December 15–21: “The Family Is Central to the Creator’s Plan”

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Even before we were born, we were part of a family—the family of our heavenly parents. That pattern continues on earth. Families here, at their best, are meant to echo the perfect pattern in heaven.

Of course, there are no guarantees that earthly families will be ideal or even functional. But as President Henry B. Eyring taught, families “give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental love” (“Gathering the Family of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 20). Knowing that families are imperfect and subject to attacks from the adversary, God sent His Beloved Son to redeem us and heal our families. And He sent latter-day prophets with a proclamation to defend and strengthen families. If we follow the prophets and put faith in the Savior, even though mortal families fall short of the divine ideal, there’s hope for families—on earth and in heaven.

Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church

“The family is central to the Creator’s plan.”

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is clearly about families. But it is equally about God’s plan of salvation. One way to study the proclamation is to write the phrases premortal life, mortal life, and postmortal life on a piece of paper and list what the proclamation teaches about each of these topics. What do you learn when you study the proclamation this way? How does this help you understand why marriage and family are essential to God’s plan? How do the truths in the proclamation influence your choices?

There are many people who, for a variety of reasons, might be fearful about marriage or raising children. If a friend said to you, “I don’t ever want to get married or have a family,” what would you say? Perhaps you could search the proclamation looking for something that would help your friend have hope in God’s plan.

Another question you might be asked—or that you might ask yourself—is one like this: “What if my family situation does not match what’s described in the family proclamation?” Here are two places you could look for prophetic counsel: the section “A Mighty Change” in Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s message “Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Parents” (Liahona, May 2023, 55–59) and the last four paragraphs of Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s message “Why Marriage, Why Family” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 52).

What do you feel inspired to do because of what you have studied?

See also Dallin H. Oaks, “The Plan and the Proclamation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 28–31; Topics and Questions, “Family,” Gospel Library.

“Each [person] is a beloved son or daughter of heavenly parents.”

We often think of the family proclamation as a guide for family life. But it also teaches important truths about our heavenly family and eternal identity. Why is it important for you to know that we are all part of this family? How does this truth influence the choices you make?

See also “I Am a Child of God,” Hymns, no. 301.

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Think of paragraphs 6 and 7 of the family proclamation as a pattern for “happiness in family life.” As you read these paragraphs, identify principles of “successful marriages and families.” You might think about examples of these principles that you have seen in your own family or other families. How do these principles help make Jesus Christ the foundation of family life?

Then you might think about a family relationship you would like to strengthen. Make a plan, with the Savior’s help, to act on impressions you receive.

See also L. Whitney Clayton, “The Finest Homes,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 107–9.

Parents should raise their children in love and righteousness.

“We call upon responsible citizens … to maintain and strengthen the family.”

The last paragraph of the family proclamation includes a call to action. As you consider how you will respond to that call, it might help to study the title of the proclamation. For instance, what is a proclamation? What does that word imply to you about this document’s message? What qualified the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles to issue a proclamation to the world about families? You might also make a list of what you consider to be the main messages of the proclamation. How can you promote these messages in your life, in your home, and in your community?

See also Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Defenders of the Family Proclamation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 14–17; “Defenders of the Faith” (video), Gospel Library.

Defenders of the Faith

For more ideas, see this month’s issues of the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines.

People, Places, Events

• Gordon B. Hinckley

Click to see more

Ideas for Teaching Children

Families are important in Heavenly Father’s plan.

• Help your children think of things that are so important that they would want to tell everyone about them. Show the children a copy of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” and explain that prophets and apostles wrote it to tell us all how important families are to Heavenly Father. Why are families so important to Him? (see also the video “What Is the Purpose of Family?” [ChurchofJesusChrist.org]).

  What Is the Purpose of Family?

• Share with your children something from the proclamation that you feel we all need to know. Invite the children to share their feelings about those truths. How would our lives be different if we did not know these things? You might sing together a song that relates to truths found in the proclamation, such as “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65).

• In section IV of his message “The Plan and the Proclamation” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 30), President Dallin H. Oaks described how the family proclamation was written. Perhaps you and your children could review his description together and talk about why you are grateful the Lord inspired His servants to teach us these truths about families.

• You could also show your children pictures (or invite them to draw some) portraying truths found in the family proclamation. These could be pictures of a temple, a family praying or playing together, or a couple getting married. Then your children could find sentences in the family proclamation that relate to the pictures. What does the Lord teach us about these things in the proclamation?

Heavenly Father wants families to be happy.

Be sensitive. As you teach the truths taught in the family proclamation, please be aware that many children live in families that do not match the ideals described in the proclamation. Consider how you can encourage and inspire them.

I am a “beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.”

• As you sing together “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3), you could toss a ball to a child as you say, “I know a child of God named [child’s name].” Then that child could toss the object to someone else, saying the same words and inserting that person’s name. Help your children find the phrase “beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents” in the family proclamation, and bear your testimony of this truth.

Families are happiest when they follow Jesus Christ.

• To begin a conversation about strengthening your family, you and your children could talk about what we do to make other things strong—such as our teeth, our bodies, or a building. You could then compare that to building a strong family. Help your children find the Christlike principles that lead to happiness in family life, found in paragraph 7 of the family proclamation (see also this week’s activity page).

For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.