Family is a Strength:

In the culture that I grew up in family meant: mom, dad and children, but it also meant that aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins etc. also had a place at the table. The extended family was a hidden strength that we have, a blessing. When marrying my husband I kept this in mind, because I truly believe that when you get married you're not just marrying an individual, you're marrying an entire family. So meeting his family was a huge deal in deciding if I was ready to marry this particular family. I'm grateful for the way my husband was raised and the similarities in family beliefs that we share. When meeting his family, they were also in the mindset that they were meeting a future daughter, sister or aunt.

Marriage between a man and a woman is super important, establishing a relationship between a husband and wife without the rest of the family is essential. I know that my husband comes first and I know that I come first to him, but I also know that we have the extra strength of my parents and siblings as well as his parents and siblings. I know that our children will have the strength of a huge loving family who will take care of them, not just mom and dad, but they'll have others who want nothing but the best for them.

The Family is Ordained of God:

"Fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." (The Family: A Proclamation to the world) We all have a responsibility in the family, Heavenly Father loves us so much that He sent us here in a team. Every team has different positions, these positions each have their own unique responsibility. No position is better than the others, we all need to be able to perform to the best of our abilities. 

Fathers are to preside over their families, Heavenly Father blessed us with the priesthood and through the father all of the family is able to partake of this wonderful blessing. Mothers are to nurture their children, Heavenly Father created all of us differently and unique. We are all equal in the site of God, but being equal doesn't mean being the same in responsibilities. Mothers were blessed with a love that is very unique, this helps them to give their family the love and nurture that they need. 

Today everyone seems to be trying to be the same, we're forgetting that we've always been equal, but equality doesn't mean same. We are all equal in the Lord's eyes, but we all have our role to play. We are different, man and woman, husband and wife. It's only together that we can accomplish what He wants us to. What an amazing concept!