Family By Divine Design:: Wonderful Wednesdays: What's in a Name, Part 1

02 October 2013

Wonderful Wednesdays: What's in a Name, Part 1

Before my youngest was born, I had an experience that I shared in this post which inspired some personal mantras and things that I wanted to highlight on this blog. The title of the blog, "Family By Divine Design: The Foundation of a Great Work," comes from two scriptures. The first part, comes from The Family: A Proclamation to the World. While this document is not part of our books of scripture (Bible, Book of Mormon, etc.), it is absolutely regarded as scripture by those of the LDS faith because it came from the mouth of God through prophets and apostles on earth. Here is the portion which inspired the first phrase:

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. 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." (emphasis added)

I emphasized the words that stood out powerfully to me as I reflected on my own personal experience with family, both the one I grew up in and the one I'm currently raising. I testify that the family as defined is this document is central to God's plan for His children. When our (meaning members of the LDS church) perspective is properly understood, I don't think people could view LDS people as bigoted or hateful when we say that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. When it's clearly understood that our beliefs are based on what God wants for us, and that to support anything different would be in direct defiance of God, then it should be understood that our well publicized stance opposing 'gay marriage' is not out of hate, but out of obedience to and support for God's plan. God desires our happiness, and through revelation both old and new has taught us how this can be achieved in a lasting way here and now in our mortal lives, and throughout eternity.

The second part of my blog title, "The Foundation of a Great Work," I'll address in another post and I'll come back and link it here.

1 comment:

Caranna02 October, 2013 10:32
I am so thankful for the proclamation on the family. I remember when it came out. Before the proclamation I had every intention of growing up to be a teacher, like my mother. It wasn't until after 1995 that I decided I wanted to be a Mom who stayed home with her kids.
It is so wonderful that we have living prophets that give us guidance and direction in our day.
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David's Bio

I grew up in southeastern Idaho moving at age one from the center of our town to the outskirts. This home had approximately ten acres and much of my youth was spent outdoors both playing and working with my grandparents on their farms. I enjoyed sports throughout my life and was active in wrestling and football throughout junior high and high school. My junior and senior years at high school a sweet young girl even convinced me to join the ballroom dance team. I graduated from high school and attended BYU where I earned my Bachelors degree in Biology in April 2007. Having been raised in the gospel it has always been an influence in my life.

Rachael's Bio

I lived in south central Idaho on a two-acre property in a three-story home until the fourth grade. We moved to Idaho's capitol where we lived until I was in eighth grade when we moved to south eastern Idaho. This move affected my life greatly. It helped me to gain and solidify my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as helped me decide how accurately I was going to live the gospel. This is also where I met David who was to become my best friend and husband. After graduating from high school in 2001 I attended BYU for four and a half years and graduated with a B.A. in Modern Dance, shortly before giving birth to our first child. Through all of my experiences my faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ and my dedication to living His gospel with integrity has increased. My greatest desire is that I will be able to help my children live and love the gospel.

Our Love Story

Rachael and David met first in their ward after Rachael moved in at the age of fourteen. Rachael's family had just moved across town to a home more suited to their needs than the original duplex. Both of their families were active in the church and Rachael and David both served in leadership positions of their respective YM/YW groups. With that constant exposure to each other was added the fact that they went to the same high school and were in the same graduating class. They found each other to be attractive and dated each other quite a bit near the end of their senior year and the summer afterward. After his freshman year at BYU David went on a mission to Russia - Rachael wrote him about every month and a half, just as an "interested" friend. Rachael was at home working for the summer when David returned from his mission and immediately felt that she wanted to date him again, so she asked him to go see the Phantom of the Opera in Salt lake City; thereafter followed about six months of courtship before they were married in Logan, Utah. Now they're both "the luckiest."