"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." -The Family: A Proclamation to the World
“We raise an alarm and warn members of the Church to wake up and understand what is going on. Parents, be alert, ever watchful that this wickedness might threaten your family circle.” –President Boyd K. Packer, General Conference, October 2011, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng | “Since the beginning, God has instructed mankind that marriage should unite husband and wife in unity. Therefore, there is not a president or a vice president in a family. The couple works together eternally for the good of the family. They are united together in word, in deed, and in action as they lead, guide, and direct their family unit. They are on equal footing. They plan and organize the affairs of the family jointly and unanimously as they move forward.” – Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, May 2004, pp. 71 (Below: My Father Jeff and his Father Avery the night before he left to serve a mission in Kiev, Ukraine.) | “We hope that by flooding the Church with family-oriented media, members of the Church will be assisted and encouraged to build stronger and better families. We hope it will cause a conscious and sustained effort in building an eternal family unit. An abundance of Church materials will be available for you from which to pick and choose useful ideas. At least by seeing family issues mentioned so often, we all will be reminded to focus our attention on the most important organization the Lord has established here on earth.”- Elder L. Tom Perry, “The Importance of Family”, General Conference, April 2003 |
“Today I call upon members of the Church and on committed parents, grandparents, and extended family members everywhere to hold fast to this great proclamation, to make it a banner not unlike General Moroni’s “title of liberty,” and to commit ourselves to live by its precepts. As we are all part of a family, the proclamation applies to everyone.” –M. Russell Ballard, “What matters most is what lasts the longest”, General Conference, October 2005,
“The doctrine of the family begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them. The Apostle Paul taught that God is the father of our spirits (see Heb. 12:9). From the proclamation we read, “In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped 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 his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.” The proclamation also reiterates to the world 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” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).” –Elder Robert D. Hales, “The Eternal Family”, General Conference, October 1996, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/10/the-eternal-family?lang=eng&query=family
“While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, “Where is the rest of the family?” This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family.” –Elder Robert D. Hales, “The Eternal Family”, General Conference, October 1996, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/10/the-eternal-family?lang=eng&query=family
“Strengthening families is our sacred duty as parents, children, extended family members, leaders, teachers, and individual members of the Church.” –Robert D. Hales, “Strengthening Families; Our Sacred Duty”, General Conference, April 1999, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/strengthening-families-our-sacred-duty?lang=eng&query=family
"There are no perfect families, either in the world or in the Church, but there are many good families. My spiritual applause also goes to those heroic parents—left alone by death or divorce—who are righteously and “anxiously engaged” in nurturing and providing for their families, often against such heavy odds." -Neal A. Maxwell, "Take Especial Care of Your Family", General Conference, April 1994, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/04/take-especial-care-of-your-family?lang=eng&query=family
"There are no perfect families, either in the world or in the Church, but there are many good families. My spiritual applause also goes to those heroic parents—left alone by death or divorce—who are righteously and “anxiously engaged” in nurturing and providing for their families, often against such heavy odds." -Neal A. Maxwell, "Take Especial Care of Your Family", General Conference, April 1994, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/04/take-especial-care-of-your-family?lang=eng&query=family
My Personal Position Statement:
I have such a strong testimony of families. My family means more to me than I ever could have imagined; my children, are my everything. Watching their beautiful innocence is one of the most amazing things I have ever been able to witness. Being a mother is the most challenging thing I have ever done. Without daily help from Heavenly Father I couldn’t be the mom I am today. When I became a parent for the first time I could understand in a small way the love Heavenly Father has for us. Even when we make mistakes, He still loves us. If we turn away from him, He welcomes us back with open arms. When we cry, He is there to wipe our tears. I am thankful to know that my family can be together forever and death is not the end of family relationships.
I have such a strong testimony of families. My family means more to me than I ever could have imagined; my children, are my everything. Watching their beautiful innocence is one of the most amazing things I have ever been able to witness. Being a mother is the most challenging thing I have ever done. Without daily help from Heavenly Father I couldn’t be the mom I am today. When I became a parent for the first time I could understand in a small way the love Heavenly Father has for us. Even when we make mistakes, He still loves us. If we turn away from him, He welcomes us back with open arms. When we cry, He is there to wipe our tears. I am thankful to know that my family can be together forever and death is not the end of family relationships.