The Family

Wow. I cannot say enough good things about Eve and the bravery and strength it took to do what she did. In most Christian faiths, it is believed that what she did was a serious sin and damned humanity. Our faith is one of the few that saw this as something that was necessary for our eternal progression. Just think, if Eve had not partaken of the fruit, literally none of us would be here. She had the choice to stay in the Garden forever, as an immortal, with Adam, but never have kids. She chose the latter. She did not want to remain in a state of equilibrium and never experience what joy and true love felt like. Of course, she knew that you would have to experience pain and sadness to feel and appreciate the good, but she was willing to face that. And Adam, he didn't have to take the fruit with Eve, but because God gave them a commandment to multiply and replenish the earth, he knew this was something he had to do, and he was willing to follow Eve. Heavenly Father gave them basicall...

President Spencer W. Kimball said, "While marriage is difficult, and discordant and frustrated marriages are common, yet real, lasting happiness is possible, and marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person." I love how real he makes marriage out to be. Marriage isn't always this perfect relationship where you never argue with your spouse, get frustrated with them, and feel happy ALL THE TIME. This is part of any normal relationship. But how you react to those hard times will tell how happy and healthy a relationship you have. Each person is capable of having a relationship like this, if we work hard at it. Marriage is work, and if it means that much to us, we should be willing and ready to do what it takes to make it something worthwhile. Couples have obligations to one another. A man and a woman each of their role in the eternities. This does NOT mean that men should be the only one wo...

In the book, Successful Marriages and Families, it is stated that "the importance of moral choices in the plan of happiness cannot be overstated. Moral agency is central to our progression." I love this because it specifically points out the importance of agency and how it is something that the Lord will never take away from us. It is the ONLY thing that belongs to US. Social scientists don't say a lot regarding this agency because it is something divine that is within us. Developmental theorists have believed for a long time that "certain behavioral tendencies were put in place by key environmental events that occur during sensitive periods of individual development. Personally, I see this as being true. When I was in 6th grade, there were a lot of trials my family was forced to deal with all at once, and I believe that a lot of the behavior and self-preservation tendencies I have now are a result of that time period where everything in my life was changing. Middle...