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Introduction
"Life’s
greatest joys are found in the family. Strong family relationships require
effort, but such effort brings great happiness in this life and throughout
eternity. Even if you have not had a happy family life in the past, you can
seek to have a happy, eternal marriage and a loving relationship with family
members" (True to the Faith).
"Through
your faith and personal righteousness in keeping the commandments of the Lord
Jesus Christ, you can qualify for all of the blessings our Heavenly Father has
promised to His obedient children. Some of you may not have an opportunity in
mortality to fulfill every righteous desire of your heart. But you can be
certain that no eternal blessing will be denied you if you remain faithful and
live the principles of the gospel throughout your earthly life" (M.
Russell Ballard, October 1991 General Conference).
"We see [single
members of the church] as a vital part of the mainstream body of the Church. We
pray that the emphasis we naturally place on families will not make you feel
less needed or less valuable to the Lord or to His Church. The sacred bonds of
Church membership go far beyond marital status, age, or present circumstance.
Your individual worth as a [child] of God transcends all" (Ezra Taft
Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1988).
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
WE, THE FIRST
PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman
is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the
eternal destiny of His children.
Q Why
is the family central to Heavenly Father's plan for his children?
·
Heaven is the continuation of the ideal home.
·
Heavenly Father wants us to have every blessing that He has.
o
“In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order
to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood
[meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he
cannot obtain it” (D&C 131:1–3).
·
"The home is the best place to teach, learn, and apply principles
of the gospel of Jesus Christ" (Preach My Gospel).
ALL HUMAN
BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved
spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine
nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual
premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
IN THE
PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their
Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a
physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and
ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine
plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the
grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it
possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to
be united eternally.
"Families
can be together forever. To enjoy this blessing we must be married in the
temple. When people are married outside the temple, the marriage ends when one
of the partners dies. When we are married in the temple by the authority of the
Melchizedek Priesthood, we are married for time and eternity. If we keep our
covenants with the Lord, our families will be united eternally as husband,
wife, and children. Death cannot separate us" (Gospel Principles, The
Family Can Be Eternal).
Q How does knowing that your
family can be eternal make a difference in your family?
THE FIRST
COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for
parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His
children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further
declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be
employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
WE DECLARE
the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm
the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
HUSBAND AND
WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their
children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a
sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for
their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one
another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever
they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable
before God for the discharge of these obligations.
THE FAMILY is
ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal
plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be
reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.
Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the
teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are
established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance,
forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational
activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in
love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life
and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the
nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and
mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death,
or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families
should lend support when needed.
WE WARN that
individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring,
or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before
God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon
individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and
modern prophets.
WE CALL UPON
responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those
measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit
of society.
Q What blessings have "faith,
prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome
recreational activities" brought into your family?
Q How can we have more of each
of these principles in our families? (see "How to Have a Successful Family"
section)
How to Have a Successful Family (From Gospel Principles,
The Family Can Be Eternal)
President
Harold B. Lee taught, “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do
will be within the walls of your own homes” (Teachings of Presidents of the
Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 134).
Satan knows
how important families are to our Heavenly Father’s plan. He seeks to destroy
them by keeping us from drawing near to the Lord. He will tempt us to do things
that will draw our families apart.
The First
Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared, “Successful marriages and
families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer,
repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome
recreational activities” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).
All of us
want to have happy, successful families. The following things will help us
achieve this:
1. Have
family prayer every night and morning (see 3 Nephi 18:21). Pray together as
husband and wife.
2. Teach
children the gospel every week in family home evening.
3. Study the
scriptures regularly as a family.
4. Do things
together as a family, such as work projects, outings, and decision making.
5. Learn to
be kind, patient, long-suffering, and charitable (see Moroni 7:45–48).
6. Attend
Church meetings regularly (see D&C 59:9–10).
7. Follow the
counsel of the Lord in D&C 88:119: “Organize yourselves; prepare every
needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of
fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of
order, a house of God.”
8. Keep a
family history, perform temple work together, and receive the sealing
ordinances of the temple.
The family is
the most important unit in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The
Church exists to help families gain eternal blessings and exaltation. The organizations
and programs within the Church are designed to strengthen us individually and
help us live as families forever.
Q How has the church helped to strengthen your
family?
Loving Family Relationships (From Gospel Principles,
The Family Can Be Eternal)
Q How can we develop greater harmony in our homes?
Husbands and
wives should be thoughtful and kind to each other. They should never do or say
anything to hurt each other’s feelings. They should also try to do everything
possible to make each other happy. As parents come to know God and strive to be
like Him, they will teach children to love one another.
Q What can parents do to encourage their children to
be good friends with one another?
Q What can husbands and wives do to help each other
be happy?
Key talks about Strengthening Families can be found at
Key talks about Temples can be found at
Key talks about the Plan of Salvation can be found at
Key talks about Covenants can be found at
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