Marriage Equality

In 1995, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”  I remember studying the doctrine shared, and feeling strongly how much my Heavenly Father loved me, and how important families were to that happiness.   At the end there is a call to do what we can to support the family.  In 1996 I was a missionary in Austria, asking people to read this proclamation.  That was one way that I could help support families.  My opportunity to get married took a lot longer than I ever anticipated.  I often wondered what I could do to strengthen families.  As I prayed about it, I would often be directed to find ways to be a better Aunt, reach out to mothers raising their children alone, be a friend, listen to those struggling, or do what I could to magnify my callings.  I am now married to a wonderful man with five children.  It's sometimes tough with the multi-faceted affects from the divorce, but even more critical that I continue to pray about what Heavenly Father would have me do to strengthen our family ties.  I still firmly believe that "marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan".  And I'm so grateful to have an eternal marriage and the blessings that come with it.