The Family Proclamation Will Stand

I consider The Family: A Proclamation to the World to be God's "Constitution" for families--the thing that will build families up and make them rock solid.  

It contains everything that families need in order to be successful in their pursuit of happiness...regardless of the challenges that we all face.  

It even contains an inalienable "bill of rights" that protects children.

I know many people who are not members of our church who believe that families are forever.  They earnestly hope that family relationships do not end with death, even if their own religion is vague or silent on the topic.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World, however, is not vague and it is not silent on topics that most of us wonder about.

The Family Proclamation teaches us that God intends for families to be forever.  It also tells us specifically what it takes to become a forever family and invites everyone in the world to take those necessary steps--to overcome human frailties--in order to become an eternal family, and return home to God together.

We learn from The Family Proclamation that a forever family is a place where husband and wife treat each other with respect and love, and work together as equal partners.  A forever family is a place where children are welcome, where they are protected from neglect and abuse, and where they are taught that they are children of God with infinite potential.  It is a place where fidelity and forgiveness is absolutely key.  And it all begins when a man and a woman are sealed together for eternity in a temple of the Lord.

There are people in the world today, who would like these truths about the Family to go away.  But the fact is that regardless of who does or does not subscribe to the basic principles of family, the truths found in The Family Proclamation are not going away...ever.

The great movie-maker Cecil B. DeMille said, "You cannot break the Ten Commandments; you can only break yourself against them."

I echo his assessment when I say, "You cannot break the basic truths of The Family Proclamation; you can only break yourself against them."

Let us not break ourselves and our homes and families because we were too selfish, proud, or shortsighted to truly see the value of the advice contained in this inspired document--a document written and signed by prophets of the Lord.

Instead, let us build our lives upon it.  And let us quickly realize that in order to truly defend the liberty of all men, we must first defend and strengthen the family of all men.

Thanks to everyone who has commented and contributed to Celebrate Family 2011.  And special thanks to Montserrat, Jaime from Welcome to the Madness, and Shannon of The Red Headed Hostess for continuing this beautiful tradition.

Please keep on contributing to the online conversation about what it takes to have happy, peaceful, successful families!  The world needs these truths now more than ever before!


Coming up in October, I will be blogging about The Book of Mormon and answering questions that I have received from my friends about what Mormons believe.  I would love to have you join me by blogging about your feelings about this inspired book and linking to the special Book of Mormon edition of the October 2011 Ensign.  You will have the opportunity to link-up your posts as well.

<center><a href="http://beinglds.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="The Book of Mormon Forum" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6OeB0Jo9C6clBn9Rilc7cgxHF2a3vVNzn_GAkKlT6OLhiwogQcZNr1ztJHj0f53NCxCHk2mNtIpuLsL30MoSGwgpfRTglqSWDwDu_ENv_4Cjms2Dhd2Hj9gU3Rlaae0k9LfLCtfVd1s/s800/book-of-mormon-forum-150.png"/></a></center>

If you'd like to read along or join me, please grab this button or read up on The Book of Mormon Forum here and here.

Here are the posts from Celebrate Family 2011

Finding the Family Proclamation in the Front Seat by Angela Fallentine

(Family Proclamation Pass-along Card by Allison Kimball)

Divine Destiny of God's Children by Alana Lee

(Family Proclamation Treasure Hunt Game)

The Family Proclamation Includes Everyone by Jenna Eakins

Creating a Family Mission Statement by Sue Anderson

(Family Mission Statement Worksheet by JocelynChristensen)

(Family MissionStatement Blog Hop)

Working for Eternity by Meredith Tuttle

Morally Clean Before Marriage: Happiness After by Josh Snyder

Family Proclamation FHE Lessons by Jocelyn Christensen

(Photo Essay Blog Hop)

Love is All You Need by Liz Pitcavage

From a Young Age by Becca Nelson

Happiness in Family Life by Julie White

Family Proclamation Trivial Pursuit by Jocelyn Christensen

(FHE Lessons Blog Hop)

Adaptation and The Family Proclamation by Jenny Fuller

Forgiveness for Past Abuse by Jackie Sarager

Reaching Your Family's Potential by CaMarie Hoffman