From Deseret News archives:
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
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.
All human beings male and female are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives mothers and fathers will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
Recent comments
Why do people who don't believe in the LDS Church bother to read...
spelcheq | Feb. 3, 2008 at 11:10 p.m.
The proclamation was a very horrible piece of filth.
Stenar | Jan. 28, 2008 at 7:10 p.m.
Actually, an official statement issued by the church is very...
Dear JTW | Jan. 28, 2008 at 9:18 a.m.
- Skateboarder stabbed at park 12:23 p.m.
- USA Today poll: U. 14th, Y. 22nd 11:51 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 11:32 a.m.
- Tough road ahead in Senate for bill 11:05 a.m.
- Afghan vows to keep out corruption 10:35 a.m.
- Anti-Taliban mayor killed in Pakistan 10:27 a.m.
- Dalai Lama visits town near Tibet 10:26 a.m.
- Some saw trouble ahead for Hasan 10:21 a.m.
- China pledges funds, aid to Africa 10:20 a.m.
- 40 dead in El Salvador flooding 10:19 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
208 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Lobo suspended
173 - House passes health care bill
160 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
143 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Thousands protest health bill
100 - Provo company innovating engines
98 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
92
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
are overrated teams who play NOBODY and when they do play a good team they...
Polygamy was condemned in the BOM, but was said to be ok at special times....
"Hey Annoy monous" When the Cougs win like this, why be such a jerk -...
Utahns have good reason t be depressed if your team can't beat the Kings.
How does providing health care for all interfere with opportunity or freedom?...
Crap. I moved to the US from Canada because it is almost impossible to get...
No Don, there are many posters against gay marriage. Either you're not...
"the water authority retorts that it has a duty to find water in its state...
Thanks again Jim Matheson. I called your office several times as I was...
if we can get the senate on board and President Obama will sign it. ...

