Faith in Family Life

Faith in Family Life

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith (and) prayer.”

I like the words “established and maintained” in the above quote. If you would like to have a successful marriage and family, and currently don’t feel you have are in this position, you can “establish” such a marriage and family by living principles of faith and prayer. Also, you may have a successful marriage and family, however, according to the Lord the way to maintain success is on principles of faith and prayer.

“In Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith defined faith not only as belief but as “principle of action in all intelligent beings” (1835/1985,p. 6) He further emphasized in the fourth article of faith that the first principle of the gospel is “faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World, “faith (as a principle of action and power) leads the list of nine foundational principles upon which  “successful marriages and families are established and maintained.” (Hawkins, 2012, p.185 Successful Marriages and Families)

Here are a couple of perspectives where faith is strength to marriage and family:

“There’s an old (African) adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Our congregation is the (village) that we have chosen to focus our energies on… When we work with people, it helps us to keep our own struggles in a better perspective and they don’t become a burden, just a part of life…(Also). I personally believe that people are at their happiest when they’re serving others…Service in the Church…is based on doing things for other people, (going) outside yourself. – William, Latter-day Saint father of six (Marks, 2002) (Hawkins, 2012, p.186 Successful Marriages and Families)

“We have disagreements (in our marriage), we have things we don’t see the same sometimes, and faith is a source of help. We can pray about things together and the Lord can help us work things out. Sometimes one person has to give in and accept the other person’s point of view (and) it helps to be able to pray about things. The Lord, He’s the best counselor you could ever have. (Dollahite & Marks, 2009, p.381)

It may be hard to prove faith is a tool to strength families and marriages. It is one of those things you have to try for yourself. I had the opportunity to use my faith to have assistance while I was a single mom and I felt guided everyday by the Lord. I was striving to follow Him and using the Atonement to change and be better. As I chose to believe, I felt a peace in my heart that extended to all branches of my life. Even now my faith keeps me focused on the eternities and what matters most.

Life is hard…and we need help to be happy in life. Having faith in Christ and in His plan will bring strength, peace and happiness to your life. Faith in Christ will nurture your marriage and your relationship with your children.

Joseph, a non-denominational Christian father said this about faith,

“There’s something that…when as a family your hearts are pointed together toward the same thing, and it’s God, then parenting and economics and space and food and disagreements and hassles and joys and celebrations and all that other stuff…it works different, it seems different, it feels different…Our family is all oriented in the same way. Christ is King, He’s the center, He’s what it’s all about….Our faith informs our relationships and everything about us.” (Marks, 2003, p10)