In our day and time, just as in biblical times of war, we need to be more aware of the enemy and understand his intent.
“. . .understanding of the intent of the enemy is a key prerequisite to effective preparation. We likewise should consider the intent of our enemy in this latter-day war” (Bednar).
Heavenly Father’s plan is to bring us understanding, happiness, security, spiritual safety, and eternal progression. He has given us clarification of the importance of marriage between a man and a woman and how to achieve family happiness and satisfaction in The Family: A Proclamation to the World (First Presidency). But this most important doctrine to the family has been attacked from all angles. Joseph Smith said, “The devil has no body, and herein is his punishment. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man…All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not.” (Smith) Because Satan does not have a body and can therefore not marry, his intentions are to make us confused, uncertain, unhappy, and “miserable like unto himself” (2 Ne. 2:27). He desires to take marriage, family, and society down. What better way to do this than to target the core values of marriage and family?
As we look at the world today it’s easy to see Satan is having success in confusing and antagonizing those in society who would prefer not to see marriage or family through the eyes of a God who created us, knows us, loves us, and desires that we return to Him. 2 Nephi 15:20 describes what is happening in our society today, “Wo unto them that call evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” It has become imperative that we understand the intent of our enemy and fortify and protect our marriages and families.
We can begin to strengthen and fortify our families as we implement the triangle that Elder Bednar describes:
“The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. Please notice how the Savior is positioned at the apex of this triangle, with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now consider what happens in the relationship between the man and the woman as they individually and steadily “come unto Christ” and strive to be “perfected in Him” (Moroni 10:32). Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and woman come closer together” (Bednar -Covenant Marriage Relationship Bednar 2006).
If couples begin by strengthening themselves individually and as a couple, they then create a covenant marriage versus a contractual marriage. This becomes even more important as we understand the enemy’s intent to destroy marriage and family. According to Bruce C. Hafen:
“When troubles come, the parties to a contractual marriage seek happiness by walking away. They marry to obtain benefits and will stay only as long as they’re receiving what they bargained for. But when troubles come to a covenant marriage, the husband and wife work them through. They marry to give and to grow, bound by covenants to each other, to the community, and to God. Contract companions each give 50 percent; covenant companions each give 100 percent” (Hafen, 255-65).
Understanding and applying the doctrine in The Family: A Proclamation to the World (First Presidency), committing to our part of the triangle, and working to create a covenant marriage, can all help fortify us against the enemy’s intentional lies, distortions, and misrepresentations of marriage and family.
Works Cited:
Bednar, https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/2006/06/marriage-is-essential-to-his-eternal- plan?lang=eng
Hafen, B. C. & Hafen, M. K. The Belonging Heart (1994), 255–65; Pitirim Sorokin, Society, Culture and Personality, 2nd ed. (1962), 99–107.
Smith, J 12 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-17?lang=eng (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102.
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