Blessings of Family

Marriage is ordained of God. I know I’ve mentioned that before, but what a powerful phrase that is! To me, marriage is one of the strongest forms of love and commitment that can be experienced between two individuals. It’s a place of safety, love, and unity. In marriage, we can become so much more than we are capable of becoming on our own. There is power in it. It is in a sense, Godlike. But, in order for it to be Godlike, I believe it must be done the way God intended it to be. Since the beginning of time man and woman, male and female, were created to be together. Look at the world around us. It’s the way of nature! We wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for man and woman being joined together in love.

Many wonderful blessings come from the gift of marriage but to me one of the greatest gifts is family. Nothing is more beautiful than when man and woman can together create a family of their own, brining children into the world. But man and woman are crucial for this to happen. Russell M Nelson, an LDS apostle, said, “Male and female are created for what they can do and become, together. It takes a man and a woman to bring a child into the world. Mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Men and women are distinct and complementary. Children deserve a chance to grow up with both a mom and a dad.” Growing up in a home with both a mother and father has been a key part of me being who I am today. I have developed certain skills and characteristics from each of my parents that I know I wouldn’t have been able to learn from the other. Like Nelson said, children deserve to be raised like this. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for the influence of both of my parents.

In a Conference held at BYU, Religious Freedom Annual Review, Alexander Dushku talks about the importance of having a voice. He said that if we just sit around, don’t stand up for what we believe in, and give up, then the supreme courts decision on gay marriage will become a disaster of religious liberties. But, if we make sacrifices, stand strong, and have a voice, although it may be difficult at times, “both culture and the law will give respect and the freedom deserved to those that believe in traditional marriage.” That is why I have an opinion. That is why I am raising my voice. Traditional marriage needs to be fought for! There will be no change if there is no voice. Let us all stand up for righteousness despite the difficulties that may come!