Our Divine Inheritance
Before we came to this earth, in our pre-mortal existence, God organized us into family units with fathers, mothers and children according to our choice and agency. Additionally, we were each given certain roles, stewardships, and special work or missions to fulfill on this earth. Our family and children were and are our "heritage of the Lord", they are our divine inheritance from God and the source of our greatest joy in this life and throughout eternity. There is nothing of greater worth or importance than our family relationships. They are meant to last forever, and are necessary in our quest for immortality and eternal life to become like God.
Families designed by God are the perfect organizations to provide all that is needed for each member to grow and progress successfully. Husbands and wives are given the solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and their children. Creating a loving environment and strong relationships is critical to the success of families and individuals. As parents model positive spousal relationships, they teach their children how to develop strong marriages. As they love and care for their children, they model good parenting that will influence the way their children will parent and raise their own families.
God also gave parents the sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness by teaching them the gospel and to observe and keep the commandments of God; to walk in light and truth and to model righteousness for them, like Jesus Christ did for all of us. They are to teach their children kindness and civility; to love and serve God and their neighbors. Parents should model and teach self-discipline, to be respectful, law-abiding citizens wherever they live.
Along with providing for children's spiritual and emotional needs, parents are also responsible to provide for the physical needs of their children. All children need food, shelter, care, affection, and education to grow and develop properly. They need to be taught to care for their bodies, and be given the opportunity to educate their minds so they can live a productive and fulfilling life and contribute to society, enabling them to fulfill their missions on this earth. As we care for and educate our children, they will be seen as an asset, rather than a drain on our society. Children are our most important investment and resource, since we depend on them to sustain humanity and lead us into the future. It is through our influence in the lives of our children that we have the greatest power to affect the world long after we die.
When we choose to live God's commandments and plan, a duplication cycle is created that continues through generations and perpetuates success for our children and our society. Strong families beget strong families, which are the foundation of our society, our nation and the world. Choosing to become a parent is a big responsibility requiring great sacrifice. But if we understand the blessings, growth and refinement we experience through parenthood, and the precious inheritance that our children are to us and our society, we will embrace the roles of mother and father. Creating children and families on earth is the perfect practice for us to eventually become creators and heavenly parents ourselves.
Because God's work and plan depends on a perpetuation of divinely designed families, we are required to create families to become like God, for that is the work of God; giving life to His offspring and teaching and training them to become as He is. The family is central to the Creator's plan for the destiny of His children. This is why husbands and wives - mothers and fathers - will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. May we be willing to help God accomplish His great work for and within each of us!