December 26

Why Are Families Important?

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”

Counsel Together

Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; approximately 10–20 minutes

At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then lead a discussion about the work of salvation and exaltation using one or more of the questions below or questions of your own (see General Handbook, 10.2, 11.2, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Plan ways to act on what you discuss.

• Live the gospel. How are we finding joy in following Jesus Christ?

• Care for those in need. Who in our ward or community needs our help? How can we help?

• Invite all to receive the gospel. How can we help each other prepare for missionary service?

• Unite families for eternity. How can we contribute to our ward’s efforts to do family history and temple work?

At the end of the lesson, as appropriate, do the following:

• Testify of the principles taught.

• Remind quorum or class members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.

Teach the Doctrine

Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

Every family is different, and no family is perfect. But we all have perfect Heavenly Parents, who want us to receive the blessing of living happily as eternal families. To help us achieve this, God has inspired prophets and apostles to declare eternal truths in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

As you prepare to teach about the importance of families, think about why your family is important to you. What role has Jesus Christ played in helping your family find happiness? As you prepare to teach, you could study “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org); “Family” in For the Strength of Youth ([2011], 14–15); and Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s message “Why Marriage, Why Family” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 50–53). What principles from these resources do you feel would be most meaningful to those you teach?

The family is central to Heavenly Father’s plan for us.

Learn Together

To begin a discussion about the importance of families, you could ask the quorum or class what they learned about happiness in family life as they read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” at home. What did they learn that might help them strengthen their families? Then select one or more of the activities below to help quorum or class members better understand why families are important in Heavenly Father’s plan.

• The scriptures in “Supporting Resources” support inspired truths in the family proclamation. Perhaps you could assign each quorum or class member to read one of these scriptures and then search the family proclamation to find a passage that relates to his or her scripture. Each quorum or class member could share what he or she found.

• Living the teachings of Jesus Christ leads to true and lasting happiness within our families. To help quorum or class members understand this, you could invite each person to choose a Christlike attribute (see “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?” in chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel [2019], 121–29) and then find a scripture or prophetic statement that teaches about that attribute. As quorum or class members share what they found, they could answer one or more of the following questions: How would more fully living this Christlike attribute affect my family? What do I learn from the example of the Savior about how to apply this attribute in my family?

• President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The adversary is increasing his attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate” (“Opening Remarks,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 7). To help quorum or class members guard against these attacks, you could invite them to list on the board several attitudes and behaviors that Satan promotes in order to weaken families. Why are these things harmful to families? Quorum or class members could then search the seventh paragraph of the family proclamation for attitudes and behaviors that can counter Satan’s attacks. How can we seek the Savior’s help in developing these attitudes and behaviors? As part of this discussion, you could show the video “Proclamation” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What do we learn about how we can protect our families from Satan’s influence?

Act in Faith

Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.

Supporting Resources

• Romans 8:16–17; Hebrews 12:9 (We are children of Heavenly Father)

• Genesis 2:18, 24; Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4 (God ordained marriage)

• Mosiah 4:14–15; Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–29; 93:40–50 (Parents are to teach their children the gospel)

• L. Tom Perry, “Why Marriage and Family Matter—Everywhere in the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 39–42

• “Families Can Be Together Forever,” “The Home Is a Divine Institution” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

The Savior invited His disciples to testify, and as they did, the Spirit touched their hearts. As you teach, invite quorum or class members to share their testimonies of the importance of the family in God’s plan.