About 15 years ago, I had one of those life-altering conversations with my wife one evening after dinner. The kids were young, and few in number and I was worried about what I saw happening in the culture. Even here in Alaska unborn babies were under attack, traditional morality seemed to be unraveling and poisonous ideologies were creeping into our schools and local community. I wanted to strike out and fight the good fight for the sake of my young family and my hometown.

That night, I was pondering whether to enter the political arena. It seemed then – and still does – that few conservative-minded Alaskans were willing to throw their hat into the political ring. Even if I was outnumbered, maybe I could change the conversation, shed some light in the dark corners and stir good people to action.

But that night the conversation took a different turn.

If, in the midst of a busy week, I had some time left over, where would it best be spent?

My wife and I determined that we needed to spend our energies tending to the very heart of civilization – our family and our church – for these institutions are the very heart and soul of any thriving civilization.

It’s been said by far better men than me that the future of the entire world passes through the family. It is in this first cell of society where children first learn to love, obey, sacrifice, and grow in virtuous men and women who can serve the good of humanity.

As a wise man once put it: “The future of the world and of the church passes through the family … As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

It is true, we desperately need men and women of strong faith and morals to enter the political fray, but not to the neglect of their family or their church. America is in the midst of rapid decline in terms of church attendance and stable two parent homes. No amount of well-intended public policy will restore these pillars of civilization, for they require the most personal acts of love and sacrifice.

And ultimately, there will be fewer and fewer men and women who support traditional Judeo-Christian principles in the public square if we do not shore up this cornerstone.

If our families or our churches are struggling, we must first turn our attention there – not to social institutions, nonprofits, local schools or governmental action. Once the foundation is stable and strong, we will have an army of well-formed citizens who can go forth into the world as preachers, teachers, husbands, wives and public servants to restore the life of this nation.

It cannot and will not be otherwise.