Family Commitment Lesson 2


In a conference address in 1980 President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us.”

This counsel was from almost 40 years ago and yet we can see its relevance in the world we live in today. Truly the need for strong, connected and solid family structure is an asset and necessity to help us through and “preserve…families.” Three ways we can do this is by preserving the structure of the family unit, obeying the law of chastity and honoring covenants made with the Lord.
President Kimball also said in his talk, “society without basic family life is without foundation and will disintegrate into nothingness.” The family is the basic unit for society and as families denigrate through divorce or other means then we see the breakdown of neighborhoods, cultures and societies. When we see the divorce, numbers continue to rise other problems arise as well. I come from a broken family and can see the difficulties that we have faced as individuals and as a family because of the divorces that were a part of our family.
Another way to help preserve the family unit is to strictly observe the law of chastity. As parents are can help our kids to understand that, “total chastity before marriage and total fidelity after are still the standard from which there can be no deviation without sin, misery, and unhappiness.” In our society today when most forms of sexual purity and are deemed as casual and of little importance, we must stand firm and united. Chastity has become a old fashioned, past-time while pornography and premarital sexual relations have become commonplace and can destroy families relationships is spreading like a wildfire throughout the world.
Lastly honoring covenants, we have made with the Lord can solidify a firm foundation for families. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “In these divine agreements, God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments.” As children see us honoring and obeying the commandments and covenants, we have made we will be an example to them. As we do this our communities will be blessed, and we can be a standard of truth to those who wavier.
In my own family I have seen how being committed to building families, obedience and honoring covenants have made a difference. In my own marriage and the marriages, I was able to observe growing up it has helped me to see the importance of making and keeping covenants.
As President Kimball said in his talk, “the commandment and standards of morality set by the Lord himself are under attack on every hand.” This is more prevalent in families than anywhere else. It will take extra care and caution for parents to help guide their children and solidify families with correct principles taught in the gospel.





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