We can
strengthen our families, communities, and nations by studying the document
titled “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and by
following its precepts. One way to study the proclamation is one paragraph at a
time. This is the eleventh article in this series.
Paragraph eight
of the proclamation on the family states: “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.”
This paragraph clearly tells the
importance of protecting families and individual members of families. God
expects us to treat each other as He would treat us. If we do not, we will
suffer the consequences.
Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke in
October 2003 on this topic in a talk titled “Let Our Voices Be Heard.” He says, “The family is at the heart of Heavenly Father’s plan because we are
all part of His family and because mortality is our opportunity to form our own
families and to assume the role of parents. It is within our families that we learn
unconditional love, which can come to us and draw us very close to God’s love.
It is within families that values are taught and character is built. Father and
mother are callings from which we will never be released, and there is no more
important stewardship than the responsibility we have for God’s spirit children
who come into our families.”
Heavenly Father sent us to earth
to live in families. There He expects us to learn His ways and to follow in the
footsteps of His Son, even Jesus Christ. The family is the basic unit of
society here on earth and in the kingdom of heaven.
Elder Bruce D. Porter of the
Seventy also spoke of the importance of families. In his talk titled “Defending the Family in a Troubled World,” Elder Porter says, “In families more than anywhere else children learn the
values, practical life skills, manners, and fundamental truths that enable them
to rise up and be successful in the world. They learn the all-important
attributes of love, unselfishness, sharing, giving, and hard work that someday
will be essential for them to form families of their own and to rear up a new
generation in order that the great wheel of life may roll onward. So vital is
the family to the cycle of human life and the renewal of each generation that
it is fair to say that if the family breaks down, everything breaks down. If
families do not fulfill their divinely appointed purpose of carrying on the
light of truth and the torch of civilization to the next generation, then we
can throw any amount of money or ideas or programs at our world’s problems, and
we will assuredly fail.”
As we can see from these two
quotes from an Apostle and a Seventy, the family is critical to our success as
society. We must protect the family!
As you study the eighth paragraph
of the proclamation, you may want to share what you learn in a family home
evening. This site has a wonderful family home evening program all outlined with lesson, music, activity, and
refreshments. I hope that you will strengthen your family, community, and
nation by fulfilling your family responsibilities.
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