"Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:11
In the proclamation, we are taught that gender is important and that male and females have distinct and specific roles in the family, however, it also teaches that men and women were created to complement one another. Men and woman get married, and are expected to progress and grow together. Part of the growth that takes place begins when they start a family and make parenting decisions together. They can also progress and grow as they learn to lean upon each other, and in discussing how problems, goals, and choices will be made in their lives. Although the man is to preside over the home, he should also take into account his wife’s thoughts and feelings since she has been created to complement his strengths and weaknesses. Elder Bednar counseled “The man and the woman contribute differently, but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and bless each other.”
The proclamation also states that “by divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” Righteous presiding, in my opinion, would include counseling with a spouse as well as with Heavenly Father before decisions are made. Men are also asked to love , and if presiding is done without including their wife , hurt feelings and frustrations may arise. The proclamation also states that “husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.” To me, this means that parenting should be a team effort. Together they are to provide care and love to their children that can come through setting and enforcing rules and boundaries, as well as through caring for and loving the children together. Elder Bednar shared “Just as the unique characteristics of both males and females contribute to the completeness of a marriage relationship, so those same characteristics are vital to the rearing, nurturing, and teaching of children.”
Each sex has been given gifts that are unique to them. For example, when I think about my husband and I, our relationship works so well because of our differences. He's more quiet and thinks before he says things, and I'm less quiet and don't always think before I talk. I am a nurturer, and he nurtures, but also has a black and white perspective on things that helps to give me direction. As we are raising our children, I often think how grateful I am that we have different strengths. There literally are times when I am so stumped on how to address an issue in the home, and when I explain it to my husband, he comes up with a perfect solution immediately. Sometimes it makes me crazy because I wonder why I was unable to think of it, but I recognize that this is the Lord's design. He created males and females in such a way that they can be a strong team. The lord has given us guidance through the proclamation in order to outline our family life, our marriages and to help us set up our homes in harmony with his teachings and purposes.
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