“In the beginning“. . .these famous words commence the account of the creation. God did not rest until His crowning creation, the family unit of Adam and Eve, was organized. From the very beginning it was ordained that the children of God would come into this world as part of a family unit with a mother and a father providing the best opportunity for us to grow in happiness and safety. An ideal had been set.

Throughout the ages and history of the world, through the downfalls of kingdoms, the collapse of cultures, the deterioration of nations, one thing remains ensuring the survival of civilization – the traditional family structure. Today it is being attacked even more relentlessly than it has ever been. There is rampant pornography, legalization of same-sex marriage, out-of-wedlock births are dramatically increasing, and yet, studies show a person has a serious advantage in life if they come from a loving, supportive home consisting of a mother and a father.

Several years ago I came across this beautiful article. I’d like to share the first section of it with you for several reasons: the language and imagery it uses are beautiful, it details why our homes are so important, it explains how our homes can be a refuge in the increasing turmoil of today’s world.

Lofty, beautiful, and serene, a celestial orb glistens in a luminescent sky. Far below on the frontier of a dark wilderness in a tiny fortress live some strangers from the splendid place above. Their home is an outpost, reflecting some of the glory of the celestial homeland but surrounded by darkness and constantly under attack.

Now as day dawns, a woman in the outpost arises from sleep and on her knees opens the communication lines between her home and the orb above. A conduit sheds light and strength upon her, and serenity fills her heart, peace floods her soul, and light overflows from within her. The wilderness pulls away from her bastion, overwhelmed by the light. She turns to her sacred books, seeking guidance from the holy home above.

A baby cries; she closes the books and turns away. Children’s voices intrude on her thoughts. Diapers, breakfast, lost socks to find, lunches to prepare. “I’m late, honey; hurry and gather the children for family prayer.” “Why is that boy always late? He’s keeping the whole family waiting.” “Brent had his eyes open during the prayer.” “How do you know? You peeked.” The conduit of light from above begins to fade. The wilderness moves closer to the little outpost; black tendrils slither around the doors, seeking a tiny opening, testing, probing.

Stacks of dishes, mountains of laundry, baskets of mending, jars and cans and boxes and pots of food. Machines humming, stove cooking, children playing, baby crying. Television on—loud laughter, funny situations, chastity ridiculed, adultery commonplace, screams, shots, violence, more laughter, pretty clothes, expensive houses, very witty little children, unhappy families, drinking, laughing, knives, guns, blood. Black tendrils wrap around and around the TV antenna.

The children become bored; the woman draws them around her and teaches them, reads stories, gives hugs and kisses. Later, when the children are napping, she has time for some reading. “Parents have no right to impose their ideas on children.” “Never say ‘no.’” “Never punish a child.” “If the child is not successful, it is the parents who have failed.”

She pushes away the darkness by turning to other books: “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6). “They shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:28). “Teach them to love one another, and to serve one another” (Mosiah 4:15).

“Oh, Johnny, are you writing on the walls again?”

Family members come back to the outpost from their excursions into the wilderness. Some of them still have darkness clinging to them. “But everyone else gets to.” “I’m too dumb to do this math.” “Sorry I can’t do my chores—I’ve got tons of homework.” Parents work to dispel the darkness and to help their family return to the light. A friend calls: “I’m discouraged and you make me feel guilty. I don’t see why you try so hard when it’s not worth it. What do you expect, perfection?”

With evening comes more darkness. “Hurry, hurry, no time to talk.” “So much to do, not enough time.” “More money—we need more things.” The woman goes about searching out shadows and tendrils, pushing them out, locking the doors and windows against them. She makes room for light, strengthens her defenses, and stockpiles ammunition for another day of battle. “Let’s read a story from the Bible.” “Tell me what you did today that made you happy.” “What do you think you can do tomorrow that will help you and Johnny get along better?” “Time for family prayer.” “Could I listen to your prayers?” “I’ll tuck you in bed when you’re ready.” “Of course I have time to listen to you.”

In the dark of the night, the woman and her husband look out and note that the wilderness is a fraction of an inch farther away than yesterday. They kneel again and catch a tiny glimmer of the splendor they have part in creating, and they are dazzled by the glory.

Science fiction? Not exactly, for scattered about the earth are small outposts of the kingdom of God where men and women join with God in creation—not just the creation that ends with the birth of a child, but the ongoing creation of celestial homes that begins at the altar and continues throughout eternity.

Petrea Kelly, “The Joys of Motherhood“, March 1992 Liahona

We are the guardians of our homes! Our homes are small outposts of the kingdom of God, reflecting some of the glory of heaven but surrounded by darkness and constantly under attack. By making room for light through prayer, scripture study, and service we strengthen our defenses and push back the wilderness a fraction of an inch at a time. As we work together as a husband and wife to provide a safe haven for our family we will be blessed to “catch a tiny glimmer of the splendor we have a part in creating.”

We are also not alone. There are other families out there, other mothers and fathers, doing their very best to fight against the darkness by shining their own lights. Catching those glimmers in the distance gives us hope to try again the next day.

“We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.” {Elder L. Tom Perry, The Importance of Family}

How do we safeguard our home to protect it from the negative, even evil, influences that are trying to enter?

There are changes we can make in our homes – whether it’s the artwork on our walls or the types of tv shows and movies we watch or the music we listen to – we can change them to create an environment where the Holy Ghost will feel comfortable. He can then teach and testify to our children and to us.

There are changes we can make with our time. We need to be more bold in preaching the doctrine of Christ to our children. The doctrine is the why of the gospel. When we understand the why we are better able to learn the how.

We can do the small and simple things that over time, build up the fortress of our homes and the armor our family members wear. Family scripture study, family prayer. service, making and keeping covenants – all can protect us against Satan’s influence.