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This semester, I am taking a
class called “Eternal Family.” In this class I am learning about the divine
institution: the family. This week I read a case study about two college
roommates. One taught a lesson in Relief Society about family relationships.
Afterwards, the other roommate sent a text saying that The Family: A
Proclamation to the World was not doctrine, but rather a feel good story.
As it turns out the girl who sent the text was raised by a single father due to
her mother’s death when she was young. This girls family situation made her
feel like she was inadequate when the first girl said that a family was to
comprise of a mother, father, and children.
We know that in the world
today our beliefs are different from those around us. It is important that we
are sensitive to people who live in differences in circumstances, but not
excuse ourselves when speaking of the gospel. We are to “anchor ourselves to
the word of God, contained in the scriptures and teachings of modern
prophets…we must anticipate that our conclusions will differ from persons who
do not think in that way. But we are firm in this because we know that this puts
us on safe ground eternally…our explanation of why we think in this way will
give others a better understanding of our position.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, As
He Thinketh in his Heart)
With that being said; The
Family: A Proclamation to the World proclaims, “…marriage between a man and
a woman is ordained of God…family is central to the Creator’s plan for the
eternal destiny of His children.” In his talk No other Gods, Elder Dallin H.
Oaks explained, “marriage of a man and woman is necessary forth accomplishment
of God’s plan. Only this marriage will provide the approved setting for mortal
birth and prepare family members for eternal life.” This is how God intended
for us to live, married as husband and wife. The family created by this man and
woman, is the center of God’s plan of happiness. Elder D. Todd Christofferson
said in his April 2015 talk, Why Marriage, Why Family, “A family built
on the marriage of a man and woman supplied the best setting for God’s plan to
thrive…families built on such marriages is vital for societies to survive and
flourish.” However, the proclamation does also say, “Disability, death, or
other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.” This is not ideal,
but the Lord understands that even when a family starts the way He
intended, situations such as the death of a family member may change this
dynamic. I would have let the girl who
sent the text message know that Heavenly Father knows of her family
difficulties. Her family is still ordained by God and follows his plan. The
death of her mother does not exempt her and her family to the blessings that
the Lord has waiting for them.
This proclamation is not just
a suggestion. It is the word of God. In Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 we are
told, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and
though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but
shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my
servants, it is the same.” This means since The Family: A Proclamation
to the World was given to us by servants of the Lord, the first presidency
and council of the twelve apostles, it is doctrine, it will always remain the
same. There is no expiration date. We need to follow it to the best of our ability.
My kids have to live in less
than ideal circumstances. Their father left the church and then us. His
decisions have caused many difficulties in our family, but we are going to make
it. With Chad now supporting and loving the kids and me, we can have the family
the Lord wants us to again.
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