Maintain and Strengthen Families

                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 twelfth and last article in this series.

                Paragraph nine of the proclamation on the family states: “We call upon responsible citizens and offers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental.”

                Since the “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was presented at the Relief Society Broadcast in September 1995, it “has been translated into 77 languages and distributed to many world leaders… 

                "On December 6, 2004, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the findings of the November 2004 Doha Declaration, which contains many of the proclamation’s central teachings. Among the principles contained in the declaration that are similar to those in the proclamation is the concept that marriage is between man and woman, with each partner of equal esteem.

                “At the European Regional Dialogue Conference on the Family in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 2004, Bonnie D. Parkin, Relief Society general president, was given the opportunity to speak. She supported her comments with the proclamation.”

                In addition to being presented at international events, the proclamation on the family has also been presented to various Presidents of the United States, governors of numerous states, and mayors of many cities. The world has been warned about the importance of safeguarding the family. Time will tell if the family will survive the onslaught of wickedness in the world.

                As you study the ninth 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.