Successful Marriages and Families

"Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." -The Family: A Proclamation to the World Mothers as Nurturers Jenet J. Erickson Why is there even a question about the importance of motherhood? In the sixties, Betty Friedan wrote a book, The Feminine Mystique , in which she questioned the value of a woman's life when she devoted herself to motherhood. She suggested that motherhood caused women to be "dangerously vulnerable to exploitation." And, she offered the idea that motherhood offered women a "half-life." The very things that set motherhood apart as noble and divine were the very things Friedan attacked, such as as selflessness, sacrifice, and devotion to family because those things do not lead to power and success for women. What do the prophets have to say about motherhood? The First Presidency: "Motherhood is near to divinity." Elder Robert D. Hales: "Motherhood is th...

"Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness." The Family: A Proclamation to the World Parenting with Love, Limits, and Latitude Craig H. Hart, Lloyd D. Newell, and Julie H. Haupt What is the right way to teach my children? Joseph Smith: "I teach the people correct principles, and they govern themselves." President Ezra T. Benson: ". . . he expects us to work out most of the details and methods. . . usually developed through study and prayer and by living so that we can obtain and follow the promptings of the Spirit." Joseph F. Smith: ". . . the character of our lives in the spirit world has much to do with our disposition, desires and mentality here in mortal life." Brigham Young: "Parents should never drive their children, but lead them along, giving them knowledge as their minds are prepared to receive it." How can I help my children develop? Crucial elements to promote o...

"Marriage . . . is ordained of God. . . . God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. . . . Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan." The Family: A Proclamation to the World The ABCs of Successful Romantic Relationship Development Thomas B. Holman, Frank Poulsen, and others How can I prepare for a successful marriage? pre-A. Preparing for success President Thomas S. Monson: "Decisions determine destiny." Before entering a relationship, prepare yourself by coming to terms with your past, especially your family background. "While therapy, good books, and good role models outside the family are helpful, ultimately, the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially the plan of salvation and the Atonement, are the more powerful agents of change (Packer, 2004)" (Holman, Poulsen, & others). It's also import...

"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." -The Family: A Proclamation to the World How can husband and wife "help one another as equal partners"? A couple council is an excellent way for partners to communicate their needs and wants. Together the couple can set goals, discuss roles and responsibilities, and discuss how they can help one another. A good family council can follow the pattern the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles uses for their own councils, as described by Elder M. Russell Ballard (2012): *Set aside a specific day and time for the meeting. *Create an agenda for the meeting and prayerfully review it the night...

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other." -The Family: A Proclamation to the World Foundational Processes for an Enduring, Healthy Marriage Stephen F. Duncan and Sara S. McCarty Zasukha How can I have a happy marriage? 1. Personal commitment to the marriage covenant          *Intentional personal dedication.           -Blaine Fowers (2000): one way to have a good marriage is to be a good person           -Elder Robert D. Hales (1996): "An eternal bond doesn't just happen as a result of sealing covenants we make in the temple. How we conduct ourselves in this life will determine what we will be in all the eternities to come. To receive the blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father has given to us, we have to keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families will want to live with us in the eternities."   ...