Twenty-Five years ago, the First Presidency issued a historic proclamation containing principles that are vital to the happiness and well-being of every family. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Family: A Proclamation to the World, we teamed up with some wonderful Latter-day Saint influencers to create this deep-dive study.
It’s broken down into 12 sections, each containing a thoughtful discussion, invitation, and printable. Click the images to download the printables separately, or click here to download the bundle.
“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and … the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
As we dive into the first week of this study, I find it interesting that the very first topic is marriage. This is no coincidence. Marriage should be our most important earthly relationship; our first priority after God. A child’s greatest need is a happy and healthy marriage between their parents — a strong family bond in which to take refuge when trials and tribulations come their way.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “Marriage is the most trusting step in any human relationship. It’s a real act of faith.”
I think it’s important to remember that marriage is the establishment that brings about divine children. Children are not the establishment that bring about a divine marriage.
I invite you to take conscious steps this week to prioritize your marriage. Think about the needs of your spouse and do your best to meet them. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Bring them their favorite treat or do a small chore for them.
Becky Squire
“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.”
Typically when we read this section, it is often easy to overlook the absolute truth that each of us is a literal son or daughter of Heavenly Parents, and that we each have a divine nature and destiny. Our roles in life are not the same as the divine potential we are meant to, and sent to fulfill. And with a nature within each of us that is as Divine as that of our Parents, our destiny is limitless and our potential immeasurable. If we take the time to stop and really ponder and pray about this, everyone of us may be blessed to understand that each of our individual spheres of influence are even greater and more far reaching than we could have ever anticipated. “When you let the Lord know that you are serious about doing exactly what you came to earth to do, watch what happens. He may change many things dramatically. So hang on for the ride of your life, the ride that you were born to take,” (Wendy Watson Nelson, Feb. 2018).
I invite each of you to pray to truly understand your divine destiny as a child of loving Heavenly Parents. Pray with faith to know your prayers are heard, and pray with faith that you will receive an answer. And when you receive your answer, take courage and act on it.
Kay West
“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.”
Premortal life is but a small chapter in our own personal book of life, yet it contains some of the most profound lessons that we can learn about ourselves, and the nature of God.
We chose to come to Earth in order to obtain a body and have an earthly experience, but with that experience would come sorrow, sin, pain, joy, happiness, and every other emotion in between.
We knew that the road would be bumpy, that seatbelts would come unhooked and unforeseen accidents would lie around the corner, yet we gladly accepted this invitation to come to Earth because of Jesus Christ.
In chapter 11 of 3 Nephi, the resurrected Savior extends this warm and loving invitation to a group of individuals – similar to you and I – and says, “arise and come forth unto me.”
With the unfathomable pain it cost the Savior to have His palms, feet, side and wrists pierced, the lesson the Nephites learned on that glorious morning is that He is not about to, nor will He ever, turn His back or give up on us now.
They were the ones who had been given a second chance “because ye were more righteous than they” (3 Nephi 9:13).
They, the Nephites, were told, “Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me” (3 Nephi 9:14).
When Christ says, “come unto me”, it means He knows the way. He knows the way because He is the way and He knows where the twists, turns and potholes are. He knows the road that leads to safety and He knows which path leads to happiness.
What He asks is that we love Him and love our neighbors, and in return, we will receive the blessings that only a merciful master can bestow, and that is a remission of sin and everlasting peace.
Perhaps one of the greatest lessons we can learn from our premortal realm is that God’s plan has a way for us to return back home; Jesus Christ.
He is the way, and He always will be.
“Follow me,” was His invitation to Simon and his brother Andrew while on the sea of Galilee, and so it is with us.
Tyler Rickenbach
“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.”
When I read this section of the Proclamation, my heart swells. I feel somehow the magnitude of my existence, the simplicity of the beautiful plan of happiness, and the profound significance of why we have families.
Russell Ballard said, “Indeed, nothing is more critically connected to happiness—both our own and that of our children—than how well we love and support one another within the family.” I love that; nothing is more connected to our happiness than the love being learned in our home. I am reminded by becoming a family we are enrolling in the most intense, evolutionary, profound school in how to love as Heavenly Fathers loves. A school that prepares us for the next step on our journey, eternal life, as we return to our loving Heavenly Parents.
As we seal our families to the Lord through temple ordinances, we align our perspective with Heaven, knowing that this is the beginning of an eternal journey, and although we cannot ever reach perfection on this earth that the work done with and for our family extends far into the eternities. I feel the shift
in my life, in my happiness, in my confidence in my role as a woman when I remember that what is required of me today is simply my best. That Heavenly Father helps my family to “prosper by degrees,” working miracles in our lives from beyond the veil.
When I visit the temple, I feel the refuge and peace of knowing that we are not alone in this work. I try to cultivate “temple” moments with our family where we are together, without friends, without distraction to give needed time to allow these relationships to grow and strengthen. I am excited for the day when we all can be in the temple together as a family, but for now, we visit the temple grounds with the kids or, like our ancient ancestors, we head into the wilderness to feel closer together and to God.
I invite you to find time to have your own “temple moment” with your family this week. The roots of our families need deep watering frequently in order to provide the kind of environment that allows growth. Growth is how we move closer to Heaven, to our divine potential.
Becky Proudfit
“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.”
Just as Adam and Eve were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth, we too are commanded to do so. The family is a vital part to Heavenly Father’s plan. Satan knows this and works tirelessly to destroy families. One of the tools he uses is to convince us that having a family can wait or isn’t important at all.
Elder Neil L. Andersen shared, “Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: ‘[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. … Below any job you may have or hope to get.’ She then adds: ‘Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling’” (“Children,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 28).
My husband and I have been blessed with four children. Having children has been the greatest challenge, but by far the greatest blessing in my life.
Motherhood and the bearing of children is a sensitive subject. I cannot explain why some of us must go through difficulties and I cannot begin to imagine
what many of you go through, but I do know that your Heavenly Father loves you and knows the desires of your heart.
In 2001 Sister Sheri Dew shared this,“Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us. … Some women are required to wait to have children. … But the Lord’s timetable for each of us does not negate our nature. Some of us, then, must simply find other ways to mother. And all around us are those who need to be loved and led” (“Are We Not All Mothers?” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 96–97).
I invite you to take time to record qualities that you have gained as a mother and/or wife. How have these qualities blessed your life and brought you closer to Heavenly Father? Take time to record some qualities that you would like to improve on and then make a small goal to work on improving it. Sheena Perron |
“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.”
We are created in the image of God. We also have potential to be like him. However, the most sacred way we are like him is our ability to create life like he has done. Like it says in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”: “We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed.” This is such a great responsibility for us to have. This appointment should be taken seriously and understanding the importance of life in God’s eternal plan is the first step to taking it seriously.
I have an invitation for each of you that goes along with this paragraph. It is two fold if you are a parent yourself. First, write a letter to your parents and thank them for bringing you into this world and for taking the importance of life and creation seriously. My husband’s mother passed away and this is something you can still do even if your parents have passed. We have written letters to my mother-in-law and went to her grave and read them there or just writing the words down will be amazing, I promise. Second, if you are a mom share with your kids their birth stories (share pictures as well) and talk about the day they were born. Write each of them a note telling them how much you love them and how much their Father in Heaven loves them as well. I know this challenge will take a bit of time, but it really will help you reflect on the importance of life and the sacredness of the creation of life
Shambray Matthews
“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.”
As parents we feel the desire to teach our children all that they need to know academically, socially, and spiritually. It often feels like a daunting task when we look at it from our mortal parenting state. We can feel very inadequate. The good news is that we are not left to forge our way through the rearing of our children aimlessly. Notice the word sacred. Sacred means being connected with God. We are not parenting on our own. Heavenly Father wants us to include Him in the rearing of our children. He is on our team and we will have the most success when we include God in teaching our children. “In our divinely given role as teachers to our children, we as parents have much more support than we realize, including our Father’s abundant help.” Ronald L. Knighton, Becoming Our Children’s Greatest Teachers https://www.churchofjesuschris…
Love is mentioned twice in this short section. Rear them in love and teach them to love. A child’s greatest teacher is modeled behavior. Show and tell kids you love them, often. Teach them to love and serve others too. Volunteer, serve those in need, visit the elderly, make space to do good and be kind. Make an effort to see your children through God’s eyes then do your best. I always say, “Teach with love and you will love who and what you teach.”
I invite each of you to pray and ask Father in Heaven for help in the rearing of your children. Begin including God in your parenting today. Then move forward with what He has asked of us specifically in this section of the proclamation. If you are studying Come Follow Me weekly in your home, keep it up. Consider looking for ways you can improve family study. If you have not yet begun home centered learning, start now. Give yourself grace and just begin where you are. Continue with what is working in your home. Take an honest inventory of your family habits, then throw out the junk and keep the treasures. Angie Chandler |
“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.”
Isn’t it so cool that this document gives us a beautiful, detailed list for exactly HOW to create more Christlike families?! There’s a lot of focus, and rightly so, on becoming Christlike individuals, but this inspired paragraph teaches us that we can also work toward becoming Christlike as a family unit! Even though we can’t control each member’s actions, we can take the initiative and foster loving, respectful, and fun family environments and traditions. Whether you’ve got little ones, grown ones, or any other combination of family make-up, this paragraph seems to fit into a perfect list of questions to reflect on (as long as we can do them in a guilt-free manner–no use dwelling on the past!):
- How is our family showing faith in Jesus Christ (not faith in certain outcomes)?
- How often are we praying together?
- Do we try to change when we fall into bad habits or lose good habits?
- Do we forgive easily and quickly instead of holding grudges?
- Do we show respect to each other at all times, no matter our ages or differences of opinion?
- Do we let love drive every action, including discipline and boundary-setting?
- How do we mourn with our family members who are struggling, instead of judging?
- Are we developing strong work ethics?
- Do we have fun together?
Pick just one item from this list of family-centered Christlike attributes that you would like to improve on in your family this week. Create an experience, habit, or mindset that can help to move you forward, and invite your family members to join you!
Cali Black
“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.”
The following are excepts taken from “Fathers” by D. Todd Christofferson:
The role of father is of divine origin, beginning with a Father in Heaven and, in this mortal sphere, with Father Adam.
Providing for one’s family, although it generally requires time away from the family, is not inconsistent with fatherhood—it is the essence of being a good father. “Work and family are overlapping domains.” This, of course, does not justify a man who neglects his family for his career or, at the other extreme, one who will not exert himself and is content to shift his responsibility to others.
The perfect, divine expression of fatherhood is our Heavenly Father. His character and attributes include abundant goodness and perfect love. His work and glory are the development, happiness, and eternal life of His children. Fathers in this fallen world can claim nothing comparable to the Majesty on High, but at their best, they are striving to emulate Him, and they indeed labor in His work. They are honored with a remarkable and sobering trust.
Perhaps the most essential of a father’s work is to turn the hearts of his children to their Heavenly Father. If by his example as well as his words a father can demonstrate what fidelity to God looks like in day-to-day living, that father will have given his children the key to peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. A father who reads scripture to and with his children acquaints them with the voice of the Lord.
Let us lay aside the exaggerated notions of individualism and autonomy in today’s culture and think first of the happiness and well-being of others.
“Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”
One day when my daughter was a freshman in college living away from home, she called me in between classes and excitedly told me, “Mom! The Family Proclamation says my role as a mother will be to nurture my children but it doesn’t say HOW I have to do that.” I knew why she was so overjoyed by this knowledge she had learned in a religion class at BYU.
As a 19 year old with her whole life ahead of her she was excited about the possibilities of a university education, career options and other adventures. She also wanted to be a mother someday. Prior to this conversation, she had expressed to me several times that she wasn’t sure how she could do all of the things she was dreaming of and felt called to and be a mother at the same time.
This day, her college professor opened a door for her. He helped her see as a daughter of God she had been given divine gifts, talents and abilities God expected her to use. Maybe these gifts were solely to nurture her children or maybe they were given to her to help others in the world through professional or volunteer work or maybe her gifts would allow her to do both in her own unique way.
With God’s guidance, she would get to discover what the responsibility to
nurture meant for her. She had learned an important truth–there is no “right way” to nurture as a mother. God is a personal God and He will guide and direct each of us to fulfill our personal, divine mission in this life.
I invite each of you to pray and seek personal revelation for how you can use your gifts to nurture your children and family.
Darla Trendler
“In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”
When my husband and I were married, it was wonderful to see more fully the innate gifts that we were individually blessed with. Being married also opened our eyes to painfully realize some of our own weaknesses. As such, we determined that we would try to always consider ourselves a team, working together, instead of treating our marriage like a competition of who did what, and who did it best.
Our thought process was to try to think of being married to our spouse as being on a team that is working towards the same end goal. We both desired to return to live with God again and remain an eternal family there. This team consisted of two people who both brought our own unique strengths to the table, while working together to help fill in the gaps of the other persons weaknesses, so as to work collectively our best. No score is kept between us, as we know that the competition isn’t each other-the competition is against Satan. Together, as husband and wife, with Christ at our side, we have tried to bless and support our children and family. As we are both far from perfect people, this approach has made all the difference for us as we have tried to love and lead our children.
Elder Bruce C. Hafen has said, “In the little kingdom of a family, each spouse freely gives something the other does not have and without which neither can be complete and return to God’s presence.
Communicate with your spouse about ways you can be a team in your thoughts and actions. Then make one small change this week.
Amber Robbins
“We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophet.
“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.”
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