In the bible we read, “Let not corrupt communication proceed from your mouth.” Corrupt communication meaning degrading comments, gossip, anything that hurts, shames, humiliates, or causes pain. This can be a problem in families, because sometimes the people that are closest to us seem to be the ones that we hurt the most. So how do we overcome this? In the bible we also find the answer to this question. Someone asked Christ what the greatest commandment was. He said to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, strength, and mind. This is the first step we need to take in avoiding corrupt communication. If we love Him we will have a greater desire to love others, because we will be filled with His love. Christ then says that the second greatest commandment is similar. We are to love others as we love ourselves. Of course this isn’t always easy. We’re not perfect, but how can we be better about loving others? President Eyring once said, "If you ponder the scriptures and begin to do what you covenanted with God to do, I can promise you that you will feel more love for God and more of His love for you." As we begin to reflect on the scriptures, and our covenants of who we are, we will have a greater desire to love and avoid “corrupt communication.” 

In the family unit it is unavoidable to have challenges, trials, or a family crisis. Each of our families at one point or another will be faced with a crisis. How we choose to respond to those moments can change the relationships we have within our family. It can strengthen them, or it can diminish them, but we make the decision of how it affects us and our family. For example, I was about 13 years old when my parents told me we were moving to the opposite end of the United States. I was upset, sad, mad, and I didn't want to go. To me at the time, even though I was only 13, it was a crisis. I would lose my friends, and I didn't know how to be the new kid and make new friends. We moved, and for some time it was miserable and it was a challenge for the rest of my siblings too. However, my parents were positive, understanding, and supportive during this time. With time, it turned this "crisis" into a great experience that has helped me learn, grow, and become more independent. As Elder F. Enzio Busche said, "Embrace this day with enthusiastic hope, no matter how it looks." If we apply this to our lives, with our families, and we embrace any day with hope through any challenge or crisis we will be able to reap the benefits and blessings from it and our family relationships will strengthen in this challenge.

            This past week we discussed the topic of marriage and sexual intimacy. It’s interesting to know that intimacy can be affected by whether or not the couple is civilly married or not. There seems to be more satisfaction in a couple who is married than a couple is cohabiting within their intimacy.

            Something that has been key I’ve been thinking about a lot this week is the family relations in how we teach our children.  Parents have a divine responsibility from God to care and provide for their children. In the famiy proclamation it states “Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.” Parents have this responsibility in their family to teach their children. This applies to teaching our children about sexual intimacy and when and when it isn’t appropriate. We live in a world where it isn’t a subject we can avoid teaching our children about our bodies and the precious gift it is. Gordon B. Hinckley even addressed a statement to parents to “Teach their children the sanctity of sex, that the gift of creating life is sacred”

            Family relations are very crucial. Family when built upon the teachings of Jesus Christ truly brings great joy into our lives. Family truly does matter. Children need the divine guidance of their parents, to teach, guide and direct their lives to help them become as their Heavenly Father sees them in becoming.