As children of God I
know that He sent us here to learn those things which are of greatest
importance. One of those things is the
need for family relationships, which we could not truly experience without
becoming parents ourselves. I know that
in order to have happy lives here and for eternity family must be the center of
our lives. It is in the bonds of family
that I have come to understand more about our Father in Heaven and His love for
me. I am so grateful for His plan which
allows us not only to learn and grow in family units, but we are promised to be
with each other for eternity as we strive to follow his plan for us.
"When it comes to families, there is no such thing as quality time without a certain quantity of time."Elder L Tom Perry, January 24, 2012 BYU-Idaho Devotional "The Church: Scaffolding for Our Lives" http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2012_01_24_Perry.htm
"...Being part of a family is a great blessing. ...Not all families are the same, but each is important in Heavenly Father's plan. All families need strengthening, from the ideal to the most troubled. That strengthening can come from you. In fact, in some families you may be the only source of spiritual strength. The Lord is depending on you to bring the blessings of the gospel to your family."
Sister Mary N. Cook, October 2007 General Conference "Strengthen Home and Family" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/strengthen-home-and-family?lang=eng&query=Family
"In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a theology of the family that is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. The Creation of the earth provided a place where families could live. God created a man and a woman who were the two essential halves of a family. It was part of Heavenly Father's plan that Adam and Eve be sealed and form an eternal family. The Fall provided a way for the family to grow. Adam and Eve were family leaders who chose to have mortal experience. The Fall made it possible for them to have sons and daughters. The Atonement allows for the family to be sealed together eternally. It allows for families to have eternal growth and perfection. The plan of happiness, also called the plan of salvation, was a plan created for families. The rising generation need to understand that the main pillars of our theology are centered in the family. ..."The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was written to reinforce that the family is central to the Creator's plan. Without the family, there is no plan; there is no reason for mortal life."
Sister Julie B Beck, March 2011 Liahona "Teaching the Doctrine of the Family" https://www.lds.org/liahona/2011/03/teaching-the-doctrine-of-the-family?lang=eng&query=Family
"In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father's plan."
Elder L Tom Perry, April 2013 General Conference "The Importance of the Family" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/04/the-importance-of-the-family?lang=eng&query=family
"I believe the mission statement for mortality might be "to build an eternal family." Here on this earth we strive to become part of extended families with the ability to create and form our own part of those families. That is one of the reasons our Heavenly Father sent us here. Not everyone will find a companion and have a family in mortality, but everyone, regardless of individual circumstances, is a precious member of God's family."
Elder M Russell Ballard, October 2005 General Conference "What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/what-matters-most-is-what-lasts-longest?lang=eng&query=family
"Notice that the Church is not meant to do the work of parents - it guides the work of parents. The Church offers an eternal form. As builders of eternal families, we are reassured by promises that if we build according to this eternal form, our efforts can provide the safety and protection we seek for those we love most. I believe family traditions are like the hewn oak trunks driven into the ground to build the old Fort House. Make the honoring of family traditions and the development of new ones a priority throughout your lives. Holiday traditions, birthday traditions, Sunday traditions, dinner-time traditions - honor them, write them down and make certain you follow them. ...Be certain you are creating rich environment for your family to look forward to these special times of the year when traditions hold you together as a great eternal family unit"
Elder L Tom Perry, January 24, 2012 BYU-Idaho Devotional "The Church: Scaffolding for Our Lives" http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2012_01_24_Perry.htm
"One eternal truth I have come to know is that God lives. He is our Father. We are His children. ...Of all the other titles that He could have used, He chose to be called "Father." The Savior commanded, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven" His use of the name "Father" is a lesson for all as we come to understand what it is that matters most in this life. Parenthood is a sacred privilege, and depending upon faithfulness, it can be an eternal blessing. The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home."
President Boyd K Packer, April 2014 General Conference "The Witness" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-witness?lang=eng
"Always seek to strengthen families. Teach with a vision of the importance of families being sealed in the temple."
Elder Richard G Scott, April 2014 General Conference "I Have Given You an Example" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/i-have-given-you-an-example?lang=eng#
"The single most important principle that should govern every home is to practice the Golden Rule - the Lord's admonition that "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Take a moment and imagine how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of thoughtless words or actions. By our example, let us teach our family members to have love one for another."
Elder M Russell Ballard, April 2011 General Conference "Finding Joy through Loving Service" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/finding-joy-through-loving-service
"Our doctrine is clear: Women are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves them. Wives are equal to their husbands. Marriage requires a full partnership where wives and husbands work side by side to meet the needs of the family."
Elder Quentin L Cook, April 2011 General Conference "LDS Women Are Incredible!" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/lds-women-are-incredible
"Families are the treasure of heaven."
Elder Neil L Andersen, April 2014 General Conference "Spiritual Whirlwinds" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/spiritual-whirlwinds
