Diversity and change have been the only constants in the history of the American family.

—Mintz,2001

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... Then God said, “Let us make

human beings in our image, to be like ourselves.”... So God created human beings in his own

image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God

blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.”... Then God

looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

—Genesis 1:1,26–28,31 NLT

“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God

made them male and female.... This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is

joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let

no one split apart what God has joined together.”

—Matthew 19:4–6 NLT

noldjokebeginswithalittleboyasking

hismother,“WheredidIcomefrom?”

Themotherpauses,takesadeepbreath,and

haltinglyproceedstotellthelittleboyabout“the

birdsandthebees.”Thelittleboylistenspatiently.

Whenhismotherappearstobethrough,hesays,

“Iknowallthat,butJohnnycamefromChicago.

WheredidIcomefrom?”

Where you come from is important.In

considering this issue,we can find some clues in

the biblical narrative of the very first family.

TheChangingFace

of theAmericanFamily

Early History

A

2

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

ImagefromBigstockPhoto.com/Matthewt