Who is responsible for family income?
Should the husband and father be primarily responsible for the family income?
Sense the beginning of time men have been responsible for providing income for the families needs. Even back when money didn't exist men were responsible for hunting and bringing home food for his family and the women were responsible for taking care of the children and the home. But in modern times this has become quite a controversial topic. We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have been taught that men have the divine responsibility to provide for the financial and physical needs of his family. And the woman is divinely responsible for caring for the children and the home. Many people look at this principle with judgmental eyes. They think that it is degrading for a woman to "have" to stay home That men are "more capable" and "better suited" for work outside of the home. This is not what the church is stating. Women are more than capable and suited to work outside the home. And women are not forced to stay home either. But the Lord knows how the family is best taken care of. He knows how crucial it is to have that motherly influence in the child's upbringing. The father definitely needs to be present as well, but they do teach the important principle of work and responsibility in working outside the home.
Now I'm not saying that a woman who works outside the home are in the wrong. And I'm not saying that stay-at-home dads are in the wrong. Because they are not. In some situations it is more practical for the mother to be working and for the father to stay at home. I myself work outside the home to help my husband with our bills. But we also don't have any children. I don't see any reason to stay at home and not help with the bills while we don't have kids. Right now our only responsibility is to take care of each other and save for the future. So why wouldn't I help? My thought is "what else would I do?" But that will change when we do have children. My husband knows that when we do have children I will want to stay at home with them to take care of them and teach then throughout the day. And staying at home is in no way degrading. It is a privilege to stay home and care for the children. Today's society is especially trying on the rising generation and our children need all the extra support and preparation they can get. It doesn't make you unsuccessful in life if you don't have a career. Children perform better in school and in life when they have a mother at home caring for them and teaching them while growing up. That is success. It doesn't come with an income or health benefits but it is success.
The proclamation to the world warns us, "We warn that individuals...who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by the ancient and modern prophets." Our prophets throughout the years have given us revelations from God about what we are expected to do in this life. And God has made it very clear that He expects us to care for our families in this manner. God knows everything. He knows what will come from our decisions. He knows what the best path is for us to take. So why wouldn't we follow Him and trust in His direction?
Sense the beginning of time men have been responsible for providing income for the families needs. Even back when money didn't exist men were responsible for hunting and bringing home food for his family and the women were responsible for taking care of the children and the home. But in modern times this has become quite a controversial topic. We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have been taught that men have the divine responsibility to provide for the financial and physical needs of his family. And the woman is divinely responsible for caring for the children and the home. Many people look at this principle with judgmental eyes. They think that it is degrading for a woman to "have" to stay home That men are "more capable" and "better suited" for work outside of the home. This is not what the church is stating. Women are more than capable and suited to work outside the home. And women are not forced to stay home either. But the Lord knows how the family is best taken care of. He knows how crucial it is to have that motherly influence in the child's upbringing. The father definitely needs to be present as well, but they do teach the important principle of work and responsibility in working outside the home.
Now I'm not saying that a woman who works outside the home are in the wrong. And I'm not saying that stay-at-home dads are in the wrong. Because they are not. In some situations it is more practical for the mother to be working and for the father to stay at home. I myself work outside the home to help my husband with our bills. But we also don't have any children. I don't see any reason to stay at home and not help with the bills while we don't have kids. Right now our only responsibility is to take care of each other and save for the future. So why wouldn't I help? My thought is "what else would I do?" But that will change when we do have children. My husband knows that when we do have children I will want to stay at home with them to take care of them and teach then throughout the day. And staying at home is in no way degrading. It is a privilege to stay home and care for the children. Today's society is especially trying on the rising generation and our children need all the extra support and preparation they can get. It doesn't make you unsuccessful in life if you don't have a career. Children perform better in school and in life when they have a mother at home caring for them and teaching them while growing up. That is success. It doesn't come with an income or health benefits but it is success.
The proclamation to the world warns us, "We warn that individuals...who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by the ancient and modern prophets." Our prophets throughout the years have given us revelations from God about what we are expected to do in this life. And God has made it very clear that He expects us to care for our families in this manner. God knows everything. He knows what will come from our decisions. He knows what the best path is for us to take. So why wouldn't we follow Him and trust in His direction?
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