PROVO, UTAH
Each presenter applied a unique treatment to the multi-faceted issue of how families can be strengthened during the Brigham Young University Conference on Family Life held March 27 at the BYU Conference Center in Provo.
An excerpt from Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 constituted the conference's theme: "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
Elder Gordon T. Watts, a former member of the Seventy, provided the keynote address, titled "Learning from prophets in troubled times."
"Interesting, isn't it, that you can turn on the news almost any night, and all we hear is 'The world's in turmoil, it's awful, things are bad,'?" Elder Watts said. "If we listen to the prophets and know what we know, it should not affect us."
The body of his presentation developed a comparison between making glass and gaining exaltation. According to Elder Watts, eight ingredients are required to produce glass.
"Making glass is a specific science," he said. "The right ingredients have to be mixed in the right amounts. If they're not, then we have all those materials wasted because they were not mixed properly and introduced in the right manner."
He listed eight spiritual characteristics or habits that Church members ought to strive to develop: a love of, faith in and a testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ; following the prophets; studying scriptures and praying; maintaining a temple recommend and attending the temple regularly; serving and attending Sunday meetings; living the law of tithing; living providently; and being grateful and of good cheer.
Elder Watts said: "Although these eight ingredients may not be all of the ingredients that are necessary for us to go back to live with our Heavenly Father if, in fact, we take what we've talked about today and apply it to our lives, and learn and have faith in Him, then you will turn out to be like a beautiful piece of glass that the Lord will be very happy with."
At several different points in his talk, Elder Watts strongly emphasized the critical nature of financial prudence and restraint.
"We are carrying a message of self-reliance throughout the Church," he said. "Self-reliance cannot be obtained when there is serious debt hanging over our household. One has neither independence nor freedom from bondage when he is obligated to others."
The Lord uses trials to strengthen and perfect His people, Elder Watts said.
"We can't escape what's coming," he said. "It's impossible to do so. Some of us will be affected, and if we are, it is a process the Lord is using to mold us. He is the potter; we are the clay in the potter's hands. He is doing His very best to make of us what He wants so that we can return to Him and live with Him in the wonderful Celestial Kingdom."
Strengthening marriage
BYU Professor of Family Life Alan J. Hawkins rendered remarks titled "Politics of marriage: public efforts to strengthen marriage," during which he warned attendees to be prepared for the fallout that will accompany efforts to stave off the legalization of same-gender marriage.
"Stay involved in this issue," said Brother Hawkins. "Be willing to bear the cost, because it's going to come with a cost. We are going to make enemies because of our support for this issue."
He also spent considerable time advocating the position that government intervention should be directed at ensuring more marriages succeed.
Brother Hawkins said: "We know from research that a strong institution of marriage supports the psychological and physical health, emotional well being, and actually the financial well being of children and adults.
"Marriage remains more than a private relationship in our society. It's not just a private choice; it's still a primary institution that supports the well being of children, adults, our communities and our whole society.
"Because [marriage] is so central to the well being of our society, government does have a legitimate interest in it. Of course, there are devils in the details. How do they express that interest? What can they do that might be effective?"
He endorsed educational, non-therapeutic support services such as premarital counseling as a means for the government to strengthen the institution of marriage. Another argument posed by Brother Hawkins is that the fight to strengthen marriage dovetails into a crusade against societal inequality.
"Achieving a healthy, stable marriage is an increasing source of inequality in our society," he said. "What we see is the poor in our society seem to have less and less access to a healthy, strong marriage. Their marriage rates are lower, and their divorce rates are higher. It now seems we have another source of inequality, that those who have higher education seem to be able to find the way into marriage and be able to sustain it."
Other presenters at the conference included Ronald E. Bartholomew, "Preparing early will bring peace to our lives;" James M. Harper, "Flourishing families;" Dean E. Barley, "The science of happiness: what science says about how to increase life satisfaction;" Stephen F. Duncan, "Real Families, Real Answers: using infotainment to strengthen our family;" Jenet Irene Jacob, "Strengthening motherhood: a new view of the profound meaning in the mundane;" JeaNette G. Smith, "Preparing youth for appropriate dating;" and E. Jeffrey Hill, "Balancing work and family."