Reality: There are several individuals to whom you could be happily married. Myth #2: Until a person finds the perfect person to marry, he or she should not be satisfied. Reality: No one is perfect. Myth #3: You should feel totally competent as a future spouse before you decide to get married. Reality: A person should feel competent to be a spouse, though some feelings of anxiety are natural. Myth #4: You should be happy with anyone you choose to marry if you try hard enough. Reality: It takes two mature and well-adjusted individuals to make a marriage work, so one needs to be reasonably sensitive and selective in the choice of a mate. Myth #5: You should choose someone to marry whose personal characteristics are opposite from your own. Reality: A person should choose someone to marry whose personal characteristics are similar to his or her own. Myth #6: Being in love with someone is sufficient reason to marry that person. Reality: Although romantic love is important, especially in the early stage of a relationship, other factors are equally or more important to marital satisfaction and should be considered before marriage. Myth #7: Choosing someone to marry is a “decision of the heart.” Reality: Choosing someone to marry is decision of the heart and the head. Myth #8: Living together will prepare you for marriage and improve your chances of being happily married. Reality: Cohabitation may help us get to know each other better, but will not serve as a trial marriage or increase our chances of being happily married. Myth #9: Choosing a mate should be easy. Reality: Choosing a mate is not easy; the decision should be carefully thought out. Myth #10: Preparing for marriage “just comes naturally.” Reality: Preparing for marriage is learned and is based on sound information and personal assessment. These myths and interpretations can be found in Jeffry Larson’s book, “Should we stay together”. Larson, J. H. (2000). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass (pp. 3-12).

Teaching by Example

admin — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:29:40 +0000

In the Mormon Church it is stressed that children are better taught by precept and example. This point is also confirmed by research. When parents’ words and actions are in harmony they have a greater positive effect on children. The Lord has said: ” ‘Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. . . . ” ‘And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord’ (D&C 68:25, 28). According to Elder Hales, “Children who are taught to pray and who pray with their parents when young are more likely to pray when they are older. Those who are taught when they are young to love God and believe He lives will more often continue their spiritual development and increase their feelings of love as they mature.” (Robert D. Hales, “How Will Our Children Remember Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 9-10)

Love Your Children

admin — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:29:08 +0000

Your children love you. They are born loving their parents. It’s part of who they are as children. And it’s absolutely essential to love them back. They can’t help loving you and if you restrain yourself from loving them, if you don’t act loving and nurturing, there’s little else you can do to make up for it. This isn’t just a Mormon principle—researchers agree. Children love and if it isn’t reciprocal, they will be very, very unhappy. Mormons believe that children need love very much. But of course you love your children—how do you show it? You’ll find that what makes your children feel loved may be different from how you feel loved, or how your other children feel loved. You need to know your children and be aware of who they are. There are a number of ways to find out how they feel appreciated and loved. Read more at our site’s new article about Loving Your Children.

Christmas and...more

admin — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:07:11 +0000

I think that I am not the only one who struggle during Christmas season to make sure that my children understand that receiving presents is not what really matters during this time of the year. I try to teach them that to give is more rewarding than to receive. Also, I try to have them understand that if a present costs more it doesn’t necessarily means that it is worth more. I noticed for example this conversation between one of my children and a friend. “What did you get for Christmas last year ?” “Oh, I got this jacket” “..how much did it cost?”…. It looks like sometimes they don’t really know the value of a gift and they assume that if a present is more expensive it must be more valuable and (unfortunately) a proof that the parents love the child more. Because of these my recurring thoughts during Christmas Season I really appreciated the LDS (Mormon) Gem I received this morning: “The meaning of more and less is not always crystal clear. There are times when less is in reality more and times when more can be less. For instance, less pursuit of materialism may enable more family togetherness. More indulgence of children may result in less understanding of life’s important values.” (H. David Burton, “More Holiness Give Me,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 99)

Our Children are High Priority

admin — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:18:48 +0000

Our lives are hectic. No one will deny that. To live today is often to rush frantically from one thing to another. Our jobs often take up most of our time and, when we go home, we’d maybe rather relax by ourselves than worry about what our children have been doing. Sometimes, our children’s needs can seem less essential than that big work project, or getting that book written before deadline or finishing that church responsibility early (Mormons think church involvement is important, but never to the neglect of family). Even that football game can get so involving that our children are given a back seat. When you’re involved in something else, your children can even seem like interruptions or irritants. Always remember that they are your highest priority, that their instruction and welfare is very important — that they depend on you and that your time is the greatest gift you can give them. Mormons believe that parenthood is among the greatest roles we can have and that it is always the parents’ responsibility to make sure children grow up right. Elder Ballard, a Mormon apostle, speaks further on this: “We should cherish and care for our children with unwavering dedication. The older we grow, the more precious our family becomes to us. We come to see more clearly that all of the wealth, honor, and positions of the world pale in significance when compared to the precious souls of our loved ones. You young parents who are beginning your families must guard against seeking financial gain, worldly comforts, or achievement at the expense of your children. You must guard against being so anxious to get to work or to a meeting that you do not have time for your family, especially time to listen to anxious little voices. . . . “We cannot and we must not allow the school, community, television, or even Church organizations to establish our children’s values. The Lord has placed this duty with mothers and fathers. It is one from which we cannot escape and one that cannot be delegated. Others may help, but parents remain accountable.” (M. Russell Ballard, “Teach the Children,” Ensign, May 1991, 79-80) (From LDS Family Gems)

The Children Will Return

admin — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:25:16 +0000

“We must understand that each of our children comes with varying gifts and talents. Some, like Abel, seem to be given gifts of faith at birth. Others struggle with every decision they make. As parents, we should never let the searching and struggling of our children make us waver or lose our faith in the Lord. “Alma the Younger, when ‘racked with torment . . . [and] harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins,’ remembered hearing his father teach about the coming of ‘Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world’ (Alma 36:17). His father’s words led to his conversion. In like manner, our teaching and testimony will be remembered by our children.” (Robert D. Hales, “Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty,” Ensign, May 1999, 32) (From Family Gems) So, it’s frustrating. When you teach children correct principles, when you live Mormon doctrine as well as preach it, when you are, in everything you can be, an example to your children–when you do this and they don’t seem to understand, when they openly stray, what do you do? Do you despair? Do you decide you were a bad parent, or that the Mormon Church is false if you couldn’t teach it to your children? They will remember. When their struggles bring them into dark places and the light is there, waiting to be reached to–when they walk in darkness and long for truth, it will be there. They will remember. They will return.

Families Are Central

admin — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:39:11 +0000

“In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. . . “We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.” (L. Tom Perry, “The Importance of the Family,” Ensign, May 2003, 40) (From Family Gems) How do we make our homes a refuge? In the beliefs of Mormonism, parents are the foremost teachers, the foremost examples for their children. If parents are not firm in their convictions, if they expose their children to things that they shouldn’t, if they act up themselves, they will influence their children to be uncertain about the convictions that the parents are actually trying to teach them. But even faithful, earnest parents need to be careful. Indeed, Mormon leaders counsel that parents keep close communication with their children, know who they are and what they’re doing. The idea is not to smother or to oppress, but to be there when a child is uncertain, or is encountering something they don’t know what to deal with. Parents must be there, as a strength.

Teach your Children

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:05:22 +0000

"Teach the gospel and basic values in your home. Establish a love for reading the scriptures together. Too many of our parents are abdicating this responsibility to the Church. While seminary, auxiliaries, and priesthood quorums are important as a supplement to parental gospel instruction, the main responsibility rests in the home. You might want to choose one gospel subject or a family value and then watch for opportunities to teach it. Be wise and do not involve children or yourselves in so many activities out of the home that you are so busy that the Spirit of the Lord cannot be recognized or felt in giving you the promised guidance for yourself and your family" (M. Russell Ballard, "What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 43). Because children learn by example, it is crucial that we let children see us doing the kinds of things we want them to do, like serving others, being happy, and studying the scriptures. An even better way to teach about the good feelings and blessings that come from keeping the commandments is to involve children in our activities and talk to them about the experience afterward. Children have different learning styles, so displaying good behaviors, having them join you in righteous activities, and then talking to them about the experience can help many children to understand how and why we obey God. Family is of the utmost importance to Mormons, and we believe that family members, and especially parents, have responsibilities to the family. The family is the only steady and consistent part of a child’s life. Family remains the same no matter who their friends are, who is teaching them at school, what town they live in, or what Sunday School class they’re in. Only parents can truly know how their child is progressing, how he learns, what he likes to do, and where he needs to improve. Thus, only parents have the time and ability to teach directly to the needs of their children. Children learn quickly when they are youngest, and the instruction and examples they receive in the very early years can be the most instrumental in forming who they are. If they develop a relationship of prayer and study with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when they are young, they will be able to rely on that for comfort for a lifetime. By nature, children trust, love, and watch their parents more than any other adults. Parents have a unique opportunity to guide their children’s lives in a way no other people can. And of course, with this great power, parents are the only ones truly responsible for the teaching of their children. There are so many reasons to teach our children. Their salvation and ours hang in the balance. But more than that, these children were born with and will develop amazing talents and abilities. They have special gifts that will allow them to bless the lives of others in ways nobody else can. Our posterity, like Abraham’s, can be a blessing to the world, but first we must give them what they need for their minds and spirits to grow.

Cling to the Savior

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:59:02 +0000

“As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father’s instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior.”This lesson is surely not limited to fathers. Regardless of gender, marital status, or age, individuals can choose to link themselves directly to the Savior, hold fast to the rod of His truth, and lead by the light of that truth. By so doing, they become examples of righteousness to whom others will want to cling.” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Set in Order Thy House,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 69) Family is extremely important to Mormons, and to many, it seems easiest to cling to the love of a spouse, the adoration of a child, or the care of a parent. While family ties are crucial, our relationships with our families and others around us depend on our relationship to the savior. Forgiveness is a crucial part of family life in which the Savior is our only true example. In a marriage, a husband and wife are required to forgive one another. The act of forgiveness becomes so much easier with the knowledge that Jesus Christ, who is perfect, forgave those who crucified him as he hung on the cross. Can we hold a grudge against a spouse or brother for human mistakes (the same kind we make) when Christ would forgive them? The strength family members receive from a real relationship with the Savior allows them to forgive one another. If we cling to Christ, he will lend us the ability to bear one another’s burdens and bring the uplifting spirit of Jesus into family life. While we must trust our families, if we trust in Christ most, he can help us keep our families whole and trustworthy. He can bless us with the ability to hold up our families in hard times. If we cling to one another, we may fall together, being imperfect, but if we individually cling to Christ, we can rise together as the Lord lifts even one member of the family. The example of one family member’s willingness to act Christ like can be an inspiration to a whole family. Christ lifts us when we aren’t strong, and he can give us the strength to lift our families when no member of the family is feeling strong.

The Family is the Ideal Place to Learn

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:05:38 +0000

A Spanish proverb states that the husband and the wife do the last bit of “bringing up.” Each of us depends on those around us to teach us how to be better people, whether by trying our willingness to act as Jesus Christ would, or by being an example to us. In the Mormon Church, marrying and having children are important parts of life, especially since those family relationships are the ones that will help us learn the most. Elder Groberg said it eloquently:

We come to this earth charged with a mission: to learn to love and serve one another. To best help us accomplish this, God has placed us in families, for he knows that is where we can best learn to overcome selfishness and pride and to sacrifice for others and to make happiness and helpfulness and humility and love the very essence of our character. (John H. Groberg, “The Power of Family Prayer,” Ensign, May 1982, 50)

Sometimes we learn humility and gratitude when spouses or children give selflessly, but it seems that we are more often required to meet the needs of others. Mormons are encouraged to accept family responsibilities. While there are trials to family life, there is also great and deep joy. Our Heavenly Father knows each of us, and he gave us families not only because he knew that they would be the best for helping us grow up, but also because he knew that we could help these family members in ways nobody else can. Like a math textbook, families are full of problems-and none of them are easy. Some problems seem tedious, some require knowledge of difficult concepts, and others seem out of our hands. But family problems, like math problems, are designed to help us learn. By reading the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, we learn ways to be more like Christ; we then turn to the “homework pages”: our families. The knowledge of how to act is crucial, but not as crucial as the actions themselves in our learning and growth.

Promises for Good Women

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:30:33 +0000

“You women, be good women, be good mothers. Be kind and gracious and generous. Strengthen your children with your faith and your testimony. Lift them up. Help them to walk through the troubled ways of the world as they grow in this very difficult age. Support, sustain, uphold, and bless your husbands with your love and your encouragement; and the Lord will bless you. Even if they are not members of the Church, bless them with kindness and reach out to them every good way that you can. The chances are that they will become members of the Church before they reach the time they die. It may be a long time and you may have a lot to put up with, but if that happens, you will think it is all worth it” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Inspirational Thoughts,” Ensign, Mar. 2006, 4). The Mormon Prophet has told women that we can be blessed by Heavenly Father if we “support, sustain, uphold, and bless” our husbands. Women have an amazing power to influence and build up those around them, and it is the duty of women to use that powerful influence to encourage our families to choose the right. It may seem like a lot for the Mormon Church to ask women to constantly lift up children and support husbands, but the blessings of that service are amazing. When we reach out to others to lift them up and help them on the right path, we can forget our own problems. The Lord has limitless power to help each of us with our own problems, and as we do his work by supporting our families in righteousness, he will do the work we cannot do by relieving some of the burden of our problems. Jesus Christ has said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Sustaining our families is truly taking upon us the yoke of Christ; by doing so we can leave behind our own burdens. Not only do we then bear a light burden, but our burden is to be a light to others-an example of Christ and a help to those in need. As women, we are divinely designed by God to be nurturing, supportive, sensitive, and uplifting to those around us, and that influence is so badly needed in the family. In a world where children are pressured to pick up damaging habits, a world where men are undervalued and often scorned, wives and mothers have the power to overshadow these influences in the lives of their husbands and children. Even when husbands may not seem deserving of kindness, support, and outreach, women can leave the door open for their change and betterment.

Draw Near to the Lord; Draw Near to your Spouse

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:57:02 +0000

Many in the world disregard marriage as either a prison or a fleeting attachment. InÂ Mormon doctrine, on the other hand, marriage is sacred, andÂ there is happiness and fulfillment to be found in marriage that cannot be found elsewhere. Life together isn't meant to be easy, but it is meant to help us grow and be fulfilled. Elder David A. Bednar said,

"As a husband and wife are each drawn to the Lord, as they learn to serve and cherish one another, as they share life experiences and grow together and become one, and as they are blessed through the uniting of their distinctive natures, they begin to realize the fulfillment that our Heavenly Father desires for His children. Ultimate happiness, which is the very object of the Father's plan, is received through the making and honoring of eternal marriage covenants." ("Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan," Ensign, Jun 2006, 86)

We have to do things in marriage that can be hard: serving each other, sharing life experiences (life can be difficult), uniting different natures, and keeping covenants. Everyone has struggles in doing these things, but these struggles help us grow closer to the Lord. The hard times and the strength we build to overcome them with the Lord are what bring the happiness and fulfillment God promises. A temple marriage gives a couple covenants to keep that are goals for each of them in the marriage. As couples keep promises to the Lord, they will also keep promises to each other. God's commandments are meant to bring people together, especially in marriages, and if we obey God, we can treat those around us the way Jesus would. In a marriage, there are many things that can divide the attention and devotion of either partner, whether it be a car, a job, some worldly goal, or another person, these things pull marriages apart. When couples let their devotion to each other only be partnered with a devotion to God, they grow closer together. During the hard times, it is sometimes easier to turn to something outside of the marriage for help, comfort, or distraction. The only thing we can turn to that will help the family and the marriage is the Lord. He can help us heal and turn back to our marriages and families with love, growing closer to them by growing closer to him. Our marriages and families are what truly bring us happiness, both in this life and in the eternities. The Lord wants us to have that happiness, and he does everything to help us reach it. He gives us temple ordinances that unite families for eternity, and if we turn to him, he can give us the strength we need to keep marriages strong and families together.

Lessons of Mormon Temple Marriage

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:53:23 +0000

Wayne E. Brikey, in Making Sense of Suffering, compared our discipleship to Christ to a marriage. Marriage can be difficult, and in those hard times, we need to reaffirm our commitment. Similarly, when being a member of the Mormon Church isn’t as perfect as we may have once expected, we must recommit to the savior.

Mormon temple marriage

In Mormon temples, we marry for eternity. We also make covenants to God that we will obey him for eternity. Marriage relationships compare easily to our relationships with God. In a marriage, love cannot thrive where there is no work. Married couples need to serve each other, do things together, work hard for the good of their family, and spend time in working to understand each other. Marriage relationships need to be nourished from the inside by unselfishness and willingness to listen to the other partner. Marriages do not survive without our watchful care.

Temple covenants with God need care, like a temple marriage

Just like some newlywed couples, we sometimes expect our relationship with God to be perfect, and for everything to keep itself up. We love him, after all. But we can’t expect “love” to carry the relationship through for us. God is perfect, and his love will always hold up his end of the bargain-he has already atoned for our sins and still does continually bless us. Our love, however, does not survive without hard work. We need to work with the Lord to serve his Church. We need to serve others with the aid of the Lord. We need to nourish our relationship with God by listening to him, being unselfish in our personal wants, and talking to him. Even when one half of the relationship is being held up by Deity, we need to constantly watch and care for the bond. If we don’t, it may fail. This relationship is too important to let fall, and it is never the other party’s fault. We can tell ourselves we are too busy, too tired, or too mad to do our part to keep the relationship. People every day do it in their marriages, and we see the results in a high divorce rate. We cannot afford to not reach out, work, and listen unselfishly in our relationships, either with God or with our spouses.

Keeping temple covenants is the key to marriage relationships and relationships with God

As couples work hard to keep their marriages alive, they grow to love one another. Working together and serving each other have that amazing effect. In the same way, we can learn to love God more and know him more when we work with him and serve him. Keeping temple covenants is the key to upholding our end of the relationship, both with God and with our spouses. The spiritual strength that comes from obeying God has great power to heal marriages. Whether the relationship is with an imperfect, sometimes irresponsible, occasionally annoying mortal or with a perfect, loving Father in Heaven, we must do our all to hold up the relationship. Your relationships will always be your responsibility, and you have the power to keep them.

Mormon Politics

jj — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:09:23 +0000

With Mitt Romney running for president of the United States, the Mormon Church has been getting a lot of National media coverage, some good, and some bad. Some people fear that a Mormon president would force Mormon standards on the nation. Of course that would be impossible. Some people think that a Mormon president would make all of his choices based on beliefs of the Mormon Church. Actually, while the Church encourages members to vote and be active in their communities, the Mormon prophet rarely encourages members to vote in a particular direction. When the Church encourages its members to take a particular side in politics, it is always on issues of maintaining the family and morality, and not about particular candidates. The Church does not require any political allegiances, and many Mormons belong to the Democratic (and other non-GOP) parties. Mormon Doctrine sometimes seems to favor certain ideologies over others, but no political party is in direct alignment with Church beliefs. The Mormon Church does stand against homosexual marriage, for the benefit of children and the traditional family-this isn’t because homosexual marriage somehow destroys families that already exist, but because it will destroy the benefits society gets from traditional marriage (by decreasing the incentive to marry heterosexually), like stable families that produce children that are healthy, happy, and productive. The Church believes that in general, abortion is wrong, but the Mormon Church also believes that there are situations in which abortion is the right answer, as in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s health. The important thing about Mormon doctrine is that the Church doesn’t control people. Everyone has their own agency, and their own ability to vote how they like, with no consequences from the Church. The Church does not advocate or endorse and political candidates, and the political choices of Mormons are their own business. A large group of people who have the same beliefs can choose to advocate those beliefs differently from each other. Every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is autonomous in his or her actions. There are consequences to serious sins or crimes (taking away Church privileges or membership), but political leanings do not fall into those categories. As the Church is getting much recognition (and sometimes insult) because Mormonism has been brought into the limelight, we need to be a good example of what Mormons are like, and what we believe. About Mitt Romney, he certainly isn’t controlled by the Mormon Church either. His presidential candidacy is about his own political leanings, and like any other religious leaders, he can make decisions with a basis in what the country needs outside of his religious beliefs. He will have to, since the Mormon Church rarely gives political advice.

“The Mormons”: PBS Documentaries and Polygamy

jj — Wed, 02 May 2007 22:47:49 +0000

“The Mormons” aired on PBS for two hours yesterday and two hours Monday. It’s neat to have four hours devoted to people talking about Mormonism. Two hours of the show were focused on history, and the other two were focused on the modern Mormon Church, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some were disappointed with the overemphasis on controversial history, and some were disappointed with the under-treatment of controversial Mormon doctrines. Many were excited about the exposure of the world to the truth about Mormons, and others worried about how much sway anti-Mormons would have in what was said. The recent “LDS Gem” for families said,

Monday and Tuesday evening this week, PBS television stations throughout the U.S. will show a two-part documentary called ‘The Mormons.’ Initial reviews describe the programs as thoughtful and probing and compliment Church leaders and members for how they addressed difficult topics. To see reviews by ‘The New York Times’ and others–as well as the Church’s own response-visit the Newsroom at: http://www.newsroom.lds.org.

It was surprising to see such intense coverage of Mormon polygamy, along with coverage of non-LDS polygamist groups. While it’s hard to ignore that some of these Mormon fundamentalist groups definitely branched off from Mormonism in the early 20^th century, it would be very improper to imply any modern connection between current polygamists and Mormonism. Some feel that the line was crossed when these people, who aren’t Mormons, received coverage in a documentary on Mormons. Polygamy in Mormon doctrine is a controversial issue. It was difficult to understand and controversial when it was instituted, when it was practiced (by relatively few, by the way), and when it was renounced, and it still is a point of difficulty today. Some think that the change in policy on Mormon polygamy is evidence that Mormon prophets don’t receive revelation from God, but that they react to social and political pressures instead. Why would polygamy be good at one time and bad at another? The Book of Mormon suggests a practical approach in Jacob 2:27-28, 30:

Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. . . For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things. (Emphasis added)

We cannot begin to list the possible reasons for the Lord to institute polygamy-his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. But as for changing Mormon policy-and this is not official doctrine or anything-our view of God as a Heavenly Father can shed some light as to why policies can change. Firstly, parents give their kids very different rules as they grow up. We see God’s rules change when he commands the end of the Law of Moses after the crucifixion-which is acknowledged by most Christians. God gives his children the laws they need when they need them to progress toward him. God’s not just there to command us, his purpose is to help us reach a goal of returning to him and being more like him. If parents change the rules in the home to accommodate age, neighborhood, maturity level, and other factors, just so they can raise safe children and produce happy, confident adults, isn’t it plausible that God makes and changes rules based on what we need to grow up right? This life is a growing process, and sometimes we need different things. That’s why we have modern revelation and living Mormon prophets. As for the documentaries, we have yet to see how they will effect the world’s view on Mormonism, or even how the Church will react. I sincerely hope that people will want to find out more about Mormons, and that they will be able to find good sources where true Mormon doctrine is available.

Feminist Mormon Women

karenrose — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:50:14 +0000

The First Presidency of the Mormon Church in the year 1935 stated, “The true spirit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives to woman the highest place of honor in human life. The Mormon Church upholds this ideal by honoring and cherishing women. Women play an integral and vital role in the Mormon Church. Women in the Mormon Church are not oppressed. Within the church organization, men and women hold different roles and different responsibilities based on their innate God-given qualities. Women are valued and respected. Mormon men and women are equal. They need each other. Mormon husbands and wives make covenants to the lord and to each other in the Mormon temple, where they are bound for time and eternity. On earth, they are to share responsibilities, and should consult each other in all decisions. Although women are to primarily care for her children, men are to take an active role in nurturing relationships with his children. The roles for Mormon men and women are clear in a document released by the first presidency, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” The statement emphasizes the sanctity of the family and its eternal nature. The Proclamation states that “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.” Men and women have been given distinct and different Godly qualities. Men have the priesthood and women have the power to procreate and nurture a life. In the beginning of time, God created Adam. But it was soon decided that man could not live without woman. Man was incomplete without woman. If women had the priesthood, and men had the ability to birth children, they wouldn’t need each other. These separate yet equal roles make man and woman dependent on each other, which is an integral role in God’s plan, as mentioned before. Men, because they hold the priesthood, have a great amount of responsibility and power in the home. However, women are not subject to their husbands. Women are to be treated as an equal partner in the home. Domestic abuse, both emotionally and physically, is considered abhorrence by the Mormon leaders. The Proclamation states that any individual who violates the “covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.” Mormons have the right to divorce when absolutely necessary. Men hold the priesthood. The power of the priesthood is given to every worthy male, beginning at the age of 12. Priesthood power allows a man to literally do the work of the Lord in a physical sense here on earth. Priesthood-holding males can give blessings, healings, prophecy, and hold priesthood keys with them as long as they keep themselves morally worthy. Priesthood-holding males also occupy most positions of leadership within the church, serving as bishops, stake presidents, members of the First Presidency, and prophet. And women receive full benefits and blessings received through the priesthood. Just because men hold the priesthood, does not mean that they have more blessings that the women. Their holding the priesthood merely facilitates blessings from Heavenly Father to the men and women of the church. Women have their own women’s group, The Relief Society, where they perform service, enrich each other’s lives, and learn valuable lessons applicable to their lives. Without women, the church system could not function. There are various reasons why women do not hold the priesthood. Many believe that since women have child-bearing abilities, they have an instinctive tie to the family. Men have the priesthood to create that tie and bond to the family. Without the priesthood, women still have the potential to become Gods in the life after, if they support and value the priesthood in this life. It is important to recognize that it is not that women are incapable or unworthy to hold the priesthood. It is simply unnecessary. In the history of the Mormon Church, there have been times when women have had priesthood power. Historians have found that the Prophet Joseph Smith originally ordained women to hold the priesthood. After Smith’s death in 1844, Mormon women were given the right to perform priesthood functions, allowing them to heal other women by anointing and blessing. Perhaps at the time, there was a need for priesthood holding women in the church. The church has refined itself in the past century and a half. Priesthood power held by women is no longer necessary. Church membership is approaching twelve million. With a strong number of priesthood-worthy males in the church, women are free from the calling of the priesthood and can focus on other duties, like that of strengthening the family. Priesthood power for women is unnecessary and somewhat redundant. Women were born with innate loving, caring, and nurturing qualities. Although men harbor these qualities also, priesthood power enables them to exude these characteristics that women feel naturally. Women simply do not need the priesthood. For some unknown reason, many believe that Mormon women are oppressed, are confined to their homes, are subject to their husbands, and have no say of what goes on in their homes and the church. This is false. Women are encouraged to be as educated as their male-counterparts. Education will prepare women for advanced careers, help them serve as better wives and mothers, and enable them to better serve others. Mormon women are not victims. In fact, Mormon young women attend “Young Women’s,” an organization within the church, comparable to girl scouts, which teach life’s lessons to young women in the church. They are encouraged to receive an education, travel, and are nurtured and loved by caring advisors. Currently, the average GPA of an incoming freshman at Brigham Young University, a private university operated by the Mormon Church, is a 3.75. Over half of students are young women, pursuing education, developing talents, and participating in service and church. Women at Brigham Young University participate on equal grounds as their male-counterparts. They are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees and fields including law, medicine, and business. Women in the Mormon Church in this modern age are encouraged to “have it all”, but not all at the same time. Gordon B Hinckley recently addressed the women of the church saying, “If you will take control of your lives, the future is filled with opportunity and gladness. You cannot afford to waste your talents or your time.” Women are to fully develop every aspect of them selves. Yes, Mormon women are encouraged to marry and have children but at a time when she feels ready and it is a choice that will bring her joy at that moment in her life. Mormons believe those two pursuits to be extremely important in a woman’s life. But it is because through marriage and family women will better themselves and further develop and share their talents. Having a family will also bring them great joy. The Mormon Church does not tell its members when to marry or when to have children. The church does not regulate how many children a couple should have. Although big families are prevalent throughout Mormon culture, the Church does not specify a number and prophets have stated that it is a matter left to the couple and the Lord. Women and men have full control over their family. The official statement of the Church includes this language: “Husbands must be considerate of their wives, who have the greater responsibility not only of bearing children but of caring for them through childhood, and should help them conserve their health and strength. Gordon B Hinckley replied to one young woman, asking how many children was expected from Mormon couples, and he replied by saying “Build solid homes…I don’t care about the size, I care about the spirit.” At the LDS General Young Women’s Meeting, Gordon B Hinckley informed the women that in today’s competitive age, women need to take advantage of every opportunity they are given. Hinckley stated, “Although some young women may plan on getting married, he said that is not a certainty and education will be of a great benefit…..Education is the key that will unlock the door of opportunity.” The church has encouraged women, if their financial situation permits, to stay home with their children to raise and nurture their families. This counsel given by numerous prophets is not to belittle or hold back the women of the church. Numerous studies have shown that children who are raised by a stay-at-home mother perform better in school, have better self-esteem, and feel a heightened sense of familial support. Women are considered so virtuous in the Mormon Church. So virtuous in fact, that we believe children will suffer if they do not have a strong influence of a mother while growing up. Despite the encouragement for women to stay home with their children, it is perfectly acceptable for Mormon women to pursue a career. There are countless examples of Mormon women who embody feminist ideals. They are feminists in the sense that they believe women should be strong, capable, intelligent women who serve the Lord using their talents, and support men in their various callings within the church. Sheri Dew, who prominent in the LDS community, owns Deseret Book, a publishing company. She has written numerous books for Mormons, and has traveled the world from Africa, Latin America, and Asia, addressing topics about Mormonism. Her accomplishments boast being White House Delegate to the U.N. Throughout my experience as a lifetime member of the Mormon Church, I have met numerous women who manage to fulfill their duties as wives and mothers, while also pursuing education and careers. Women have much to offer in the workplace as well as in the home. The church has recognized that some women find great joy being active in the workplace. Women may actively pursue careers, as long as their family doesn’t suffer. Whether or not the mother should work should be carefully discussed and examined by the husband and wife. Mormon women play an active role in Church affairs. At the Bi-Annual Mormon conference, held in Salt Lake City, which is broadcast throughout the world, women speak and address the world, just as Mormon men do. In weekly Sunday meetings, women address the congregation, as their words and testimonies are just as valued as the men’s. They run their own women’s organization which serves millions of women within the church. Each year, thousands of young women serve as Mormon missionaries, teaching and bringing souls unto Christ worldwide. As women serve, they are thanked, appreciated and are simply irreplaceable in the Mormon Church.

Mormon Testimonies

jj — Mon, 28 May 2007 16:32:26 +0000

Heber J. Grant stated, “I believe there is nothing in all the world that can compare with the joy that a man feels when he realizes that he has been the instrument in the hands of the living God of reaching some honest heart, inspiring in it a love of God and the desire to serve Him.

As Mormons, it is our sacred responsibility to share the gospel with all of our “heart, might, mind, and strength.” Not only does it help bring those around us the Gospel of the Jesus Christ but it also inspires us and strengthens our own personal testimonies of the Church. Often we feel too overwhelmed with our personal lives to find time to do missionary work and seek out those looking for the Church, but with the Mormon Testimonies, it has never been so easy.

Mormontestimonies.org is a website that aims at compiling written and video testimonies from members worldwide. This site is viewed by investigators of the Church, as they seek more information and support. Your individual experience, story, or conversion to the Church could greatly impact an investigator. Taking the few minutes to write about how the Mormon Church has inspired your life can have a great impact. You will also be able to view other people’s testimonies, under the “Browse Testimonies” link. Testimonies will be classified by geography, generation, by name, and stakes and wards. The process of submitting your testimony is easy. Simply go to the Mormon Testimonies website and under “Quick Start,” type your name (or pseudonym if you would like to remain anonymous) and start writing!

This is an extremely effective yet easy way for Mormons to share their testimonies. So much information, both positive and negative about the church, is communicated through the internet now, and this is a wonderful way for Mormons to combat negative information on the web about the church. Your words have the potential to touch and inspire those looking for the truth.

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