Chapter 1: Family-- A Plan of Salvation - of Happiness

Resource:  Introduction to Successful Marriages and Families, Hawkins, Dollahite, Draper


Chapter #1:   Happiness?  God has a Plan--It's Family 

"The family is ordained of God. ...marriage between a man and a woman is essential to His eternal plan.. the divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave."   --The Family:  A Proclamation to the World

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, 

“Marriage is more than your love for each other.

In your love, you see only your two selves in the world, 

but in marriage, you are a link in the chain of the generations, 

which God causes to come and to pass away to his glory, 

and calls into his kingdom. 

In your love, you see only the heaven of your own happiness, 

but in marriage, you are placed at a post of responsibility 

towards the world and mankind. 

Your love is your own private possession, 

but marriage is more than something personal

—it is a status, an office. 

Just as it is the crown, and not merely the will to rule, 

that makes the king, so it is marriage, 

and not merely your love for each other, 

that joins you together in the sight of God and man.

So love comes from you, but marriage from above, from God.”

The family is the original cell of social life.  It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love.  Family life is an initiation into life in society.-- Catecism of the Catholic Church, 2000

2 Nephi 2:25 (We were created to have joy)    

Alma 12:24; 34:32; 42:4; Abraham 3:25–26 (This life is a time to be tested and prepare to meet God)  Purpose of Life and Self Worth 

3 Nephi 12:3–12 (The Savior names several godlike attributes)

3 Nephi 12:48 (Heavenly Father wants us to become perfect as He is)

D&C 138:53–56 (We are here to help build God’s kingdom) 

Marriage Saves Tax $$$ 

The public costs--costs to American taxpayers--of marital family non-formation (non-marital child-rearing) and break-ups in the US totals $112 billion each year from taxpayers, $42 billion in state and local tax dollars and $70 billion in federal tax dollars.  (Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and the Institute of American Values.)