Mormon Family
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (erroneously called the Mormon Church) believe their families are their most important possessions, and that they should do all they can to create righteous and happy families. The prophet David O. McKay said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."[1]
The Proclamation to the World on the family, issued by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, teaches several important truths regarding the centrality of the family and its eternal destiny. These truths are centered on the concepts of the Plan of Salvation: Before we came to the earth, we lived with our Heavenly Parents in a premortal world with a Heavenly Father and Mother who, Church members believe, are the parents of our spirits. There we prepared to come to earth in the time established by the Lord. Our heavenly home was a sacred place where we were able to progress and develop. However, we all knew that in order to further develop we needed to come to Earth to obtain a physical body and be tested.
- Continual emphasis on Christ—through family and individual prayer, scripture reading, and Family Home Evening
- Instruction for children through teaching and example, emphasizing moral cleanliness and honesty
- Self-reliance and a good work ethic
- An emphasis on education and the magnifying of talents
- Charitable service to others
- Wholesome recreation
Facts about Mormon Families
Families are central to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints believe that marriages can last forever, not just until death. These kind of eternal marriages are called sealings. Statistically, of all the United States, Utah is . . .
- First in children with two parents.
- First in birth rate and family size.
- First in number of married couples.
Studies have shown that Latter-day Saint youth are the most likely to follow the religion of their parents among U.S. youth of all faiths. The reason is that religious beliefs are centered in and reinforced within the family — in the home. Children and youth not only serve actively in the Church of Jesus Christ from a young age, they have spiritual experiences early in life that help them forge strong testimonies of Jesus Christ.
Latter-day Saint couples that marry in temples have the lowest divorce rate "among all U.S. social and religious groups studied." The divorce rate is 5.4 percent for men and 6.5 percent for women.
For sources, see AllAboutMormons.com
External Links
- www.mormonfamily.net
- The Gospel Blesses Families and Individuals on Mormon.org
- Steve Young and Sharlene Hawkes address misconceptions about the Church and Mormon families
- A website for Mormon women
- Mormon leaders featured speakers at International Conference on Families
- National Mother of the Year is a Mormon
- A Mormon Family Blog
- How to have a Family Home Evening
- How to protect your family from pornography