Consequences of the Decline in Family

  Hey, y'all thanks for tuning in to my blog I'm new at this so bear with me! Today I wanted to write about some of the trends we see happening in families, why they are happening, and why they are so important. Over the course of the last several years, we have seen a lot of people shying away from getting married and having kids. There are many reasons why this trend could be happening. First off let's be real the world is kind of a crazy place to be in right now and it's scary to think about raising a family. It's also not a cheap endeavor to have children and a lot of the time people get caught in the cycle of thinking that they will start a family after they have a set career or they have a house and a more stable lifestyle. Another reason people might not want to get married is out of fear of commitment or it's easier to just live together and get married later on. Whatever it may be the decrease in family and these relationships is becoming evident in society.

  I know that no family is perfect but family plays a vital role in who we are and who we can become as a person. I served a volunteer mission for my church and during my time in Arkansas I was able to go into a lot of different people's homes and I was able to see a lot of different families and family situations. I had the opportunity to very closely get to know a family whose parents were not married but they had kids and had been together for about 12 years. They were very nice people but they had a lot of issues and it wasn't a very stable situation for their kids. When a man and a woman get married they form a union with one another that they will support and love one another. It's a commitment that unites them to each other creating a more stable environment to raise a family. This specific family didn't have any stability because the kids never knew what to except their dad was constantly in and out of the picture and it created a very unsure and rocky foundation. According to the video, "The Family and Sustainable Development" it states, "research shows that men women, and children do better when it comes to health, wealth and education when they are part of a strong stable family." Having a strong stable family certainly helps everyone involved feel more stable and secure making it easier for them to thrive. 
    I have seen a diagram describing the relationship between a couple and with God as a triangle. When a husband and wife are working towards each other and also together working on building their relationship with God they will form a more solid and stable relationship. A triangle is the strongest shape in nature and because of its structural integrity, it is a firm foundation that can't be broken. I love this because even though it can seem scary and can seem like there are more cons than pros to getting married, it is a very special relationship that if done right can bring happiness and greater purpose to life. 
    Being able to provide children with a stable home is such a need in the world. I often reflect on my childhood and I couldn't be more grateful for my parents and the life that they worked hard for me to have. I honestly feel bad for those who are not as fortunate to have a stable family with loving parents. In the proclamation to the family, it says, "We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and its importance in God's eternal plan." Being part of a strong family is God's plan and is the way He intended it to be and as we strive to accomplish this goal we will be blessed and we will be able to feel the utmost joy.