Back to Eden is Not Onward to Zion - the importance of family work

"In almost every facet of our prosperous, contemporary lifestyle, we strive for the ease associated with Eden. . . . Back to Eden is not onward to Zion.” (Bahr, 2021)

In this blog I am talking about family work. Throughout time, the definition of work, play, and leisure has changed. People view recreation far different than they did in the past. Work nowadays takes fathers and mothers away from the home. In the 1800s, work was in the home. Conversations and family togetherness time looked like planting a garden, making the meals, feeding the animals, and making things from home. They got to spend time with their families doing these things. The idea of a public parks for kids to play on did not even develop until 1830s. People wouldn't go out on boats for vacation. Their family fun was sledding in their backyard on a homemade wood sled. Their family time was working in the yard next to dad. If you've ever tried gardening or working long enough with someone, you find that some of the best conversations come up during those mundane tasks. 

I've found in my life, that it is in the hard work that I've obtained some of the greatest rewards. President Nelson stated, "The Lord loves effort, because effort brings reward." 

So, what are the benefits of working together as a family? You begin to see each family member's strengths and weaknesses. You see the family system take place. Each family member has the chance to take on a role and task. 

In your house, is work seen as a chore or a reward?    

I fear that often times we are focusing too much on making things easier that we sacrifice the value and lessons of hard work. 

Studies show that when things are more available to you, that doesn't always mean you are more likely to take advantage of it. Sometimes the more things you have, the harder it is to make decisions. The easier something becomes to get may not always mean more people will get it. (Schwartz, 2006.) 

"People who see the value of family work only in terms of the economic value of processes that yield measurable products—washed dishes, baked bread, swept floors, clothed children—miss what some call the 'invisible household production' that occurs at the same time, but which is, in fact, more important to family-building and character development than the economic products. Here lies the real power of family work—its potential to transform lives, to forge strong families, to build strong communities. It is the power to quietly, effectively urge hearts and minds toward a oneness known only in Zion..."(Bahr, 2021.) 

In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had ease and prosperity. Once they partook of the fruit, they were cast out and sent into this world to work and til the earth. God told Adam that by the sweat of his face he would reap bread. Though they went against God to partake of the fruit, they found that because of opposition they know true joy. Because of Jesus Christ we can be redeemed. Now we are in that new land Adam and Eve ended in. Are not the commandments the same? We are to til the ground and multiply and replenish the earth. If we are striving too hard for the ease of the original garden of Eden, we aren't here to do what we are meant to do. "In almost every facet of our prosperous, contemporary lifestyle, we strive for the ease associated with Eden... Back to Eden is not onward to Zion." (Bahr, 2021.) This is essentially saying that through the hardships of this life, we will receive true joy. I imagine it was not easy for Eve to bear children and for them to work, but Eve and Adam rejoiced and exclaimed how they would not have known joy.   

We see many benefits of the family and the old society when most people worked from the home. But we obviously can't completely go back to the old society. So how can we incorporate that in today's society? 

Applying this to a family, how might our efforts of hard work together bring us that true joy and satisfaction? Growing up, some of my greatest memories are with my great-grandpa helping take care of the little ones as my mom and older sister canned. We all got to help work in the garden, pick the apples, and climb the trees. In my other house we had chickens. We didn't love to go out and feed them (especially when it was cold) but it taught us hard work. We didn't love cleaning the house, but that created for some special and funny memories. When the house was messy, we would turn on music and play "dancing judge" as we cleaned. One person got to sit out and watch the rest of us and see who did the best (you were only in the game if you had something in your hand you were putting away). Certainly this was not the fastest way to complete the job, but it helped complete our characters and build our family unity. You don't need a lot to learn the value of hard work. As kids, my mom knew it'd be way faster to do the laundry on her own, but instead she would often take the opportunity to let us help her and join her in the task. Young kids are often eager to help out and it is important to foster that desire. 

When the world thinks that you need some big expensive trip to have fun with your family, we see here that family joy can be found through the hardships. (I'm not saying that big vacations and family play are not valuable. These can also create great memories. I am simply emphasizing the beauty and joy of working together as a family.) 

How does your family view hard work? Has this worked for you? What are your memories? What are your experiences regarding work? Is there a project you would like to start?

Click reply and share your thoughts below. We would love to hear. 

Hannah Whiting (3/17/22) 

(Note: I highly recommend reading the first article in the references below! It goes deeper into this topic.) 

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References: 

Kathleen Slaugh Bahr, C. A. L. (2021, August 20). Family work: The chores that bind us. Y Magazine. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://magazine.byu.edu/article/family-work/ 

Schwartz, B. (2006, June). More isn't always better. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2006/06/more-isnt-always-better