Friday, May 25, 2007

FHE - Family Home Economics

Since Becky and I have made the decision to have her at home with the boys, this article caught my eye. It gives some reasons I never would have thought of to argue that a one-income family is actually better off than a two-income family.

People can argue about this all they want. I think that, individual exceptions aside, it all comes down to following the Prophet and the council contained in the Proclamation on the Family. The benefits and reasons in this article are only temporal manifestations of an underlying divine truth. The underlying truth is that God has made us with a specific optimal familial outcome in mind. Deviating from it through no fault of our own may be inevitable, but so are the consequences. Yes, bad things do happen to good people. But we don't need to invite problems into our family when we have a choice in the matter.

Of course having a one-income family is not all that God suggests we do, far from it! It's only one paragraph in the Proclamation on the Family. It is one paragraph that impacts many others though. It is a key factor in how we organize our time, and in what or who will teach our children. Where do we want them to learn what is right and what is wrong? Where do we want them to learn about what is sacred, and what deserves our respect? Would we rather have Britney Spears, Madonna, Bill Clinton, and the kid down the street teach them about sex, or Mom, Dad, the Ensign and the Holy Ghost?

Tough call, huh?

Thanks, Becky for all you do, and for laboring selflessly for our family by raising our boys.

1 comment:

Becky said...

That was an interesting article. I'm insulted by women who degrade the awesome roll of motherhood. They demean women by saying we have to be like a man to have worth and equality with men. Women have traditionally been the "gentler sex", though thre are sometimes negative connotations with that lable, as a Christian, this is what I would want to live up to. Christ was gentle, loving, and always taught of peace. That is spiritual peace that we gain by living like him and trying our best to emulate his great example of charity. Where better to start on that eternal trail to divinity than by serving our families and giving them all we can. We are a selfish me centered people. "What do I need? How can I get that? I don't get enough praise and pats on the back" The list of me-isms goes on and on. The individual is important and very important to Christ, but we do need to learn selflessness in this life and what a better class than motherhood and fatherhood. Well, Isaac just tripped on something and needs a hug, so I better go. Yes, I'm honored to be that giver of hugs.