In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints family is HUGE! Family, for us, is central to our existence here on earth. We believe that we can be with our families forever, beyond this life, dependent of course on our worthiness and obedience to God's laws and covenants we have made.
We believe that prophets live today and are directed by God to give us guidance and revelation, just as they were in Biblical times. A recent past prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, read a document to the women of the church in September 1995 titled, The Family: A Proclamation to the World. This document has been foundational in our church, but was not intended just for Mormons. This was meant for all the world no matter what faith or religion you belong. In presenting Pres. Clinton with a record of his family history and a copy of the proclamation he said, "It is our feeling that if you're going to fix the nation, you need to start by fixing families. That's the place to begin" (Go Forward With Faith, Dew, pg 527). I would invite you to take the time to read this inspired document and contemplate the message of families and how you can apply the principles therein to guide you.
President Hinckley said this before he read the proclamation:
After a 20 year hiatus, I decided to return to college to obtain my bachelors degree. In taking all these classes I have textbooks to help guide me in my learning with instructors helping me along the way. When we build a home or put furniture together we have blue prints or instruction manuals so we make sure everything is built correctly and doesn't fall apart. The Proclamation on the Family is our guide to help build strong families, helping us understand the roles we each have that plays an integral part.
In my own family I have tried to implement this document as a resource; my guide in helping to define my role as well as my husband's role. It has been a great resource in teaching how we can achieve happiness and realize our full potential as an eternal family. I have the proclamation hung on my wall in my home, in two different places. In one of my former classes I memorized a paragraph each week so it would be on my mind more often. My family is far from perfect. There are many areas where we all can improve. But with this proclamation as our blue print, it keeps us on track and motivates us to learn to be a happier family. The proclamation is taught to the youngest of children in our congregation so they can understand the importance of family at a young age. This is the blue print we have to build our family, to form a solid foundation. I know these teachings are true and is making a difference in the world. In the book, Successful Marriages and Families, David Dollahite, a professor at Brigham Young University, (pg. 315) said,
We believe that prophets live today and are directed by God to give us guidance and revelation, just as they were in Biblical times. A recent past prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, read a document to the women of the church in September 1995 titled, The Family: A Proclamation to the World. This document has been foundational in our church, but was not intended just for Mormons. This was meant for all the world no matter what faith or religion you belong. In presenting Pres. Clinton with a record of his family history and a copy of the proclamation he said, "It is our feeling that if you're going to fix the nation, you need to start by fixing families. That's the place to begin" (Go Forward With Faith, Dew, pg 527). I would invite you to take the time to read this inspired document and contemplate the message of families and how you can apply the principles therein to guide you.
President Hinckley said this before he read the proclamation:
"With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of
deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement
and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to
warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and
the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the
Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards,
doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets,
seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout
its history. I now take the opportunity of reading to you this
proclamation: (the entire article can be read here).
After a 20 year hiatus, I decided to return to college to obtain my bachelors degree. In taking all these classes I have textbooks to help guide me in my learning with instructors helping me along the way. When we build a home or put furniture together we have blue prints or instruction manuals so we make sure everything is built correctly and doesn't fall apart. The Proclamation on the Family is our guide to help build strong families, helping us understand the roles we each have that plays an integral part.
In my own family I have tried to implement this document as a resource; my guide in helping to define my role as well as my husband's role. It has been a great resource in teaching how we can achieve happiness and realize our full potential as an eternal family. I have the proclamation hung on my wall in my home, in two different places. In one of my former classes I memorized a paragraph each week so it would be on my mind more often. My family is far from perfect. There are many areas where we all can improve. But with this proclamation as our blue print, it keeps us on track and motivates us to learn to be a happier family. The proclamation is taught to the youngest of children in our congregation so they can understand the importance of family at a young age. This is the blue print we have to build our family, to form a solid foundation. I know these teachings are true and is making a difference in the world. In the book, Successful Marriages and Families, David Dollahite, a professor at Brigham Young University, (pg. 315) said,
"Several pro-family organizations have been established since the proclamation was first introduced, and a number of those have used the proclamation..... For example, the Doha Declaration, which was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly on December 6, 2004, contains many of the proclamation's central teachings." (Seymour, 2005).
Lloyd Newel said it perfectly, "The proclamation speaks to the hearts and minds of our neighbors, friends, and those who care about the strength of the family as it declares the sacredness of family life and calls upon us to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society" (Successful Marriages and Families, pg. 317).
As you read and listen to the Family Proclamation, what questions do you have that you would like further insight to? This blog is intended to help those not familiar with the proclamation, and those who are curious about Mormon families to come take a deeper look and see how this proclamation can help your family too.
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