I cam across an article on
KSL.com about a recent conference on the topic of standing for the family that I want to pass on. The article gave 5 ways that we can defend our beliefs on the family.
They are:
"Know what’s at stake
The key to standing up for the family, according to Slater, is to know
what’s really at stake. Using statistical research to back up its
pro-family positions on societal issues, Family Watch International
submits,
“A lot of the ills we face in society stem from the breakdown of the
family and the acceptance of sexual relationships outside marriage,”
Slater said.
Slater continued, “Studies indicate that people do best in families with
married parents.” Issues like financial wellbeing, education, sexual
health, self-esteem and physical health are all affected by the role of
the family. To understand the integral role of the family in society is
to understand what’s really at stake.
Understand the “packaging”
According to Slater, an attack on the family isn’t necessarily a blatant
assault. Often, these messages are disseminated subtly and
strategically. A big step in standing up for the family is to understand
how this ideology is packaged.
Slater recommends attending the
Stand for the Family Conference
in Provo on Sept. 19, which will offer internationally recognized
pro-family speakers, sharing a wealth of information to recognize how
the attacks on the family come packaged and what can be done to stop
them.
“We’re hoping to open the eyes of parents to help them see the broader picture,” Slater said.
Among the topics discussed will be the sexualization of children, and
how tax dollars are spent to create sexual education that is harmful to
kids and families. Slater’s book also thoroughly addresses this
“packaging.”
Continue to get educated
Whether it's the upcoming
Stand for the Family Conference
or another event, attending functions like these will connect parents
with tools and resources for continued awareness and education.
Attendees can opt to receive ongoing alerts and newsletters from Family
Watch or other organizations or to participate in volunteer
opportunities through which they can stand up for the family within
their own communities.
“If (parents) just spend a bit of time on the Internet regularly,
they'll be able to keep up to date on these issues. A few minutes every
week makes a huge difference,” said Slater.
Make your voice heard
Standing up for the family doesn’t mean you have to be a full-time
activist. Just being available to sign petitions, attending pro-family
rallies and writing to your local leaders on important topics can make a
big difference in your community.
“Respond to newspaper articles, write editorials, write a blog — there’s
so much that any person, no matter how busy, can do,” Slater said.
Learn how to defend your position
According to Slater, defending the family shouldn’t be a negative experience. In fact, with a bit of
training, people can arm themselves with nonconfrontational methods of standing up for what they believe.
“It’s not us against them,” Slater said. “We care about all individuals
enough to say that certain choices lead to negative outcomes. We are not
a religious organization. We take our stance from social statistics.”
Standing up for the family may seem unpopular and even a bit
intimidating, but anyone who is willing to put forth a little effort can
make a big difference.
“I’ve seen over and over again where one person made a difference,”
Slater said. “When a person will stand up for the truth, it changes the
debate. We want to empower people to be that one voice — a voice that’s
both courageous and kind.”"
The family is the foundation for society and if we allow it to be devalued, redefined and demeaned then our very way of life will be put in jeopardy. It is not easy to stand up for what you believe in and many of us that believe in the traditional family are busy tacking care of our own families, however we must do what we can with the tools that we have. As an often used quote says "If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything."
With Christmas on it's way there is lots to do and traditions all around us. How often do we take a moment to ponder where our family traditions came from. This year I wanted my families traditions to be a reflection of both my husband and my family cultural heritage. I started thinking about the countries that our ancestors came from. My family is from Italy, Ireland, Norway, France and Britain. My husbands family is from Germany, Britain, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland.
