Today I feel the need to share with you my thoughts on The Family Proclamation as many people in our Church call it. In September 1995, this Proclamation was given at the General Relief Society Meeting. It clarifies many doctrines regarding family, gender, our purpose in life, our roles, the importance of family.
You may wonder, "Hey this was supposed to be a discussion about Relief Society. You are off topic and only three days into your blog!"
Actually, the Family Proclamation has everything to do with Relief Society because living Prophets are clearly telling us what the Lord has already told us through the scriptures regarding our roles as women.
"The family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His Children. Living Prophets Tell us why." Here is a copy of the Proclamation. I encourage you to read it...either for the first time or 200th time. The Holy Ghost will bear witness to you the truthfulness of the doctrines contained.
And please stay tuned for my commentary below.
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.
Regardless of each of our statuses in life (single, married, divorced, widowed) or sexual orientation, or age: we each have a vital role to play in our Heavenly Father's plan. We each have a responsibility to help keep and teach family values, as defined by GOD our creator (not society or governments, which change their minds over time), to each other and most importantly to the young people of today.
I would love to reference you to a post from yet another blog by Daniel Greenfield, which has been circulating on Facebook. It was reposted by someone that I admire, Kathryn Skaggs, author of the blog, "A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman".
http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2013/04/daniel-greenfield-deconstruction-of.html
I don't think it could be said any better!
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