In the religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe hat sexual relationship should occur in marriage. We along with other religions believe that sexuality serves several purposes.
1. Becoming one. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said "Human intimacy is.... a symbol of total union: union of their hearts, their hopes, their lives, their love, their family, their future, their everything."
2. Connection with God. Sexual intimacy is a symbolic union between humanity and deity.
3. Strengthening Bonds. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that "intimacy between husband and wife is designed to protect and strengthen emotional bonds, which will influence marital satisfaction." p. 50
4. Procreation. In the Latter-day Saint religion we believe that in the plan of salvation people must be born into a physical body to help them progress to eternity. President Spencer W. Kimball says " We know of no directive from the Lord that proper sexual experience between husbands and wives need be limited totally to the procreation of children."
Bearing of Children
Many people have an idea that society only wants them to have a certain number of children or that we can't afford children. When my husband and I were first married we decided that we each had 3 children in our families growing up and that worked out for us as kids. We felt we should stop at 3 children. However, Heavenly Father had a different plan. I was sitting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saint temple and I was told that we needed to have our 4th child. About a year later we had our 4th child and I couldn't imagine our lives without him.
Neil L. Andersen says "When to have a child and how many children to have are private decisions to be made between a husband and wife and the Lord. These are sacred decisions—decisions that should be made with sincere prayer and acted on with great faith."
Parenting:Love and Limits
We have all heard that every child is different. It is very true. Even reared in the same home with the same rules each child will turn out differently. It is our job as parents to guide and direct them the best that we can. I have been enjoying reading Parenting with Love and Logic by, Cline and Fay. This book has useful information on how to prepare your children for responsibility and maturity for their survival. It is important as parents that we rear our children in love and righteousness.Doctrine & Covenants 121:39-46 suggests this is done by charity, gentleness, kindness, long-suffering, persuasion and appropriate discipline in a warm and nurturing relationship.
I love the scriptural metaphor of a good shepherd and the importance of his rod. It reminds us that he guides his sheep by gathering the lambs in his arms, carrying them in his bosom, and leading them along. The shepherd's rod is never used for beating the sheep. The rod viewed as a protection. President Brigham Young stated "parents should govern their children by faith rather than by the rod, leading them kindly by good example into all truth and holiness."
I could go on for hours about the proper way to parent and still never touch all of it. I am not a perfect parent but it is important that I am striving.I think that of we follow these guidelines, pray, and do our best we can be good parents. Do you have any suggestions to make parenting easier?
Next week we will talk about the role of a father and mother.
