Week 1- Why does it matter?

So, this week in my family relations class, we have been looking at statistics, and watched some videos today about the dangers of declining populations and fertility rates. In many countries the fertility rate is below population replacement. Which is bad. This leads to economic downfall and less resources than a booming population would. The current popular view of population is that less is more, when in actuality, the more people we have, the more resources, innovations, progress, GDP, and functionality we have as a society. However, the fertility rate in America is falling, with the average woman having an average of 2.06 children in her lifetime as of 2011.

So, you may ask yourselves, why does this matter? Well, it means inevitable collapse of social security as there are more retirees needing funds than there are workers to sustain them. It means loneliness as the trend of only children rises, leading to families with no aunts, uncles, or cousins. Which in turn, leads to dysfunctional societies, as less and less people learn to work with others through compromise. The housing market will crash, as less homes are needed to house the populous. There will be less progress, as less and less people feel the need to explore and innovate new ways to sustain a new generation, as this new generation can just have the leftovers of the old. There are less influences on children by siblings and peers, and more adult indulgence. There are less educated.

But, perhaps the single most important reason to have more children, is that, if you are not having as many children as the Lord needs, that spirit still needs to come to earth, which means SOMEONE ELSE IS RAISING YOUR CHILD. Do you trust a perfect stranger to raise your child? To instill in them the values and knowledge that you hold so dear? They are no longer coming to the home that would best help them mature into who they are.

As the world puts less and less value on children and family, we, as a society need to cling to those things which are most important. The worth of children and family goes far beyond our personal development, and enters into the secular, affecting the world's economy and future in ways that many do not realize. With the fall of the family comes the fall of the world. I fear that we often ignore or forget the importance and sacred nature of the family which leads to much more devastating effects than us being lonely. We have condemned spirit children to go where they were not meant to go. They miss out on the environment best suited to their development and maturity, and we miss out on their influence over us.

So why does this matter?