The Eternal Truth of Families

"We . . . 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."

-"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" 

In this one simple sentence, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints makes clear God’s view on marriage and family. Life is sacred, and the most sacred part of life is the relationships we establish with one another. The most important of these relationships are created and developed in the home. The home creates the ideal environment for growth and joy: it provides constancy in a world that is ever-changing; love in a world that can seem indifferent; a moral anchor in a world of ever-shifting morality; a place to be yourself in a world that judges each individual based off of arbitrary and superficial standards.

For these reasons, God has designed a plan that centers around the family unit. Family is not a social construct; it is a heavenly one. Our Heavenly Parents have an eternal marriage, and they find their joy in helping their children grow and become more like them (see Moses 1:39). As children of our Heavenly Parents, we also will find our purpose and our joy in creating Christ-centered families.

Modern culture has stigmatized those who marry young, as well as those who voluntarily give up their career for their children. However, God’s truth has not changed along with the culture. Marriage is still ordained of God, and the family is still central to the Great Plan of Happiness. Eternal marriage and a Christ-centered family life will always be the key to eternal joy. This is an eternal truth, and as such will never change.