It's sad to think that so many people don't want to have children anymore.There are many reasons for this. I think some reasons are because people feel it is too much of a responsibility, they think they won't be good parents, or they feel they don't have enough money to support a family so why start one. People have become so self-centered, and selfishness is seen all around the world. People don't want responsibilities and some have become lazy. Also, if people don't have very much knowledge on parenting, they might have less confidence that they could raise a child. Most people, whether they think it or not, will discipline their children the way they were disciplined. Once you become a parent, you are always a parent. Parenting is a lifelong responsibility where you constantly have to think about other people's need more then yours. In addition, the world says that if you don't have the money to support a family, you will bring a child into a hard life, so wait.
The trend of cohabitation is on the rise. There are more children born out of wedlock because people are cohabiting and not getting married. Since people are having premarital sex, the likelihood of having children born out of wedlock is increased. So why aren't people getting married like they did back in the "olden days?" Are there more commitment issues? I think the world used to be pretty black and white, but now I think there is so much gray that people are getting confused as to what is right and what is wrong. We have seen the age that men and women get married has risen. So the age that women have children has increased as well because they didn't get married until their later years.
In a gospel aspect, I know that from the beginning of time God has blessed each one of us with families. The family is central to the Plan that God has created for us to return back to Him. We know that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God. During class we also learned that divorce is a simple answer to not try to save a relationship. No one get's married to get divorced, but it seems to be easier than just working to fix it. I know that if we do our best to raise our families in a Christ-centered home we will have divine help to guide us back to live with the one that gave us breath. Faith is required for a successful marriage. I think that's a good place to start for many of us, increasing our faith As we become and strive to become better each day, when we find the person we want to marry, we will be able draw the powers of heaven to help us grow closer together. Families are meant to give us a taste of the eternal happiness we seek for after this life. Though sometimes we might not feel that way, it is. I know that if we do our best to be true to what we know and understand, God will help us to feel what is right and then act.
Mosiah 2:41
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and ahappy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are bblessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out cfaithful to the end they are received into dheaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
This documentary is very interesting to learn about how the decline of fertility is effecting the world and many people do not even realize it. From this documentary, we see that in the future, there will be so many more problems in the world all because people aren't having children. The economy will be having big problems. Is having more children the solution? Is there even a solution? Should we even care? This show is super intriguing! Watch it :-)
http://www.byutv.org/watch/59b6b917-984a-478f-93b1-521a647779c4/new-economic-reality-demographic-winter-part-1
http://www.byutv.org/watch/b3dfa9f3-6e20-4d64-af96-fbf3fd64670a/new-economic-reality-demographic-winter-part-2
