I will be honest I love talking about families because that is what I hold dear to my heart. I love my family like no man could imagine. I love studying and learning more about how to strengthen families because one day I am going to have my own and need to know how I can strengthen it from the beginning. Again after going through conference talks and different things running through my head and seeing different people raise their families here is my suggestions:
LOVE IS SPELT T-I-M-E FAMILY PRAYER
SCRIPTURE STUDY
FAMILY HOME EVENING
FAMILY DINNER AROUND TABLE (talk about your day, find out how you can help your kids or wife here)
PICTURE OF TEMPLE AND THE SAVIOR IN EVERY ROOM
ONLY APPROPRIATE MEDIA IN THE HOME
HAVE HUNG UP-THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
HOME BUILT UPON THE GOSPEL AND THE SAVIOR
HOME SHOULD BE BUILT UPON LOVE, LAUGHTER, JOY, HOPE, FAITH, TRUST, GRATITUDE, PATIENCE, SERVICE, FUN, GOOD MEMORIES, ETC..
EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE FAMILY CENTERED
EVERYONE IS EQUAL IN THE HOME (no one is more important than the other)
FAMILY IS MOST IMPORTANT
IDEA OF ETERNAL FAMILY
BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT (when a family provides for themselves they grow but are much happier)
NEED TO BE UNIFIED
AVOID DEBT
"CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME" ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD
HOME IS A PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH
MEMBER MISSIONARIES
TEACH CHILDREN TO DO CHORES AND WORK
MOTHER AT HOME WHILE CHILDREN ARE BEING RAISED IF POSSIBLE
GOD HAS ENTRUSTED HIS CHILDREN TO YOU, TAKE CARE OF THEM
BEING AN EXAMPLE TO THE FAMILY AND THOSE AROUND YOU
These are again in inexperience persons view. These are just ideas that may help situations in the home. I truly from my mission know that these will help if you implement them but the most important part is living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said of this, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (3 Nephi 13:33) He promises that if week seek righteousness then all things will be added unto us. What better promise can we get. We need to be the example because if we don't live the Gospel then how should we expect our children to live it?
Family is number one above work, above sleep, and most importantly above friends. Sorry but that is how I believe it should be.
One of the biggest questions of the church is the Doctrine of the Family. I will be honest, this is my favorite. I love talking about families. Many think of family such as being just friends. That is so very true. The biggest picture is we are all sons and daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. He is truly our Father. I love talking to Heavenly Father about everything. He knows everything so there is no point trying to hide anything right. His love is remarkable. The Apostles declare in behalf of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS about the ordination of families. It states so clearly, The Family: A Proclamation to the World "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. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally. The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan. Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. 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. We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
President Henry B. Eyring proclaims,
“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
“We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan."
We would also see that the commandment to be chaste, to employ the powers of procreation only as husband and wife, is not limiting but, rather, expanding and exalting. Children are the inheritance of the Lord to us in this life and also in eternity. Eternal life is not only to have forever our descendants from this life. It is also to have eternal increase. This is the description of what awaits those of us married as husband and wife in the temple by a servant of God with authority to offer us the sacred sealing ordinances. Here are the words of the Lord:
“It shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting” (D&C 132:19–20).
“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Ps. 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God, and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
We cannot control what others choose to do, and so we cannot force our children to heaven, but we can determine what we will do. And we can decide that we will do all we can to bring down the powers of heaven into that family we want so much to have forever.
A key for us is in the proclamation: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The family unit is fundamental not only to society and to the Church but also to our hope for eternal life. We begin to practice in the family, the smaller unit, what will spread to the Church and to the society in which we live in this world, which will then be what we practice in families bound together forever by covenants and by faithfulness. We can start now to “promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family.” I pray that we will. I pray that you will ask, “Father, how can I prepare?” Tell him how much you want what he desires to give you. You will receive impressions, and if you act on them, I promise you the help of the powers of heaven.
I testify that our Heavenly Father lives, that we lived with him as spirits, and that we would be lonely living anywhere but with him in the world to come. I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that by suffering for the sins of all of us he made possible the changes in you and me that can give us eternal life. I testify that the Holy Ghost can fill us with hope and with perfect love. And I testify that the sealing power restored to Joseph Smith and now held by President Gordon B. Hinckley can bind us in families and give us eternal life, if we do all that we can do in faith."
(End Quote)
Families are eternal. That is a portion of our unique message to the world. We believe that families can be sealed together for time and all eternity only in the Temple or House of the Lord. The priesthood ministers this sacred ordinance.
The families today have shrunk. Many people are stopping at 1, 2 or 3 children. I imagine if we truly understood the doctrine here we would be doing everything possible to get all of these children here on earth. At times it may be difficult with children but just think of how much they truly mean to you. Honestly without the joys of parenthood what would you have?
“President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents.”
I love my family and I know we will be together forever as long as we do our best in this life. I am so excited for the day that I will have a family of my own. Kids running around being kids, my future wife keeping me in line. That is family. No matter how hard the storm is hitting or how bad Satan is attacking the family we have one thing to keep us together. That is LOVE! I know this is God's plan. They way I know this is by the Spirit of the Lord. I exhort all to ask God if the family is eternal and He will answer.
Hello! I am so excited to talk about God's plan for us. I felt impresses to write this because many time on my mission this concern comes up. They always want answers so let hear the answers from the prophets. Not being married I admit I do not understand all but I sure do understand lots after seeing different marriages and helping people in their marriages.
What Is the Lord’s View of Marriage, Family, and Home?
Mark 10:6-8
“From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh.”
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. … Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, October 1998, 24).
What Simple Things Can Build Strong Family Relationships?
Mosiah 4:15: “Ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.”
The First Presidency: “We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, 11 February 1999; see Liahona, December 1999, 1).
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “A good marriage requires time. It requires effort. You have to work at it. You have to cultivate it. You have to forgive and forget. You have to be absolutely loyal” (“Life’s Obligations,” Liahona, May 1999, 4).
“I know of no single practice that will have a more salutary effect upon your lives than the practice of kneeling together as you begin and close each day. Somehow the little storms that seem to afflict every marriage are dissipated when, kneeling before the Lord, you thank him for one another, … then together invoke his blessings upon your lives” (“‘Except the Lord Build the House … ,’” Ensign, June 1971, 72).
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”
“Marriage between man and woman is essential to [God’s] 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.”1
President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught: “The Church lays great stress on the sanctity of the home and teaches that children are a blessing from the Lord. There is no principle on which the Latter-day Saints lay greater emphasis than the sacredness of the marriage covenant.”Because we know that family relationships can endure eternally, we understand the importance of marrying a righteous person in the right place and creating a home into which God can send His spirit children to be raised in righteousness.
The Sacred Marriage Covenant
From my own experiences of looking at families I see one common thing in strong homes and one common thing in weak homes. We will start out with the good. Strong homes and marriages are built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Meaning we are trying to be like our Savior and do the things He would have us do. When we strengthen our relationship with our spouse we should also strengthen the relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is like a triangle with God and the top and the couple at each of the bottom corners. As we strengthen our relationship with God we also strengthen relationship with our spouse.By family daily prayer and scripture study we are drawing closer together. Life in marriage will not always be easy but when things are worked out life will be better. Not always will our homes be in perfect shape because there is still gonna be some contention and opposition because we are human. No one is perfect.
The thing I see in weak homes include not wanting to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Others include not having individual and family scripture study and prayer. For a Heavenly home we need to focus on Heavenly things. Reading scriptures and praying to our Heavenly Father is Heavenly things. We have been counseled by our prophet to do the above.
I know that as we follow the counsel of our prophet our marriages and homes will be strengthened. God will help with it. I know that if you want a truly Heavenly relationship. We need to heed to the counsel from God's servants. As it says in Amos 3:7-Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. I hope this is accurate. I hope maybe if nothing else the counsel from prophets helps somebody out.
Take Care and I look forward to posting again.
For a free copy of "Family: Proclamation to the World" go to mormon.org and request a missionary visit. They have copies to give if someone would like one.
Reared by a Father and a Mother
Church leaders have consistently affirmed that children are better off when born and reared in a family with both a mother and a father. The First Presidency made the following statement: “When a man and woman conceive a child out of wedlock, every effort should be made to encourage them to marry. When the probability of a successful marriage is unlikely due to age or other circumstances, unwed parents should be counseled to place the child for adoption through LDS Family Services to ensure that the baby will be sealed to temple-worthy parents.”
Research by family scholars supports the Church’s position. A recent publication compares children of single or cohabiting parents with children of married parents. While single parents often succeed in rearing well-adjusted, responsible children, the report concludes that, taken as a whole, children who live with married parents are less likely to divorce or become unwed parents themselves, are less likely to experience poverty, tend to have higher grades, are more likely to attend college, and experience lower rates of unemployment. On average, children of married parents also experience better physical and mental health, have lower rates of substance abuse, experience less child abuse, and are less likely to commit suicide or engage in criminal behavior.A strong, loving marriage is often the best gift parents can give children.
Marriage between Man and Woman
Because of pressures on government to permit marriages between two men or two women, in July 2004 the Church released a statement in support of defining marriage as the lawful union of a man and a woman. This definition is far more than a question of civil rights. Protecting marriage is a matter of deep commitment to an institution established by God our Father. This commitment shapes the moral climate in which mothers and fathers rear their children.
If governments were to alter the moral climate by legitimizing same-sex marriages, gender confusion would increase, particularly among children, and this would further blur the line between good and evil (see Isa. 5:20). Marriage is between man and woman ONLY! That is exactly how God created so why change it?
Love at Home
Marriage is indeed essential to God’s plan, but marriage alone is not the solution to all the problems families might encounter. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “Deliberate decisions must be made in order to achieve that desirable condition, ‘love at home,’ such as budgeting enough time at home to, among other things, express love to children by adding to their storehouse of happy memories. Singing that song is not enough; it must be matched by wise scheduling to benefit the family, which is often victimized by our busyness.”
Other deliberate decisions husbands and wives can make include being faithful; overcoming personal weakness, including the tendency to criticize; and serving each other so that love deepens over time—ensuring that “love at home” is not just a trite phrase but a reality that each family can achieve.
One of the biggest questions of the church is the Doctrine of the Family. I will be honest, this is my favorite. I love talking about families. Many think of family such as being just friends. That is so very true. The biggest picture is we are all sons and daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. He is truly our Father. I love talking to Heavenly Father about everything. He knows everything so there is no point trying to hide anything right. His love is remarkable. 
President Henry B. Eyring proclaims,