Family and Marriage Trends within Society

This week I have had the opportunity to study in my mind and study in my numerous classes something that is very special and something that I take seriously. The family. When you think of family. There are so many things that go through my mind. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful family of great support and love. Some people and children are less fortunate then me. We see in the growing society that the family unit is simply disappearing. People are falling away from the traditional ways of marriage. WHY is this? And what are the effects?

Let me just address the normal trends of today's society that have taken a hit on the family unit. More people are choosing to live alone or to not date. Maybe it is simply easier for them not to think about even getting married. Another trend that we see is that people are choosing to get married later in their lives. The average age for men to get married is 28 and the average for women is around 26. Now this leads to another trend of waiting or delaying to have children. Leaving this to also having smaller family units. Of course I really do believe this is between husband and wife to decide of having a small family or a big one. I also do recognize that there are many people who struggle to have children.

The biggest trend that is happening in the world today and is a norm for society is Co-habitation. Cohabitation is two couples living together without being married. Its crazy to think that not even 20 or 30 years ago this would of been a big no NO. And now today people think you are crazy if you get married to someone with out so called test driving the process. I believe this is one of the major ways that Satan has attacked the family unit and has twisted the roles of how important it is to have marriage in your life. And now Cohabitation is being taught to children that it is ok and it is normal. The media is the biggest promoter of this. Its important to know what you stand for and to teach your children that marriage is an important factor in having a healthy family life.

Something that Spencer W. Kimball said about the family has really opened to my eyes of the seriousness of the problem we have today. He says “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.”

  - Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Nov. 1980, 4.

The way that he words this at the end gives me chills to know that the family is really endangered and it will get worse. How important it is then to have a steady marriage. Now a another tough topic to bring up is Divorce. Divorce is hard and its painful and it has effect so many people and children. I like to think of Marriage as a contract. When you get married it is a contract you make between you and your husband. When you usually break a contract you either have to pay money or have to have some kind of consequence. You cant just walk away from breaking a leasing contract. You still have to pay some kind of money up front. A good point was made from someone that Now days marriage can be the only contract that you can walk away from. Its so sad. sometimes its a must and every situation is different. But Marriage shouldn't be a contract that is so easily broken. Elder Oaks said the following " A good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection." 

I love this!!! Marriage cant be perfect. but you can both help each other get there one day. I know Marriage is essential in bringing children into this world in an environment where they best deserve. A mother and a father to help them and guide them. 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/05/divorce?lang=eng You can read Elder Oaks thoughts on Divorce.