Who Signed the Family a Proclamation to the World
History & Background
Equally witnesses and participants of the revelatory process that resulted in this proclamation, apostles and prophets have testified of the inspiration and revelation that came from their efforts.
President Russell M. Nelson:
"I day in 1994, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spent a day in their council room in the Salt Lake Temple discussing problems surrounding the family unit. They considered everything from the increasingly ubiquitous nature of pornography to potential anti-family legislation of various kinds. This was non a new discussion, but that twenty-four hour period the entire calendar revolved around this one vital topic."
"The Twelve reviewed both doctrine and policies, considering those things that could not be changed—doctrine—and those things that possibly could be—policies. They discussed issues they saw coming, including an intensified societal push for gay wedlock and transgender rights. 'But that was not the cease of what nosotros saw,' Elder Nelson explained. 'We could run across the efforts of diverse communities to do away with all standards and limitations on sexual activity. We saw the confusion of genders. We could run into it all coming.'
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"This extended give-and-take, along with others over a catamenia of fourth dimension, led to the decision that the Twelve should ready a certificate, peradventure fifty-fifty a proclamation, outlining the Church's stand on the family to present to the Kickoff Presidency for consideration." Source: Sheri Dew in Insights from a Prophet'southward Life: Russell M. Nelson (2019), 208.
President Dallin H. Oaks:
"Every bit one of only seven of those Apostles still living, I feel obliged to share what led to the family proclamation for the information of all who consider information technology. The inspiration identifying the demand for a proclamation on the family came to the leadership of the Church over 23 years ago. Information technology was a surprise to some who thought the doctrinal truths about marriage and the family were well understood without restatement. All the same, we felt the confirmation and we went to piece of work. Subjects were identified and discussed by members of the Quorum of the Twelve for nearly a year. Language was proposed, reviewed, and revised. Prayerfully we continually pleaded with the Lord for His inspiration on what nosotros should say and how we should say information technology. We all learned "line upon line, precept upon axiom," as the Lord has promised (D&C 98:12)."
"During this revelatory process, a proposed text was presented to the First Presidency, who oversee and promulgate Church building teachings and doctrine. After the Presidency fabricated farther changes, the declaration on the family was announced by the President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley." (Link)
Elder Yard. Russell Ballard:
"As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I participated in the process of drafting that inspired document. Information technology was a remarkable feel for all of us. Every bit nosotros travel the world, nosotros see things–both within the Church and outside the Church. We were troubled by much of what nosotros were seeing. We could see the people of the world wanting to ascertain the family in means opposite to God's eternal plan for the happiness of His children. Various world conferences were held dealing either direct or indirectly with the family. Major calendar items were introduced by some delegates that would have greatly weakened the family; nevertheless, through the meaning contributions of Church leaders, members, and other like-minded people, the language and thus the effects of those proposals were softened."
"In the midst of all that was stirring on this discipline in the world, the Kickoff Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles could come across the importance of declaring to the world the revealed, true role of the family unit in the eternal program of God. We worked together through the divinely inspired quango system that operates even at the highest levels of the Church to craft a proclamation that would make the Lord'due south position on the family then articulate that it could non be misunderstood." (Link)
President Boyd K. Packer:
"The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve issued a proclamation on the family. I tin can tell y'all how that came almost. They had a world briefing on the family sponsored past the United Nations in Beijing, People's republic of china. Nosotros sent representatives. It was not pleasant what they heard. They chosen another one in Cairo. Some of our people were there. I read the proceedings of that. The word marriage was non mentioned. It was at a conference on the family, only marriage was not even mentioned.It was then they announced that they were going to take such a briefing here in Common salt Lake Urban center. Some of us made the recommendation: "They are coming hither. We had better proclaim our position." (Link)
He later added:
"In 1995 that peachy document "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was prepared by all members of the Start Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. … The hope is that Latter-solar day Saints will recognize the transcendent importance of the family unit." (Link)
Why is the family unit proclamation so significant?
O n thetenth anniversary of the proclamation in the October 2005 general briefing,Elderberry M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the "prophetic document" was ahead of its time in defending traditional family unit values. Its clear and simple language stands in contrast to society'southward confusion and convoluted definition of family.
"Information technology was then and is now a clarion telephone call to protect and strengthen families and a stern alert in a earth where declining values and misplaced priorities threaten to destroy society past undermining its basic unit," said the Apostle, who is at present the quorum's acting president.
Since the Church was established in 1830,only six proclamations take been issued by Church leaders — the two about recent beingness the family proclamation and "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Annunciation to the World" read byPresident Russell M. Nelson during the Apr 2020 general conference.
Others include the 1841 proclamation detailing the progress of the Church; the 1845 proclamation on the Restoration of the gospel; the 1865 proclamation on the nature of God; and the 1980 annunciation on the 150th ceremony of the Church building'due south organization. The first three proclamations were issued in the first 35 years after the Church's organization, and the last three came in the by 40 years.
Proclamations are different from official declarations, doctrinal expositions or statements on policies. Rather than being specifically directed at Latter-day Saints, proclamations are mostly directed to the world.
How have Church leaders used the family unit proclamation?
"The Family: A Proclamation to the Globe" has been cited hundreds of times in full general conferences and used in interfaith discussions at the Vatican and other international stages over the past 25 years. At theWorld Congress of Families held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in August 2009, President Nelson — then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — quoted excerpts from the proclamation to emphasize the importance of the family as the fundamental unit of social club.
Addressing religious leaders at the Vatican in November 2014, President Henry B. Eyring of the Outset Presidency called for "a renaissance of happy marriages and productive families" based on the principles of the family proclamation.
"Equally we work to build and encourage faithful, loving marriages in which men and women become as one and nurture their families, the Lord will multiply our efforts," he said. "As we join together in this work, I promise progress toward that happy result."
Speaking during afaith-based panel word about refugee integration at the Un in New York City in April 2017, Relief Gild General PresidentJean B. Bingham expressed her hope that faith-based organizations "volition all work together through small and simple means to accomplish boggling things."
"Every bit defined past my faith, and by the United nations, the family is the fundamental unit of society,"she said, drawing on the family annunciation. "Thus, care should be taken to protect the family, especially those in dire circumstances."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles underscored the family unit as the cornerstone in society as he spoke to members of the Senate and Bedroom of Deputies in Argentina in May 2018.
"My friends, the family matters," he said, after introducing the family proclamation. "Indeed, a nation's values and strengths are only the sum total of the values and strengths of its families."
Source: Walker, S. (2020, September 23). In 25 years, 'The Family unit: A Proclamation to the Globe' has gone from UN to Vatican and across.
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Source: https://thefamilyproclamation.org/the-history/
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