Anger

The Family Proclamation states that, “the family is central to the Creator’s plan” and that “husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other” and a “sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness”. While this is Heavenly Fathers plan for His children Satan also has a plan which involve waging war on families. Elder Lynn G. Robbins said, “His strategy is to stir up anger between family members. Satan is the “father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another”…A cunning part of his strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control.”

When we become angry we are using our free agency by giving into Satan and his influence for contention. Elder Robbins also stated, “Unchecked, anger can quickly trigger an explosion of cruel words and other forms of emotional abuse that can scar a tender heart…Choice and accountability are inseparable principles. Because anger is a choice, there is a strong warning in the proclamation “that individuals … who abuse spouse or offspring, … will one day stand accountable before God.”

We need to learn that there is a connection between agency and anger. We have the choice and free agency on how we will handle disputes and upsets within our homes and relationships. We cannot forget that once something is said out of anger or frustration can be forgiven but never forgotten.