An Equal Partnership

"Fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners". ~ The Family: A Proclamation to the World

To the world, the sate of being equal means being the same; having the same privileges and access to opportunities in relation to freedom, education, career and other rights. However, equality does not mean sameness. I liken the meaning of equality to the balance of power between the United States' three branches. They each have their own separate role and duty in the protection and guiding of the country but they also must work together in order for the best decision to be made for the people. Husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, both have their own divine role to play in Heavenly Father's eternal plan. The husband is not domineering over his family nor is the wife submissive, they are interdependent with each other. Spouses are supposed to be 'equally yoked' together so that they are supporting each other, not one taking all the burden and responsibility. "There is not a president and vice president in the family." ~ Elder L. Tom Perry (Successful Marriages and Families, 4-41)

"Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: Men and women, though spiritually equal, are entrusted with different but equally significant roles. … Men are given stewardship over the sacred ordinances of the priesthood. To women, God gives stewardship over bestowing and nurturing mortal life, including providing physical bodies for God’s spirit children and guiding those children toward a knowledge of gospel truths. These stewardships, equally sacred and important, do not involve any false ideas about domination or subordination."

Love is not Passion

Having the personal and moral standard of being chaste is certainly not unique to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, as this video shows. Though the world has said that sexual relations and experimentation's are acceptable and even healthy most religions still believe in being chaste before and after marriage. For example, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Chastity is sexual purity and means not having sexual relations of any kind before marriage and honoring ones husband or wife with complete fidelity after marriage. The Adversary wants many to believe that this gift is a carnal hunger that is uncontrollable and a pleasure not meant to be restrained. It is this reason which keeps many people who haven't kept to chastity to fail to understand how anyone could stay faithful to just one person for the rest of their lives and into eternity. The Lord knows that when two people, who have adhered to the law of chastity, come together in matrimony it is something special and shared only between those two, creating a strong bond.

 "Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love within marriage."

Love is expressed through our emotions, beliefs and behaviors. Love isn't based on physical attraction to another person. If is it then it is doomed to die out as someone more attractive appears or one side gets bored. When love comes from mutual influence such as spending time getting to know one another, comforting each other and respect then that love is true and will be much longer lasting. 

"True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. Too often expediency, infatuation, stimulation, persuasion or lust are mistaken for love. How hollow, how empty if our love is no deeper than the arousal of momentary feeling or the expression in words of what is no more lasting than the time it takes to speak them." (Successful Marriages and Families, 2-20)

Independence and the Extended Single-Life

"Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God [and] is essential to His eternal plan." The Family: A Proclamation to the World

In order to start a family a man and a woman must come together under the bonds of matrimony. Once married the two start living together (not beforehand), supporting each other and learning how to manage all the financials of life as partners. These struggles of figuring out how to accomplish their goals in education, career and other financial situations can cause stress in a relationship but they also are what bond a married couple closer together. They each learn together and rely on each others strengths becoming unified as a couple as they overcome obstacles.

However, this is not the way the world has come to think is best for marriages to be successful. In order to avoid the possibilities of financial ruin or the stresses of learning to manage those situations together and ending up divorced from it many people believe that one must become financially independent and settled in a stable career before considering getting married. This idea can be portrayed as "getting ahead before getting wed" (Successful Marriages and Families, 1).

In addition to this idea the trend of cohabitation has risen drastically among many modern relationships. Cohabitation is used as a way to test out the couples compatibility in living together and see if they are ready to marry. In my opinion if you are already willing to be in the same living space as the person you are in a relationship with then that shows you wish to make a larger commitment to them. However, people who feel this is a good way to test their relationship and to decrease the possibility of divorce are absolutely wrong. Studies have shown that those who cohabit before marriage are more likely to divorce than those who do not. Though the research also says there are some advantages to these disadvantages it also states that there are also NO disadvantages for couples who follow the standard of living together only after marriage.

Here is a link to an article on putting off marriage:Delaying Marriage: The Trends and The Consequences

An Introduction to The Family Proclamation

"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was given by President Gordon B. Hinckley in at General Conference in 1995. The Proclamation states many precious truths and doctrine about the family unit and it's place in Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness for all His children. Though this was only pronounced 20 years ago, the precious doctrines and truths contained there in have now all encountered opposition from the world.
Confusion, doubt and moral relativity have now taken hold of many in the world when previously there had been such clarity and understanding about the importance of families and relationships. The divine definition of marriage being between a man and woman and a life goal has come under question and seen as 'narrow minded' and not at the top of the priority list in comparison to having a successful career. The values of chastity and fidelity before and after marriage, once a virtue, are now seen as 'old fashioned' and restricting of natural pleasures of life. The roles of parents and the desire to have children have greatly diminished in importance and are now seen as expensive, time consuming and a burden.
The Proclamation came out when it did in order for future generations to have a clear understanding of God's purpose for placing us in family units before these changes even became apparent. In response to a journalist asking about the Church's firm and clear stance on the meaning of marriage and family while others were so confused Kendel Christensen, a BYU student and advocate for the importance of families, referenced the Family Proclamation. When the journalist saw the date of the Proclamation she was surprised it came out long before there was any debate about these issues. Christensen replied,

"the Church's position on marriage and family wasn't a 'response' to any specific political policy, but an established doctrine"(Successful Marriages and Families, 29-315).

Heavenly Father didn't wish any of His children to be confused about their innate divine heritage and purpose. "From the beginning, God organized the human family and revealed that marriage and family relationships are intended to be eternal" (Successful Marriages and Families, 32). In a world of constantly shifting values and where morals are relative, the truths in the Proclamation hold firm and provide the straight clear path needed to create and keep a strong eternal family centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Its application and relevance are not only for those members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but for the entire world. People of all faiths, nations and tongues can learn, gain understanding and be warned and guided through the principles and doctrines contained in the Proclamation.  This blog will recount many of the truths contained in the Proclamation, how they are being opposed in the world and how we can apply them to our lives.