In the beginning God created family

My wife and I recently went down to Homer to enjoy the family cabin near Peterson Bay. The cabin sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The sunsets are breathtaking. I could write a whole article on the interactions we had with otters, sea lions, bears, eagles, and fish. Or I could write about the beautiful rock formations that you can only explore kayaking. I could write about my sons catching their first fishes, or how we could finally let our dog run free—chasing birds like they were important. It was relaxing. But what made this trip so special was that we shared it together. We had fun. It felt good seeing my children having a good time.

Families promote so much that is vital. They can provide caring environments to grow in when we are young. They can provide support as we make close friends, go on dates, and grow into young adults. Marriage protects the intimate and fulfilling relationships that inevitably follow as our lives mature.

In the beginning, God created Adam. He was the first human. He was alone. God said, “it is not good for man to be alone,” and then did something very special. He pulled from Adam a rib bone and formed a woman.

It has been said that Eve was God’s crowning creation. But I believe this was not the last of God’s creations--he had something more in mind. Eve was bone of Adam’s bone. She was a piece of his life. Adam would never be whole without her by his side. God certainly went out of his way to make the point. Removing Adam’s rib was a symbol — Adam needed Eve. Only together would Adam and Eve fulfill the potential which he had given them.

In Genesis 3:16, God said to Eve, “I will greatly multiply thy conception...thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband.” God also called Eve Adam’s wife. My point is, God brought Adam and Eve together as husband and wife. He explained their potential to have children. He showed them it was not good to be alone. God’s final creation was to create a marriage—to create a family.

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Sept. 1995).

Gordon B. Hinckley, a prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke of his family relationships with reverence. He shared these reflections on the passing of his wife six months previously. “My children and I were at her bedside as she slipped peacefully into eternity. As I held her hand and saw mortal life drain from her fingers, I confess I was overcome. Before I married her, she had been the girl of my dreams, to use the words of a song then popular. She was my dear companion for more than two-thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord, really my superior. And now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams.

Hinckley continues, “When all is said and done there is no association richer than the companionship of husband and wife, and nothing more portentous for good or evil than the unending consequences of marriage….

“If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness….“…We can live together in the God-given pattern of marriage in accomplishing that of which we are capable if we will exercise discipline of self and refrain from trying to discipline our companion” (The Women in Our Lives, Ensign, Nov. 2004).

Covid-19 has locked up so many of us in our homes. It has stressed families financially and socially. It has given us an excellent opportunity to evaluate the strength of our relationships. As many of us take this extra time to work on home remodeling projects, we should also take this opportunity to build a stronger family.

In the week I took to be with my family in Homer, I could have spent time working on my porch. But I will watch the video of my sons caching their first fish for years to come. I will remember how my wife and I shared the beautiful sunsets and walks along the beach. I certainly will not forget the bears that surprised all of us near the outhouse. I will be grateful for the time I had to become more familiar with my kids’ and wife’s quirks, and they to mine.

So, fix what is broken inside your home: forgive each other and focus your own faults — not your companion’s. Express your kindness and concern; have some fun; ask God for help you might need. God created the family because he knew it would help us find joy. It has been this way from the beginning.

James Jimenez was born in and raised in Alaska. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission in the Philippines. He attended BYU and UAA, earning a degree in Medical Laboratory Science. He is married, has three boys, and currently works at Mat-Su Regional Laboratory.