FIFTH COMMANDMENT: Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
This is an important commandment in the sight of God, the Father. Good family relationships are one of the fundamental principles of the Ten Commandments which pertain to this world and in eternity.
When we are honoring our earthly parents, we are also honoring God, the Father of our spirits.
If people obey this law, it affects all other parts of society for the better.
Paul knew this and he talked about what would happen in the last days, the days we are living in now.
2 Timothy 3: 1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
To honor your father and mother will bring peace in the family. A peaceful obedience to parents will be reflected in those around you.
When parents are righteous and good, believe in God and keep His commandments, it is easier for children to obey this commandment to honor them. Sometimes it may not be easy but they will, for the most part, do it.
There are also times that the parents are not good and ignore God and His commandments. Should the children disobey them if they are asked to do something that is not right?
The Apostle Paul talks about this also.
Ephesians 6: 1-4
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
If a child grows up and lives his life righteously, whether his parents were righteous or unrighteous, he still brings honor to his parents. When the child lives a wicked lifestyle, it does not matter if the parents were righteous or wicked, the shame still comes upon the parents.
Each child of Heavenly Father, born into mortality through Adam and Eve, has it within himself or herself, that inner knowledge what is right and wrong. If, by some encouragement by their parents, the children are told to do things that are not good, and they do them, he or she still brings dishonor to them.
Some parents may fail in their calling to bring up their children righteously.
When the children recognize and decide not to follow them in their lifestyle, those children have to recognize also, that their parents were chosen by God to be His representative on earth to train and care for them.
The children still have the obligation to honor their parents.
For further information, go to www.lds.org
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