WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
This is the first paragraph of the proclamation. To me this is telling us that if we want to have the eternal destiny that we are all able to have, then we need to have a family unit which is central to God's plan for us.
Sister Julie B. Beck Aug. 4, 209 in a broadcast to seminaries and institutes said, "The proclamation on the family was written to reinforce that. It reinforces the family being central to the Creator's plan. Without the family, there is no plan; there is no reason for it. I'm not certain that everyone of the rising generation understands that with clarity." The family is the center of God's plan. Everything in the church is centered around the family, either our own families or the church family. We aren't meant to be alone on the earth.
In the talk by President Erying on November 5, 1995 (BYU address) titled "The Family" he broke down the proclamation and talked about each section, and he referred to how a child would feel if they heard this information. He said, “A little child would feel safe hearing the words that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God. The child would know that the longing to have the love of both a father and a mother, distinct but somehow perfectly complementary, exists because that is the eternal pattern, the pattern of happiness. The child would also feel safer knowing that God would help mother and father resolve differences and love each other, if only they ask for his help and try. Prayers of children across the earth would go up to God, pleading for his help for parents and for families.” It helps me to think of the proclamation through a child’s eye. I feel safer knowing that God will help me as a mother and wife to resolve differences and help me to love my family more if I ask for his help and put my trust in him.
Pres. Eyring went on to say, “A key for us is in the proclamation in this sentence: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” What could make it more likely that people in a family would love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and obey the law? It is not simply teaching them the gospel. It is in their hearing the word of God and then trying it in faith. If they do, their natures will be changed in a way that produces the happiness we seek.” I know this to be true. When I started to be more diligent in our daily family scripture study and family prayer, we started to show love more towards each other and wanting to serve each other more. I know it is because we started to turn more to our Lord during our daily lives and he blessed us like he said he would. I know that by turning more to the Lord my children will learn to do this more and then have the help and blessings that they need to get through this world today.
The family is the center of the Gospel and we all should want to have an eternal family. Pres. Erying ended with this, “I testify that our Heavenly Father lives, that we lived with him as spirits, and that we would be lonely living anywhere but with him in the world to come.” I believe this to be true also. We would be lonely if we couldn't live with our Father in Heaven again, and I would add that we would be lonely if we didn't have our families with us eternally also.
