Therapist VS Father as Saviors of Mankind
A Peculiar Family Size Theory
by Nate Richardson
5-4-18
RichardsonStudies.com
Thesis: A father will save more souls by governing a large posterity than would a professional therapist in his line of work.
“And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” (Obadiah 1:21). Prophets today have spoken at length on the role of Latter-day Saints to be these saviors, working by the authority given them from The Savior Jesus Christ, particularly as they perform family related duties.
Exodus 19:15 speaks of God’s people being ‘peculiar’ (see Footnote B for scriptures about God’s people being peculiar). The following is a peculiar theory indeed, suggesting a scenario wherein a large family indeed could be raised up, and save many.
I will site 2 quotes, then disguss this matter. The first is from Brigham Young:
“Let the father and mother, who are members of this Church and Kingdom, take a righteous course, and strive with all their might never to do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; if they have one child or one hundred children, if they conduct themselves towards them as they should, binding them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I care not where those children go, they are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang” (DBY, 208) (also cited in Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, Ch 46 https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-brigham-young/chapter-46?lang=eng)
One more quote from a recent discourse by Elder Anderson entitled “Children” in Oct. 2011, then we will discuss this matter:
“We believe in families, and we believe in children…When to have a child and how many children to have are private decisions to be made between a husband and wife and the Lord. These are sacred decisions—decisions that should be made with sincere prayer and acted on with great faith…Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for…As the world increasingly asks, “Are these all yours?” we thank you for creating within the Church a sanctuary for families, where we honor and help mothers with children…” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/children?lang=eng)
Here we have the prophet assuring us that Adam and Eve (a man and his wife, parents in Zion) are perfectly capable of rearing 100 children! Further we have another prophet telling us that those who feel called to raise a numerable posterity, that no one is to judge them in this matter save it be the Lord!
THIS IS what I say: let a man set out to have 100 kids, and prepare all things for their temporal salvation, not in extravagance, but sufficient for their needs, for that is the holy standard on matters of monies from the beginning (for a quote about having children before being financially confident, see Footnote A). There are surprisingly affording methods for bringing children into your family, including the foster and foster-adoption programs (and among those are great vacancies).
It will be perfectly simple and no more difficult than rearing only a handful of children, as the older kids will help tend to the chores of the younger, and the primary role of mother and father will be Lord Matron and Lord Patriarch of their house/temple/kingdom, ruling together with the staff of gentle persuasion and long-suffering charity, the which brings eternal dividends beyond imagination.
As Obadiah said earlier, they build this kingdom unto the Lord. For a discussion about how one’s posterity belongs eternally not just to God but to themselves, see my document “Children: An Heritage (Inheritance) of (from) The Lord: What & Why is a Parent here & in Eternity, in text & audio”.
Yes some dishes and diapers will always be part of the life of a parent as younglings are not an infrequent guest in the home. Small children and other aged children are a constant guest in Gods’ Kingdom, him having an endless posterity, the joys of children never being far from his throne; we grow old and weak here which brings the principle sadness of fewer tiny children flocking about constantly, but the resurrection will burst upon us soon enough in the day of the Lord, wherein our capacity to parent will be magnified to thousands forever and onward.
With the righteous power of delegation as directed in family council meetings, this teaching your children to work as we have been commanded, these things (diapers and dishes) will not be any more overbearing than when the couple had only a handful of children.
Surely the social peer group of siblings will bring the parents relief of the famous nagging on the sleeve of the single child for its parent to come and play all the time. Will the parents play? Oh heavens yes! Such is one of the eternal benefits of parenthood! But just about the same amount as when they had only a handful of children. The group will simply be larger. It will be an outright sport league rather than the little yard skirmish it was before. And is that a crime? I should say not! In this and many other ways, the parent of many has an easier job than the parent of few.
Further, one can scarcely measure the effect of one’s peers being principally its siblings, as the siblings are also taught the standard of the parents, and can emulate to one another how such principles are executed in the various life stages, leaving all excited to emulate the example of the older, and the oldest to emulate the parent, in a similar way that we look to the great parent of the human race Adam as a prototypical man, as also Eve a prototypical woman. Christ is the only perfect person, he is a complete prototype of what a saved person looks (acts) like.
I’ve seen a handful of persons with desires to save souls who set out to go and do something like being a professional therapist, a social worker, or some other meaningful social trade. This is a good thing for some. However, I see the problem with being a professional therapist is you don’t get to preach the gospel and say truths plainly. Governmental limits continually encroach upon professionals as we increasingly reflect the dogmas of Europe. Nor does a professional get the time with them to have a real impact, the time to learn them well, discerning their unique characters so you know just how to gently lead them on to the kingdom of God.
To most surely save a soul, one needs to oversee the life of it, to train it up from its youth, to serve it over years not just months; not just speaking to it an hour every few weeks, dropping subtle hints at what is good behavior like a therapist would.
The key is this: have your own family. This is the true order of God, the surest way to save souls.
Consider the 4th section of the Doctrine and Covenants in view of being a parent as aforementioned: “Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. 3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; 4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; 5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. 6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. 7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.” (D&C 4)
Footnote A: A Prophet Answers the Concern of Providing Financially for Children:
“In April general conference, President Thomas S. Monson said: “If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and family, may I assure you that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions.” (Neil Anderson “Children” Oct. 2011 Conf Report; https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/children?lang=eng)
Footnote B: Scriptures about God’s people being “peculiar” as found in the “topical guide to the scriptures” as found at https://www.lds.org/scriptures/tg/peculiar-people :
Peculiar People
See also Called of God; Mission of Latter-day Saints; Separation
ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me, Ex. 19:5.
chosen thee to be a special people, Deut. 7:6.
chose their seed after them, even you above all, Deut. 10:15.
Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, Deut. 14:2.
Lord hath avouched thee … to be his peculiar people, Deut. 26:18.
Lord hath chosen … Israel for his peculiar treasure, Ps. 135:4.
Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, Isa. 41:8.
You only have I known of all the families of the earth, Amos 3:2.
purify unto himself a peculiar people, Titus 2:14.
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, 1 Pet. 2:9.
that ye might be a choice and a favored people, 2 Ne. 1:19.
a light unto the Gentiles, D&C 86:11.
I will raise up unto myself a pure people, D&C 100:16.
accounted as the salt of the earth, D&C 101:39.
shine forth, that thy light may be a standard, D&C 115:5.
See also Lev. 20:26.
END OF FOOTNOTE B.
