Family

“Because of the importance of the family to the eternal plan of happiness, Satan makes a major effort to destroy the sanctity of the family, demean the importance of the role of men and women, encourage moral uncleanliness and violations of the sacred law of chastity, and to discourage parents from placing the bearing and rearing of children as one of their highest priorities. So fundamental is the family unit to the plan of salvation that God has declared a warning that those “individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God [their maker]. … The disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”  Elder Robert D. Hales, The Eternal Family, October 1996 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/10/the-eternal-family?lang=eng

“Through all the fast-paced changes occurring around us, we earnestly pray and work to ensure that the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ endure. Already some of them are in jeopardy of being lost. At the top of the list of these values and, therefore, prime targets of the adversary, are the sanctity of marriage and the central importance of families. They provide an anchor and the safe harbor of a home where each child of a loving Heavenly Father can be influenced for good and acquire eternal values.” Elder L. Tom Perry, Becoming Goodly Parents, October 2012 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/becoming-goodly-parents?lang=eng

 

“A family begins when a young man and woman are drawn to one another by an irresistible force of nature. They offer to one another that which distinguishes him as male and her as female, and they want, above all else, to find the one with whom they can completely express their love. They want to have children—to be a family. These compelling forces of nature should not be resisted, only approached cautiously, protecting those life-generating powers until promises have been made to one another, covenants with the Lord, and a legal ceremony performed, witnessed, and recorded.” Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Father and The Family, April 1994 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/04/the-father-and-the-family?lang=eng

“In providing out-of-home activities for the family, we must use care; otherwise, we could be like a father determined to provide everything for his family. He devotes every energy to that end and succeeds; only then does he discover that what they needed most, to be together as a family, has been neglected. And he reaps sorrow in place of contentment.” Elder Boyd K. Packer, Parents in Zion, October 1998 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/parents-in-zion?lang=eng

“My ears have been filled with concerns; these concerns were all centered upon what has happened to the basic, secure, fun-loving, traditional family, which has been the foundation of civilization beginning with father Adam and mother Eve. Suddenly we find great forces at work to relegate it to a minority position. Recorded history has made it abundantly clear what happens to mankind when the traditional family unit is cast aside. The Book of Mormon gives us account after account of the results of what occurs to civilizations who turn from the course designed for them by the Lord.” Elder L. Tom Perry, For Whatsoever a Man Soweth, That Shall He Also Reap, October 1980 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/10/for-whatsoever-a-man-soweth-that-shall-he-also-reap?lang=eng

“One hundred years ago, President Joseph F. Smith connected happiness directly to the family and admonished us to focus our efforts there. He said: “There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from the home. … There is no happiness without service, and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution, and which promotes and preserves family life. … The home is what needs reforming” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 382, 384). It is our homes and families that need reforming in this increasingly materialistic and secular world.” Elder M. Russell Ballard, That the Lost May Be Found, April 2012 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/that-the-lost-may-be-found?lang=eng

“I want to remind all of us today that no family has reached perfection. All families are subject to the conditions of mortality. All of us are given the gift of agency—to choose for ourselves and to learn from the consequences of our choices. Any of us may experience a spouse, a child, a parent, or a member of our extended family suffering in one way or another—mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually—and we may experience these tribulations ourselves at times. In short, mortality is not easy. Each family has its own special circumstances. But the gospel of Jesus Christ addresses every challenge—which is why we must teach it to our children.” Elder Robert D. Hales, With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope to Families, April 2004 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/with-all-the-feeling-of-a-tender-parent-a-message-of-hope-to-families?lang=eng

“Hearts were touched by the proclamation on the family read by President Hinckley last fall because we want for our families what God wants for them: that they will live in love and righteousness. But in our thoughtful moments we know that we will need help. We will need to invite the powers of heaven to guide our families in days when we are not there and to face spiritual dangers we may not foresee.” President Henry B. Eyring, A Legacy of Testimony, April 1996 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/04/a-legacy-of-testimony?lang=eng

“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, What Matters Most is What Lasts the Longest, October 2005 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/what-matters-most-is-what-lasts-longest?lang=eng

“Individual progression is fostered in the family, which is “central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service. There a husband is to love his wife, a wife is to love her husband, and parents and children are to love one another.” Elder Russell M. Nelson, Salvation and Exaltation, April 2008 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/salvation-and-exaltation?lang=eng