--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So the bad news is that family breakdown…" description: "\"“So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host of societal and economic ills. But the good news is that, like any cause and effect, those ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/m-russell-ballard-3129_bad-news_so-the-bad-news-is-that-family-breakdown_3026792.jpg" --- # So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host… ![“So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host of societal and economic ills. But the good news is that, like any cause and effect, those ills can be reversed if what is causing them is changed. Inequities are resolved by living correct principles and values. Brothers and sisters, the…” quote by M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/m-russell-ballard-3129_bad-news_so-the-bad-news-is-that-family-breakdown_3026792.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/m-russell-ballard-3129_bad-news_so-the-bad-news-is-that-family-breakdown_3026792.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/m-russell-ballard-3129_bad-news_so-the-bad-news-is-that-family-breakdown_3026792.jpg) > ““So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host of societal and economic ills. But the good news is that, like any cause and effect, those ills can be reversed if what is causing them is changed. Inequities are resolved by living correct principles and values. Brothers and sisters, the most important cause of our lifetime is our families. If we will devote ourselves to this cause, we will improve every other aspect of our lives and will become, as a people and as a church, an example and a beacon for all the peoples of the earth.”” [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights families as the key to solving societal problems, urging moral living. **In simple terms:** Families are the root of societal health. Key Takeaway Strengthen family values. Themes family society values Mood hopeful serious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - parenting workshops - marriage counseling - community service - policy advocacy Key Concepts moral principles community building Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps improve family health? - How do values translate into societal change? A Different Perspective Changing families alone may not fix systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [Principles and values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-and-values/) ## Related quotes > [Temporary happiness can cause a lifetime of misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/temporary-happiness-can-cause-a-lifetime-of-misery/) [Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/) > [“The breakdown of the neighborhoods also meant the end of what was essentially an extended family…With the breakdown of the extended family, too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/the-breakdown-of-the-neighborhoods-also-meant-the-end-of-what-was/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [Most poor people in America are white. The family breakdown issue is an issue that crosses all sorts of racial lines. High school dropout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/most-poor-people-in-america-are-white-the-family-breakdown-issue-is/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [When families are strong and stable, so are children - showing higher levels of wellbeing and more positive outcomes. But when things go wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/when-families-are-strong-and-stable-so-are-children-showing-higher/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [The family is the first economy. If the family breaks down, well, government gets bigger because of the consequences of family breakdown. We see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/the-family-is-the-first-economy-if-the-family-breaks-down-well/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Conservatives highlight the primacy of family and argue that family breakdown exacerbates poverty, and they're right. Children raised by single parents are three times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/conservatives-highlight-the-primacy-of-family-and-argue-that-family/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [The civil rights movement was very important in my house, and then Vietnam was very important 'cause there were two boys, so I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/the-civil-rights-movement-was-very-important-in-my-house-and-then/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“Katniss, I don’t think you understand how important you are to the cause. Important people usually get what they want. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/katniss-i-don-t-think-you-understand-how-important-you-are-to-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Being constantly in the public eye gives me a special responsibility, particularly that of using the impact of photographs to transmit a message, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/being-constantly-in-the-public-eye-gives-me-a-special-responsibility/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [And it is a very important thing to be and do, if not the most important 'cause how you interpret a story can then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/and-it-is-a-very-important-thing-to-be-and-do-if-not-the-most/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [And that's very important, too, 'cause a lot of people just assume everyone's a Democrat, or everyone's a Republican or whatever, and they're not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/and-that-s-very-important-too-cause-a-lot-of-people-just-assume/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [I think it's crucially important to be present in the lives of your children. They are my most important cause that I fight for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-think-it-s-crucially-important-to-be-present-in-the-lives-of-your/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [The financial costs of family breakdown are incredibly high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/the-financial-costs-of-family-breakdown-are-incredibly-high/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [Family breakdown is blighting the lives of far too many children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/family-breakdown-is-blighting-the-lives-of-far-too-many-children/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [I think Alzheimer's is an important cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-think-alzheimer-s-is-an-important-cause/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) ## More by M. Russell Ballard > [One who lays claim to special privilege through the priesthood doesn't understand the nature of his authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/one-who-lays-claim-to-special-privilege-through-the-priesthood-doesn/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [When it comes right down to it, people are quite similar. We may come from different backgrounds, cultures, and economic circumstances, and our attitudes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/when-it-comes-right-down-to-it-people-are-quite-similar-we-may-come/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [It is the parents duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/it-is-the-parents-duty-to-intervene-when-they-see-wrong-choices-being/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [The central activity of leadership is teaching - first by example, second by precept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/the-central-activity-of-leadership-is-teaching-first-by-example/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [When the Spirit is present, people are not offended when you share your feelings about the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/when-the-spirit-is-present-people-are-not-offended-when-you-share/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Be involved; be informed. Try to be understanding and tolerant and to appreciate diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/be-involved-be-informed-try-to-be-understanding-and-tolerant-and-to/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Because we love the Lord, we should be spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the gospel can be shared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/because-we-love-the-lord-we-should-be-spiritually-sensitive-to/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Learning the lessons of the past allows you to walk boldly in the light without running the risk of stumbling in the darkness. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/learning-the-lessons-of-the-past-allows-you-to-walk-boldly-in-the/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Sometimes we go so focused on bringing people to the meetinghouse that we forget we are supposed to be bringing them to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/sometimes-we-go-so-focused-on-bringing-people-to-the-meetinghouse/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Be involved; be informed. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/be-involved-be-informed-make-meaningful-contributions-to-society/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [ And fathers, . . . listen to \[your returned missionary sons\], and connect with them in regular, focused conversation. Talk with them in depth… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/and-fathers-listen-to-your-returned-missionary-sons-and-connect-with/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [All the marvels of nature are glimpses of His divine power and expressions of His love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/all-the-marvels-of-nature-are-glimpses-of-his-divine-power-and/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Many council leaders and members will be surprised to discover how much more focused their work will become when they examine it through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/many-council-leaders-and-members-will-be-surprised-to-discover-how/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [All of us must come to an honest, open self-examination, an awareness within as to who and what we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/all-of-us-must-come-to-an-honest-open-self-examination-an-awareness/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Remember that our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, know you best and love you the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/remember-that-our-heavenly-father-and-our-savior-jesus-christ-know/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) [Explore all 139 M. Russell Ballard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) ## More Bad news quotes > [In the wake of such bad news, it was heartening to know that what 'Sense8' stood for meant so much to so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/in-the-wake-of-such-bad-news-it-was-heartening-to-know-that-what/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [“I remember a man, a very lonely man, coming up to me at the end of a reading and looking into my face and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/i-remember-a-man-a-very-lonely-man-coming-up-to-me-at-the-end-of-a/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [In the business world, bad news is usually good news - for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/in-the-business-world-bad-news-is-usually-good-news-for-somebody-else/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [You never want to have to give your child bad news of any kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/you-never-want-to-have-to-give-your-child-bad-news-of-any-kind/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [If there's one thing you should know about me it's that I'm utterly unsuited for bureaucracy. I don't know my passwords to anything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-torres/if-there-s-one-thing-you-should-know-about-me-it-s-that-i-m-utterly/) [Julio Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-torres/) > [I seem to thrive by destroying the last thing I did, in a kind of cartoon Nietzsche way. Emerson says in "Experience" something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chiasson/i-seem-to-thrive-by-destroying-the-last-thing-i-did-in-a-kind-of/) [Dan Chiasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chiasson/) > [“The bad news is that, measured in terms of geologic time, if the Earth’s history is an accurate guide, glaciers will soon return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/the-bad-news-is-that-measured-in-terms-of-geologic-time-if-the-earth/) [Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/) > [I love an underdog. No, I don't necessarily mean the cartoon. I mean like David, as in Goliath, or the Bears, as in The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-lublin/i-love-an-underdog-no-i-don-t-necessarily-mean-the-cartoon-i-mean/) [Nancy Lublin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-lublin/) > [The good news is that economists are intelligent, engaging and often charming folks. The bad news is their work is often of little use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/the-good-news-is-that-economists-are-intelligent-engaging-and-often/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [The flatter the corporate hierarchy, the more likely it is that employees will communicate bad news and act upon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-flatter-the-corporate-hierarchy-the-more-likely-it-is-that/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The good news may be that Nature is phasing out the white man, but the bad news is that's who She thinks we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-news-may-be-that-nature-is-phasing-out-the-white-man-but-the/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [For a long period of time, the media covered rap music and hip hop the same way they cover a lot of black people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/for-a-long-period-of-time-the-media-covered-rap-music-and-hip-hop-the/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [“Shifting from a superior/inferior paradigm to a strength-in-difference paradigm was kind of a good news/bad news situation. On the downside, I had to admit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-irving/shifting-from-a-superior-inferior-paradigm-to-a-strength-in/) [Debby Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-irving/) > [“The best way to mess with the head of your reader is to strategize the delivery of bad news.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-percy/the-best-way-to-mess-with-the-head-of-your-reader-is-to-strategize/) [Benjamin Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-percy/) > [“The real secret, though, is that nobody belongs, whether they are natives or not. After expulsion from paradise all humans are in exile. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-codrescu/the-real-secret-though-is-that-nobody-belongs-whether-they-are/) [Andrei Codrescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-codrescu/) Browse all 691 Bad news quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host of societal and economic ills. But the good news is that, like any cause and effect, those ills can be reversed if what is causing them is changed. Inequities are resolved by living correct principles and values. Brothers and sisters, the most important cause of our lifetime is our families. If we will devote ourselves to this cause, we will improve every other aspect of our lives and will become, as a people and as a church, an example and a beacon for all the peoples of the earth.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M. 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