Marriage and family

Marriage, originally instituted by God in Eden, is, according to Christ’s teachings, a lifelong union of a man and a woman for life and love together. Marriage should be entered into only between a man and a woman who share the same faith. By entering into marriage, Christians make commitments not only to each other but also to God. Mutual love, respect, consideration, and responsibility are the foundation of Christian marital relationships, reflecting the love, holiness, closeness, and strength of the relationship between Christ and His Church. Regarding divorce, Christ said: “Whoever divorces his wife, except for the cause of fornication, … and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” While the lives of some families may be far from ideal, a man and a woman who dedicate themselves completely to each other in marriage in Christ can achieve a close union in love if they trust in the guidance of the Spirit and the teaching of the Church. God blesses the family and desires that all in it help each other to reach spiritual maturity. The desire for family unity is one of the characteristic features of the final message of the Gospel. Parents are to raise their children in love and obedience to the Lord. By their word and personal example, parents are to teach their children that Christ is a loving, tender, and caring Teacher who wants all of them to become members of His Church, members of the family of God, which includes both single people and married people.