Mormon Family Life
Mormons consider families to be one of most loving gifts God has given us. The home is the central unit of society and of God’s kingdom and the church works hard to promote positive family values.
The ideal family consists of a mother, a father, and children. Of course, not every family has the ideal, but church members are taught to work for that ideal. Marriage is always between a man and a woman and no other type of marriage is recognized by the church. Married couples are also encouraged to give children a place in their home, through birth, adoption, or foster care.
Mormon families are very traditional. When possible, the husband is expected to provide for the family financially and the wife cares for the home and the children. The husband presides over the home, which does not mean he rules, only that he presides in righteousness. In this role, he sets the spiritual tone of the home through his own example. He and his wife work together as equal partners to run the home. Because each adult has his or her own sphere of responsibility and expertise, there is reduced contention. Each person is considered the resident expert over the part of the family he is in charge of.
Although Mormons do, of course, attend church, the home is considered the primary place people learn about the gospel. Parents are responsible for teaching their children about God and Jesus, and helping them develop good spiritual habits. The auxiliaries found at church for children, teens, and adults are meant to help the family, not to replace it.
Mormons have developed many traditions and programs to help with this commitment. Each Monday night they stay home without visitors for Family Home Evening. In this family-only meeting, they have a song, a prayer, a lesson on a principle the family wants to work on in the home, refreshments, and games or activities. This allows parents to both formally teach the gospel in the home and to build eternal family bonds. Each person takes turns carrying out the various tasks involved in the meeting-giving voice to the prayer, teaching the lesson, leading the music, and planning activities, which allows even small children to learn how to lead a meeting, conduct music or develop skills they will use in their adult church life.
Families also have family and couple prayers each day, and daily scripture study in the home. They make their religion an integrated part of their daily life, rather than an isolated Sunday morning tradition.
God started the world with a family, and He sent His own Son to a family on earth. He considers families to be central to His plan. In fact, Mormons learn that one magnificent gift God has given them is the ability to have their families with them forever. After all, if Heaven is where you will be happier than you could possibly imagine, won’t you need your family in order to make that possible? Most people in loving homes are never entirely happy without their family gathered around them.