Search This Blog

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Philosophy of "babies raise stress, reduce happiness" false

What is the impact of children on a relationship?  Today's USA Today report on 25 separate studies done over the past two years.  We read, "'Kids do lower marital satisfaction and there's not much we seem to be able to do to prevent it,' says Brian Doss, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. . . . Ninety percent of the 218 couples in an eight-year study Doss co-authored experienced a decline in satisfaction, he says" ("Years of research point to strain kids put on relationships"). 

No, one can't blame USA Today for reporting on the results of this survey; however, the "results", if one may call them such, are scholarly, but nevertheless false and foolish.  We must, in this situation, rely on the words of the Prophets, both ancient and modern.

Adam and Eve teaching their children, by Del Parson
What does our glorious Mother Eve have to say about children and the blessing they are?  Saith she, "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed [children], and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient" (Moses 5:11).  Indeed, the Psalmist saith well that "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalms 127:3).  Was not Mary amply rewarded in being the mother of the One Perfect Child?  Indeed she was.  All those who think children are a burden must talk to Eve when they get to Spirit Prison and behold their error!

The Mormon Eagle need only cite the words of the venerable Prophets and Apostles of our day.  It is written, "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. . . . 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" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World").

Men and women are free to choose to believe what they will, but I, Clark LeRay Herlin, know that marriage is God's creation, and that children are truly "an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3).  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

No comments: