Family Stress

This week in class we talked about the family being under stress. Every family has stress, it's just a fact of life. But that stress can either break a family or make it stronger. Today I want to share some tings we can do so when stress happens, we can become stronger as a family.

The first one is to have a good relationship with each other. Family bonds can be the thing that keeps a family together. A big stressor in the family can be arguments, which happens all the time. There is not a single family out there that does not fight with each other. When you have a strong relationship with your family though it makes you want to work out your problems. The things people do that annoy you won't seem so big anymore. When people fight, often times they say things they don’t mean. I was listening to a speech one time and the speaker mentioned that for every negative you tell someone you should have 5 positive things to say as well. I think this rule would work great in the family and help arguments not last so long.

Another thing is to center your family around the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” it states “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” I love this!! I have seen it work many times before. From 2017-2019 I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fort Collins Colorado. While there I had the opportunity to witness the blessings the gospel has on families. One example I can think if, is with the Jones family. This family was going through a lot of stress and was looking for guidance in their life. As me and my companion worked with this family, we encouraged them to have daily family scripture study. As they did the family became stronger and closer together. I think the best thing a family can do is hold family scripture study. President Russell M. Nelson said in his October 2017 General Conference talk titled "The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?" “When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls. My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.” The Book of Mormon brings power and protection to our families.

Stress in a family is inevitable. It's going to happen weather we want it to or not, but if we are prepared and have the mindset of wanting to work through it, we can become stronger because of it. Every family structure is different and every family deals with stress differently, but I know that it doesn’t have to break a family apart. It can strengthen the family and make them closer than ever.