A Call To Responsible Citizens

“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,” an excerpt from The Family, A Proclamation to the World. This statement has always caused me a pang of guilt. What am I doing to defend and strengthen the family? I always answer myself by reassuring myself that I am doing my part by raising children with good morals and strong beliefs. That is not enough.

Through this lesson my eyes have been open to some of the things I need to be aware of; “I am convinced that promoting strong marriage is the best way to strengthen the family,” (Hakwins, Ch 25, pg 270). And things I need to be proactive in, “As a society, how can we help young people find safer and more effective pathways to healthy marriages?” (pg 270) Because the proclamation holds me responsible to be an advocate for strengthening

families, not just my own, I need to be proactive.

Here are some ideas from the reading that I plan on implementing. Volunteer in community initiatives that are centered on strengthening marriage and families. Actively participate with the youth in my church and my community. Be aware of what laws are trying to be passed and vote. Once the law is passed be aggressive in finding out how it will be implanted and what you can do to support and help the implementation of the law. Lastly I can share and defend my beliefs on the institution of marriage and family with those I come in daily contact with. I need to do better and extend my focus on defending the family outside of my home and bring it to my friends and neighbors.

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho It's Off To Work We Go

I have truly loved learning about family work in chapter 21 of the book, Successful Marriages and Family. The principles taught will benefit my family and our growth as we come together to learn how to work and see the blessings that come from working together. In this post I want to share some of my favorite quotes and ideas from the chapter.

• "Thus Christ suggests that humble, serving work is central, truly for our sakes." I love this quote because it really puts an emphasis on the importance of helping others. As if our lives depend on it.
• "Few things in life are as small, simple, or of seemingly little value as the everyday tasks we do for family members." This quote followed Elder Neal A Maxwell's words that state, these seemingly small moments are life's largest defining moments. I especially love this because my love language is, Acts of Kindness.
• "A significant contemporary challenge for families is to find ways to cooperate in meaningful family work." This statement reminded me that individual cleaning is good but we also need to unite in projects together as a family.
• "In an eternal perspective, the purposes of home fostering growth, forging unity, and learning charity- far exceed economic advantage or efficiency criteria." Beautifully stated, a home should not operate on the criteria of economic advantage.
• "A loving family atmosphere reflects the rhythm of daily life rather than the artificial demands of planner and clock." Too often we are driven by the demands of the outside world rather than the inside of our home and the people that matter the most.
• "Money distorts family feeling and weakens the member's mutual support." I can truly identify with this statement as I have seen the difference in myself, my husband and my children when the work is done for money and when the work is done for the purpose of strengthening home and family.
• "Parents may be easily convinced to fall back on recipes for childrearing." I love this statement, no one knows and loves your children like you do besides the Lord. Go to him when you need help instead of how to books.
• Lastly, insisting on children helping does not damage them it aids in their discovering their true worth it tells them, "I need you. You are an essential member of our family. We cannot get along without you."

Successful Marriages and Family, Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives, Chapter 21, pg 213-221.

Three Dimensions of Faith and Family

Dimension 1

Religious Community and Family
"It takes a village to raise a child. Our congregation is the village that we have chosen to focus our energies on.. When we work with people, it helps us to keep our own struggles in a better perspective and they don't become a burden, just a part of life.," Successful Marriages and Families, Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives (Marks, Dollahite, Freeman, CH 18, pg 185). Our family has moved many times and each time we were always greeted openly by a new village. I am so thankful for the gospel that unites us as a village. "I personally believe that people are at their happiest when they're serving others...Service in the Church...is based on doing things for other people, going outside yourself," (LDS Father of six, CH 18, pg 186). I have so much love and gratitude in my heart for those that serve and love my children. At stake conference last month Brother and Sister Roundsville gave a lesson on family history, later that afternoon the kids found 18 family names that needed baptisms. The following Saturday their dad took them to the temple and they performed the ordinances for their ancestors. I felt so blessed to have the Roundsvilles be part of the village that is helping to raise our children. I was sure to tell them just that!

 Dimension 2
Religious Practices and 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," (Marks, Dollahite, Freeman, CH 18, pg 188). Prayer in marriage can bring resolution to conflicts, outwardly observe expressions of faith and love and emotional validation. Family prayer as a ritual brings closeness to all members of the family, it is not the only religious ritual that can influence our children. All religious rituals act as strengthening tools for family and renews and relationships.

Dimension 3
Religious Beliefs and Family
"There's something that...when as a family your hearts are pointed together toward the same thing," (Marks, Dollahite, Freeman, CH18, pg 191). No matter how strong our beliefs or how much we teach about them without the proper practice and example our beliefs have no meaning. Quality family and marriage experiences, stability, and satisfaction is enhanced by the involvement of religious beliefs and practices.

Social Science evidence shows that successful marriages and families are established and maintained even during life storms when shared beliefs, faith and principles connect the family.

Good Wholesome Recreation

Recreation takes work? Yes, some good wholesome recreation takes effort and has a workload attached. There is very little instant gratification attached to wholesome recreation. “Activities that appear to be fun or pleasurable do not necessarily lead to a good life,” (Widmer, Taniguchi, Chapter 22, pg 226). Electronics provide instant gratification. Recreation that does not offer instant gratification can bring family together not only in entertaining ways but also as they work together.

Our family loves to kayak down the Rio Grande. It is fantastic wholesome recreation that is sandwiched in between work, play, work. It takes a lot of teamwork to get the kayaks to the river and out of the river. Many of our activities that get us off the couch out from behind the electronics and outdoors take planning, labor and time. It is always worth the effort to see the smiles, growth and love that evolves through good wholesome planned recreation.

That does not mean that all wholesome recreation has to be time consuming and labor intensive. “We live in a world full of opportunities to engage in wholesome family recreation, if we know where to look for them,” (pg 233). Whether you are home, close to home or far away good wholesome recreation that is planned and carried out with love brings family closer together. Our family loves a good football game, playing at the park and community events. Good wholesome recreation creates communication, skill development, memories, traditions and quality time together.