From Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased):
(Chapter 3 of his book ‘Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy:)
This Chapter contains counsel directed to parents. But even if you are not now blessed with children, it contains principles that are worthy of your consideration. “And I, God, created man . . . ; male and female created I them.”1 This was done spiritually in your premortal existence, when you lived in the presence of your Father in Heaven. Your gender was established before you came to this earth. You elected to have this earth experience before as part of his plan for you. The prophets have called it “the plan of our God.”2 “the plan of mercy,” 3 the eternal plan of deliverance,” 4 “the plan of salvation.” 5 and, yes, the great plan of happiness.” 6 You were taught this plan before you came to earth and there rejoiced in the privilege of participating in it.
God first gives knowledge of the plan of happiness and then provides instructions or commandments about how to best live it.7 Obedience to the plan is a requisite for full happiness in this life and a continuation of eternal joy beyond the veil. The inspired proclamation on the family affirms: “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between a man and a woman is essential to His eternal plan.”8 The holy privilege of procreation must be employed within the bonds and commitment of legal marriage and in the sacred environment of family.9 Parents have the responsibility to bear children and to nurture and train them spiritually, emotionally, and physically.10 Essential to the plan of happiness of God is moral agency or the right of personal choice.11 This divine gift is so essential that our Holy Father allowed the loss of one third of His spirit children to protect and preserve it.12
Satan knows the gift of agency. He also has a plan. It is a cunning, evil, subtle plan of destruction.13 It is his objective to take captive the children of Father in Heaven and with every possible means frustrate “the great plan of happiness”.
Our Heavenly Father has endowed His sons and daughters with unique traits especially fitted for their individual responsibilities as they fulfill His plan. The closer you adhere to His plan for you on earth, the greater will be your happiness and progress. You will be more qualified to receive rewards He has promised for obedience. Following His plan means that you do those things that He expects of you as a son or daughter, husband or wife. Those roles are different but entirely compatible. In the plan of the Father, it takes two—a man and a woman—to form a whole. Indeed, a husband and wife are not two identical halves, but a wondrous, divinely determined combination of complementary capacities and characteristics. The covenant of marriage allows these different characteristics to come together in oneness and unity to bless both husband and wife, as well as their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. ~Richard G. Scott, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007), 19-20
References: 1. Moses 2:27, 2. 2 Nephi 9:13, 3. Alma 42:15, 4. 2 Nephi 11:5, 5. Moses 6:62, 6. Alma 42:8, 7. see Alma 12:32. 8.”The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, November 1995, 102, 9&10. See The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” 102. 11: See 2 Nephi 2:15-16, 27, 12: See Doctrine and Covenants 29:36-39. 13: See Doctrine and Covenants 10:12,23.
