Question: Have the doctrines in the Mormon document "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" long been taught in the Church?

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Have the doctrines in the Proclamation on the Family long been taught in the Church?

Questions

Did the Proclamation on the Family break new doctrinal ground, or merely reiterate doctrines long taught in the Church?

Answer

President Hinckley observed, on introducing the Proclamation:

With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets, seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout its history. I now take the opportunity of reading to you this proclamation....

The doctrines taught are, then, longstanding ones in the Church.

This article reviews each line of the Proclamation and presents a sample of past teachings on the same subject.

Detailed Analysis

"marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God"

"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."

• "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27).
• "Seest thou that ye are created after mine [Christ's] own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh (Ether 3꞉15-16).

"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 worshiped God as their Eternal Father"

"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."

• And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he [Jesus Christ] said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever (Abraham 3꞉24-26).

"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."

"The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife."

"We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force."

"the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."

Premarital sexual relations forbidden

Adulterous sexual relations forbidden

Homosexual relations forbidden

"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."

"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 observe the commandments of God"

"to teach them to love and serve one another"

"to teach them...to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live"

"Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony"

"and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity"

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ"

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness"

"and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families"

"Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children"

"fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners"

"Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation."

"Extended families should lend support when needed."

"We warn that individuals...will one day stand accountable before God" [if they]

"violate covenants of chastity"

"abuse spouse or offspring"

Spouse abuse

Child abuse

"fail to fulfill family responsibilities"

"We call upon" all "to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family"

Notes