Visiting Teaching Message: January
2016
“The Family: A
Proclamation to the World*”
Of the
general Relief Society meeting in 1995, when President Gordon B. Hinckley
(1910–2008) first read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,”
Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president, said: “We were grateful
for and valued the clarity, simplicity, and truth of this revelatory
document. … The proclamation on the family has become our benchmark for
judging the philosophies of the world, and I testify that the principles set
forth … are as true today as they were when they were given to us by a
prophet of God nearly 20 years ago.”1
“From
the family proclamation,” adds Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the
Relief Society general presidency, “we learn, ‘In the premortal realm, spirit
sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father’2 …
We live
in a time when parents must protect their homes and their families. “The Family:
A Proclamation to the World” can guide us.
Additional
Scriptures
Living
Stories
“Lee
Mei Chen Ho from the Tao Yuan Third Ward, Tao Yuan Taiwan Stake, said the
proclamation has taught her that family relationships help develop divine
characteristics such as faith, patience, and love. ‘When I try to improve
myself according to the proclamation, I can experience real happiness,’ she
said.”4
Barbara
Thompson, who was present when the proclamation was read for the first time and
later served as a counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, said: “I
thought for a moment that [the family proclamation] really didn’t pertain too
much to me since I wasn’t married and didn’t have any children. But almost as
quickly I thought, ‘But it does pertain to me. I am a member of a family. I am
a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a niece, and a granddaughter. …
Even if I were the only living member of my family, I am still a member of
God’s family.’”5
Consider
This
How is
“The Family:
A Proclamation to the World” a document for our day?
“Hear Ye O the World”
cji
1/1/16
But left in deafness
unable
too much chaotic
noise about
beating drums and
loud horns
screaming here and
there
since the mortal
probation began
the target is always
the family
there is no let up
from attack
government stumble in
blindness
as lemmings to the
cliff’s edge
how sweet then come
the words
‘hear ye o the world,
hear ye’
A Proclamation to the
Family
showing the
importance to all
none can deny or
refuse to hear
even within the
world’s deafness
the truth is given
and shared
in the still small
voice heard
piercing all deafness
of choice!
Copyright © 2015 –
cji
THE
FAMILY
*A
PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
The
First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
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.
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.
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.
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