The Book of Mormon on Family Relationships

~by Heather L.

Some of you may be wondering what the Book of Mormon is all about.

Besides being the ancient historical record of multiple families who were led by God out of Jerusalem, for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon is considered the word of God along with the Bible. It was preserved for our day to teach us the things we need to do to return home to God’s presence with our families. It is filled with experiences, counsel, warnings, promises all meant to help us here and now.

Here is an experience I had recently where the Book of Mormon’s teachings blessed my life and my family:

“All hands on deck!” my husband called.

“6:38am? Really?”

I lay in my bed angry, frustrated, fuming over my husband’s “way too early on a Saturday morning” call to paint the deck. Yes, I murmured against my husband. Big time.

“6:38 AM!”

My daughter came to the bedroom door, and I knew I had to get up. I knew I needed to get on board with the “take good care of our home” idea, but that didn’t stop the murmuring. All the way downstairs. It was my husband’s vision – he should paint it, and let me sleep!

I shut myself in the bathroom, and began to discuss it with the Lord.

“6:38am? Really?!!!”

That was when the reminder came, in a quiet whisper: “Remember Sariah!” I had to smile.

Sariah is a woman who, in the Book of Mormon, murmured against her “visionary” husband, too. As I opened the Book of Mormon to read her experience, I couldn’t help likening her complaint unto my own.

Talking to her husband, Lehi about the vision he had received for their family, she said, “Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.” (1 Nephi 5:2)

I couldn’t help but giggle as I changed it to read: “Behold thou hast led us forth from the beds of our sleepiness!”

In her worry, Sariah had forgotten an earlier faith-filled exchange between her husband Lehi and her youngest son, Nephi:

“And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.
“Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.
”And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Nephi 3:5-7)

I had forgotten the Lord’s promise that “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.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

It was only after the trial of Sariah’s faith – her willingness to follow her husband’s vision — that she recognized God’s blessings to her and her family. Only then could she say with unwavering faith:

“Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.” (1 Nephi 5:8)

It was only after I stopped murmuring, and trusted in the Lord, changing my attitude toward the whole deck painting, of course, that I was able to see the wonderful fruits of obedience to God’s commandments.

Because I changed my attitude, the other members of the family were more willing to help. We spent the next few hours painting, and laughing, and having fun together. I even learned that my husband’s favorite pizza is actually sausage – never knew that before! We learned more about our son’s mission experiences – a sweet opportunity we may not have as much time to share in the future.

And we have a beautifully painted deck!

Sariah’s son, Nephi explained that his brothers murmured because they didn’t understand God’s dealings with His children. Before my “change of heart” experience that morning, I don’t think I totally understood either God’s reasoning either. Little did I know that that 6:38 am awakening would become a treasured memory of a wonderful time with my family.

God knew it, though!