Family: ordained of God

(part 1 of a 2 part series)

This past week I was visiting with a friend about the role of families in God's plan and in our particular lives.  My friend mentioned, almost apologetically--actually, not almost, actually apologetically--that she relied on her "church family" to help her because her own family is not a supportive bunch at all.

I was surprised that she felt apologetic about that.  It's true, her family is not supportive and even though she tries to reach out to them, if she were dealing with life with just them, she'd have a very lonely, difficult life.  My own extended (and now immediate) family is, in stark contrast, incredibly wonderful and willing to help. However, most of my life they have been (and are) far, far away. So when it came down to living life, it was church family that helped us (me) out.  [few exceptions from the wonderful times when we did live near family and the great years in Utah when I lived near family]

And this is how it should be, I believe. I've always felt that it was such a wonderful, beautiful, right thing that we had support wherever we went from church members with a wide variety of things. There is a reason we call each other brother and sister.  Over the past year and a half, I have gained an even deeper, stronger testimony that God fully intends for the organization of the church to support us when family is not available (for whatever reason).  From the big and obvious to the most intimate details (priesthood blessings, caring for physical needs when we're unable to, etc.)  I'm so grateful that I have familial support wherever I am.

As I told another friend (who also has very little family support), God intended us to be in families. Absolutely intended. And, while it is not an equal substitute, His church is organized to help insure that we have much of the blessings that come from family even when the ideal doesn't exist for whatever reason.