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Friday, November 18, 2011

Broken homes, children, and the family

The second annual "Index of Family Belonging and Rejection" was released Thursday 17 November 2011 by the Family Research Council's Marriage and Religion Research Institute (MARRI).  The group which released the study says that family structure influences all aspects of a child's future.  Patrick Fagan, who is the director of MARRI, reports that only 45.8% of kids at age 17 are in intact married families.  The report shows Minnesota's percentage of 57%, along with Utah's 56.5%, being the two strongest States in the nation for percentage of intact married families.  Washington D.C. ranked lowest, at only 18.6%.*

If only the world hearkened more to the voice of the modern Prophets and Apostles the Lord has placed upon the earth.  The above findings are telling as to the dismal state of things.  Think-tanks like MARRI wonder how they can protect the future of the children of the United States of America, and The Mormon Eagle answers: hearken unto the word of the Lord as given by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all the world's problems would be solved.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states,  

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.  Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.  Extended families should lend support when needed.

I know the family is ordained of God, and that its nurture is ever so important if our future generations are to succeed.  I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true Church, and if man would heed her doctrine, all ills would be wasted away.  I know this is true.  I pray that America will wake up to their awful situation and turn herself around.  If the people of this nation ask God for help in rearing families correctly and wisely, He will answer.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

*For a full review, please see "Broken homes harm the futures of children", Deseret News, Friday 18 November 2011, A1, A7.

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