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DIR Return to: The Family Proclamation
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DIR By: RickBulow
Date: May 17, 2024, 4:57 pm
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[center]<p>THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD</p>[/center]
[center]<p>The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve
Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints</p>[/center]
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as
part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held
September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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