Safety for families found in gospel living
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The Lord's pattern for family life was established with Adam and Eve and has continued as the history of the Church unfolded, said President Boyd K. Packer, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
During the Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting initially broadcast on the Church's satellite system Feb. 9, he used the Church's "Proclamation on the Family" as the anchor of his counsel on strengthening the family in a time when that sacred institution is being challenged and jeopardized.
"When you wonder why we are the way we are and why we do the things we do and why we will not do some of the things that we will not do, you can find the authority for that in this proclamation on the family," he said. "There are times when we are accused of being intolerant because we won't accept and do the things that are supposed to be the norm in society. Well, the things we won't do, we won't do. And the things we won't do, we can't do, because the standard we follow is given of Him."
President Packer then read the "Proclamation on the Family," stopping after each paragraph or two to explain the relevance of essential, timeless subjects such as the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, parental duties, chastity, and the valuable role played by extended family members.
"Our position on such things as divorce, abortion and gender issues are stated and outlined in the revelations, and the 'Proclamation on the Family' is the clearest statement that we find on those issues."
The ultimate end of all activities and programs of the Church rests in a man and a woman and their family being happy at home, he added. Safety can be found in gospel living.
"When you young people who now look forward to marriage and a family life look around and see the dangers, there is only one place on this earth where the family can be fully protected, and that's within the ordinances and the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ," President Packer said. "Live the gospel, and you're going to be all right."
Some might wonder how they can raise a family when there is so much temptation and difficulty about.
"Well, you can, because you can be guided and you can teach your children to be guided," answered President Packer. "In all of that you can live a happy life and find in the consummation of all of this, in the next existence, that the family can be together."
