What's Most Important?

In today’s world, we have more options than ever before! No matter our background, we can shape our futures into anything we want them to be. As a woman, I can major in anything I want to in college, pursue any career that I want, and even have a family at the same time. My husband and I can choose to have no children or 10. We can travel the world or decide to establish roots in one place. There are so many choices!

President David O. McKay, the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once declared that “no other success can compensate for failure in the home” (McKay, 1935). This causes me to believe that the decisions I make in my life should be centered on family; the things that I do should promote the welfare of my family.

I know that in today’s world, families are not all that important. Birth rates are declining, the average age for marriage is rising, and divorce rates are astounding. Self-interest is at the heart of these trends. Everything today seems to be about ME, “#1”. What’s best for ME? What can I do to feel good about myself?

I know that the things I write about could make some people upset, even offend them. Don’t we all deserve to be happy? Well, of course we do! But the frantic pursuit of self is causing a lot of harm to the fundamental unit of society: The Family. Fathers are abandoning their children; mothers are choosing careers over their children; husbands and wives are seeking fulfillment outside of their marriage vows; children are being born into less-than ideal homes.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states: “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (para. 1). The family unit is essential to God’s plan for His children, but most people today don’t seem to realize or care about this.

I want people to understand that marriage is beautiful and sacred. I want husbands and wives to understand that they need to serve each other in order to be happy in their relationship. I want men and women to understand that having sex outside of marriage is extremely dangerous, with extremely serious consequences. I want mothers and fathers to understand that their children are not just their own- they are children of Heavenly Father and should be treated as so.

I know that there is a God and that He loves us. I know that He has a son, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died so that each of us could return to Heavenly Father again. I know that the plan which God has designed for us is the only way to true and lasting happiness.