January 18th Marriage Trends and Divorce

Being that I was born in 1980, and I grew up in a small middle class town in Southern California, I would say that I was most definitely part of a community where 87% of moderately-educated mothers had children within the bonds of marriage. All of my friends’ parents were married except one that I can remember. However now, 20 years out of high school the majority of my friends practiced cohabitation before marriage.

The central idea of Amato’s article on divorce that stuck out to me personally was the fact that children who come from divorced families have a harder time in multiple facets of life. While the world tries to convey that divorce is better for families in crisis and makes it a normality, they look the other way at the hardships the children face. Whether it be economic, emotional, intellectual, or physical. Amato states “Research clearly demonstrates that children growing up with two continuously married parents are less likely than other children to experience a wide range of cognitive, emotional and social problems, not only during childhood, but also in adulthood.” (p. 15)

To ensure the preservation of my family in the midst of gathering evil I strive to be a “present” parent. Being active and observant in their everyday life. My husband and I also try our best to be good examples, to be open with our children in our concerns and thoughts and try to share our ideas with them. We work hard to have the spirit preside in our home, have daily family prayer and we are now trying to incorporate the new church curriculum in our home as well.

If a person asked me about the Church’s position on divorce I would say that we try to uphold the bonds or marriage with great solemnity. We believe that marriage is ordained of God and is the natural state. However not all marriages work out, and to that all that can be done should be done to save the marriage before seeking divorce. We should also “realize that marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection.” (Elder Oaks)