The Family's Mission: A Call to Discernment

How often do we pause, truly pause, to consider the bedrock purpose of our families? Not the aspirations, not the fleeting joys, but the enduring mission assigned by God? The busyness of raising children, pursuing careers, and navigating the complexities of modern life can easily obscure that clarity, leaving us adrift, reacting rather than acting with divine purpose. Bonnie Landry, in her recent podcast episode, “family, become what you are,” offered a stark reminder of this pervasive condition and a compelling call to return to foundational principles. She rightly points to Pope John Paul II's Familiaris Consortio, a document often overlooked yet profoundly relevant to Latter-day Saint families.

Landry’s emphasis on the need to know “how to do it,” to understand the “guidelines” for fulfilling our family mission, resonated deeply. It’s not enough to *want* a strong, righteous family; we must actively seek the knowledge and direction to build one. This isn't merely a matter of personal effort; it's a covenant responsibility. As President Russell M. Nelson has repeatedly emphasized, covenant keepers thrive. How can we keep covenants effectively if we don’t understand their purpose and how they apply to the very structure of our homes?

The Lord’s instruction to the Brother of Jared provides a powerful analogy. He desired light, but the Lord didn't simply grant it. He commanded him to prepare—to “seek out the mysteries of God” (Moses 6:34). Similarly, our families don't magically become what they are meant to be; we must actively seek that understanding, diligently preparing the way through scripture study, prayer, and obedience to the covenants we’ve made.

Consider the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). While all professed to be ready, only the wise, those with oil in their lamps, were prepared to meet the Bridegroom. What is the “oil” for our families? It is the unwavering commitment to seeking and acting upon divine guidance, the daily effort to align our actions with God's will, and the diligent preparation of our hearts and homes to receive the blessings of the Restoration.

The Restoration itself provides the framework for this preparation. The temple, the priesthood, the doctrine and covenants—these are not mere institutions or principles; they are tools, instruments of power to build a Zion-like family, a place of safety and righteousness. D&C 56:17-18 instructs us to “expound all these things unto your families.” Are we truly expounding these things, or merely going through the motions?

It requires humility to acknowledge our failings, to recognize that we cannot navigate this journey alone. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord’s gentle rebuke (Luke 10:41-42), serves as a perpetual reminder to prioritize the things that truly matter—the things that endure. We must be wary of the distractions that pull us away from our divine mission, the false idols of worldly pursuits that promise fulfillment but ultimately leave us empty.

The Brethren have consistently called us to prioritize family scripture study, family prayer, and family home evenings. These aren’t suggestions; they are vital components of a covenant-centered home. Let us resolve, individually and as families, to seek greater clarity in our mission, to diligently pursue the “guidelines” provided by the Lord, and to become, truly, what we are meant to be.

May we all strive to emulate the example of those faithful families throughout scripture who sought the Lord’s guidance and diligently kept His commandments.