What comes first: God or family?

[jay santos]

How could anyone who believes in the story of Abraham not say they put God before family?

[Jacob]

God would not want anyone to disown their own family based on their religious choices.

But he would want someone do make the correct religious choice even if it meant being disowned by her family, right?

[FMCoug]

But he would want someone do make the correct religious choice even if it meant being disowned by her family, right?

The other side of the "God" vs. "Religion" coin. If you assume "family" is what it should be this is not an issue. But every family is dysfunctional at some level, it's just a matter of where / how. Generally speaking, the disowning party in cases like this is always the one at fault.

I think God wants us to make the correct choices and let the chips fall where they may in a lot of cases.

[statman]

1) God, 2) Family, 3) Job, 4) Church.

God = covenants/commandments. Which are inextricably tied to family. And, likewise, you need to have some kind of employment to meet your family's needs. Then comes church callings...

[Sullyute]

How could anyone who believes in the story of Abraham not say they put God before family?

I just listened to a podcast where a lady said she teaches her kids that if God ever tells them to kill/sacrifice anybody then they need to call 911. I thought that was both funny and insightful.

I keep going back to the early church, and look at all the men that left their families to go on missions. I look at the women who married joseph Smith even if they were already married. I look at the pioneers that crossed the plains late in the year based on the promise of church leaders and lost spouses, parents, and children. I look at people that would take their families to baren wastlands of southern Utah at the request of a prophet. Our history is full of faith promoting stories of people choosing to follow God through the tenants of their religion to the disadvantage or detriment of their families.

I think that it can be very difficult in the LDS church to seperate God from religion.

[Surfah]

I Am Third.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I Am Third.

Third? Dang, you are much higher on the totem pile than I.

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[kccougar]

I'm guessing I didn't read the poll the same way everyone else did. I put God above family, but most people in this thread seem to be substituting "church" or "religion" for God.

[Surfah]

I'm guessing I didn't read the poll the same way everyone else did. I put God above family, but most people in this thread seem to be substituting "church" or "religion" for God.

Right. God's my dad. So I was confused at having to choose family over family.

[mUUser]

....to Jay's point regarding a horrific scenerio such as Abraham & Isaac, I would've disobeyed well before the blade came down on my child. In fact, the words "stick it" come to mind. Admittedly, I have a long way to go.

[Eddie]

Sooner, the problem with this poll is that it conflates God with religion, which aren't necessarily the same thing, no matter what the High Priests in your ward say. I would say that the highest dedication to God is found in one's dedication to family.

I like this description. It makes sense to me.



So a follow up poll might be - what is most important, job or family?

But can you really be all-in for one or other other?

I mean, I'd be happy to skip my job and stay home to spend time with my family all day every day. I think I would do a great job teaching my kids things, developing our relationship, helping each other.

We'd have a blast...right up until we ran out of food...and they started shutting down the utilities...and the eviction papers were served...


I don't think you can ever be all or nothing about any of this. I see my family as being first, but that doesn't mean that there aren't times they get set on the back burner due to church obligations or work obligations (and there used to be school obligations...). I also don't think I can do right by my family if I'm not right in my relationship with my God. So I have to work on that, even if it means taking time away from my family.

[Clark Addison]

I've never felt the need to choose between the two, and find it hard to think of a situation where I would.

If the poll were between Family and BYU Sports, it would cause a lot more self-reflection.

[Northwestcoug]

I'm guessing I didn't read the poll the same way everyone else did. I put God above family, but most people in this thread seem to be substituting "church" or "religion" for God.

I keep going back to the early church, and look at all the men that left their families to go on missions. I look at the women who married joseph Smith even if they were already married. I look at the pioneers that crossed the plains late in the year based on the promise of church leaders and lost spouses, parents, and children. I look at people that would take their families to baren wastlands of southern Utah at the request of a prophet. Our history is full of faith promoting stories of people choosing to follow God through the tenants of their religion to the disadvantage or detriment of their families.

I think that it can be very difficult in the LDS church to seperate God from religion.

I think this is exactly why people are voting with family rather than God. We want to say it's wrong to equate church with God, but our culture and history have essentially made them one and the same. Examples of early church history live on with us to this day. That is why members don't bat an eye when a call to serve is prefaced by, "The Lord wants you to...". When we hear this, how hard is it to refuse a calling, even when it places significant constraints on our family life?

[jay santos]

I think this is exactly why people are voting with family rather than God. We want to say it's wrong to equate church with God, but our culture and history have essentially made them one and the same. Examples of early church history live on with us to this day. That is why members don't bat an eye when a call to serve is prefaced by, "The Lord wants you to...". When we hear this, how hard is it to refuse a calling, even when it places significant constraints on our family life?

Yes, a man who chooses to accept a calling as bishop which requires 20 or more hours a week probably never even thinks he might be choosing God/church over family. And he might even make a conscious decision on some weeks to scale it back from 25 to 22 to go to Johnny's soccer game or something and feel like he's truly choosing family over church.

[taekwondave]

Sooner, the problem with this poll is that it conflates God with religion, which aren't necessarily the same thing, no matter what the High Priests in your ward say. I would say that the highest dedication to God is found in one's dedication to family.

"But he who loveth father, mother, sister, brother, more than me..."