A license to...

I had an interesting conversation with my boss a few months ago. We were talking about this current generation that is entering the workforce. I was dealing with an employee who is pretty relaxed about coming in to work, doing homework on work time, and his indifference to being a "team player." If it doesn't help his ambition, why should he bother?

The conversation became more general as we talked about parenting techniques and styles. And our perceived lack of discipline that this current generation received. Bottom line, kids out of college today seem to expect to drive their parents BMW without having to earn it. They want to be the CEO of a company as if it's their right. (Generally speaking...certainly not all young adults in Generation Y are like this.)

Adults are having kids without thinking through the long-term responsibilities. And my boss said, "You have to have a license to drive. You have to have a license to perform certain jobs. Too bad that people don't have to qualify for a license to have kids!"

I responded, "Actually we do. It's called a marriage license."

She just kind of looked at me. The conversation continued. I don't think she caught on. Probably because it's not as significant outside the Mormon community.

Consider the significance.

What happens when you're caught driving without a license?

What happens if you call yourself a financial planner yet you don't have the credentials?

What happens if a job requires you to have a college degree and you don't have one?

What happens if...

In any of these situations, you're either fined or you don't get what you want. Why doesn't society hold similar standards for child-bearing? Outside of the moral realm, of what consequence is it to have a marriage license? You certainly don't have to have one to live together. You don't need it to have kids. You don't need it raise a family.

WHY NOT?

Teachers should be the highest paid profession on the face of this earth. Emergency personnel (police, firefighters, etc.) should be the next highest paid. Insurance of any kind should not be regulated by the government. And you should not be allowed to have kids without a marriage license. (Sorry for the inclusion of things that seem to be completely off point...but they are just a few things that I feel strongly about.)

The truth is--you DO have to have permission to have children and raise a family. And it's not something the government can give you. It's much higher than that. And thank heavens for that. Four republican judges in California overturned the will of the people. Four men. FOUR. After California voted and banned marriage among the gay and lesbian communities, four men exercised unrighteous dominion. I don't get the logic. So if two men or two women can get married, why is there such a concern over polygamy in Texas or Arizona?!? (sex with minors aside) If it's ok for two women to marry, why can't a man have four wives of legal age? Why can't a woman decide to marry her cat? Of what value is a marriage license when man devalues its meaning and worth.

A marriage license should ultimately have the seal of God on it. Otherwise, it's of no worth after this life. And that's one reason I'm grateful to be a part of this great church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints solemnly proclaims "that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

We do need God's permission to raise a family. After all, these are His children...not ours. We are simply stewards for a brief time. The relationships will be bound for all eternity when a marriage is performed under the direction of the Priesthood...but Mark, Anya, James, Peter, and Luke are not ours. They are God's. And I will be more faithful each day to pray and make sure I am raising them according to His will.