'The family needs a spiritual revolution'

'The family needs a spiritual revolution'

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

SHERYL MEDLEY, director of the Family History Centre, associated with the Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has said family life must hinge on spirituality.

Medley recounted her ignorance about what made a family a good and cohesive unit prior to her joining the church.

"I came to the church 26 years ago from a large family. When I came, I did not know anything, didn't pray, and never went to church with family members," Medley revealed to Family and Religion.

She disclosed that she learned these principles while she was in the church, and they have played a key role in how her family life has evolved.

"Family life must hinge on spirituality because it is this principle that will allow a connection with God, who is able to guide the family," she stated, adding that she practises these spiritual principles in her home every day.

time together

Married with four children, three boys and one girl, the eldest being 18 and youngest, 10, Medley says she spends time with herfamily religiously.

"After church, we get together and have a family evening, talk about all the things that affect us as a family, we watch movies together and have dinner as a unit, always bonding and sharing," Medley told Family and Religion.

She noted that whenever the family has anything to accomplish, they would pray together and provide the physical and emotional support.

Medley said she also based her family values on the firm belief that after this life, everyone will be together in one family, so it is of vital importance to capture that collective spirit from now.

She told Family and Religion that she has stuck to the belief that the family is ordained by God, hence there is always the inclination to make the family better, pointing out that the Family History Centre reaches out to broken families and helps them to make their lives better.

"As for me, I am at a better place with my own family. It is important to our community, country and the people around us to have good family relations," Medley stressed.

improved family relations

The Family History Centre director said improved family relations should be advocated for by all, not only in individual homes, but in the homes of other families in the community.

She said families must not only spend time together, but quality time, noting that they should understand the reason for doing it and how important it is to family relationships.

The Family History Centre, she said, is seeing an increase in interest by family members who are desirous of getting their family in the right place.

These families, she acknowledged, are seeing the social ills in the society and are realising that only families that promote sound values are able to provide positive influences.

"We are seeing more families coming to the centre to seek help in addressing issues that affect their families," she said, highlighting the fact that the centre is very big on giving families the chance to find their ancestry.

Without discounting the role of the father figure in the home, Medley said she firmly believes that even with the absence of a father in the home, the right values can be passed on to children by their mothers.

She said any move to instill proper family values in homes will impact positively on individual lives and the country's development.

familyandreligion@gleanerjm.com