Faith in Family Life

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith [and] prayer.

In Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith defined faith not only as belief but as the principle of action in all intelligent beings.

The fourth article of Faith reads: We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; Second, Repentance; Third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of their sins; Fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If you would like to read the other articles of faith, please visit this link: http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/articles-of-faith

One thing that I really enjoyed about this chapter was that it shared quotes from not only members of the church, but from members of other religions. It goes to show, that many people are grateful for the families that we have been blessed with.

Dimension One: Religious Community and Family

"When we work with people, it helps us to keep our own struggles in a better perspective and they don't become a burden, just a part if life... [Also], I personally believe that people are at their happiest when they're serving others... Service in the Church... is based on doing things for other people, [going] outside yourself." - William, Latter-day Saint father of six.

Dimension Two: Religious Practices and Family

" Praying together as a family and reading the scriptures... together is probably the best [thing we do to pull us toward Heavenly Father and each other]. ... It feels right. It feels good... I'm grateful to... be able to do that. If my family that I grew up with ever would have done that... It would have been a fond memory that I would have held, but we never did. [ Our family now] should pray more, but when we kneel together and hold hands as a family, it brings the Spirit in [ to our home] and makes the children feel right... and [ teaches them] that this is what they need to do with their families- and I'm sure they'll remember it. It's special." - Shauna, Latter-day Saint mother.

Dimension Three: Religious Beliefs and Family

" There's something that... when as a family your hearts are pointed together toward the same thing, and it's God, then parenting and economics and space and food and disagreements and hassles and joys and celebrations and all that other stuff... it works different, it seems different, it feels different... Our family is all oriented in the same way. Christ is king, He's the center, He's what it's all about... Our faith informs our relationships and everything about us." - Joseph, non- denominational Christian Father.

I am extremely grateful for the family that I been blessed with. I couldn't imagine life without each and every one of them.