Mormon Family Values
Latter-day Saint Views on Marriage, Gender, Parenting, and Families
Jul 19, 2009
In 1995, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued an official statement called "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." The family proclamation addresses the Mormon position on marriage, gender, parenting, and family life. Here are some highlights from the proclamation.
Marriage Between a Man and a Woman
The proclamation states that "marriage between a man and a women is ordained of God." Mormons believe that marriage is the foundation for a family consisting of mother, father, and children. In this Mormon view, same-sex marriage is not a part of God's plan.
The LDS Church members also believe that the family unit is an indispensable part of God's plan for humankind.
Gender is an Essential Characteristic of Identity
The proclamation on the family also says that all human beings are the literal children of God, created in His image. Gender is integral to a person's identity.
Church leader David A. Bednar says that "in large measure [gender] defines who we are, why we are here upon the earth, and what we are to do and become. For divine purposes, male and female spirits are different, distinctive, and complementary."
Humankind's Purpose on the Earth
Before being born on this earth, Mormons believe that people all lived a pre-mortal existence as spirits with God. God's plan was for humans to come to earth, gain a body, learn and progress, and ultimately obtain eternal life. Mormons perform sealing ordinances in their temples that bind a family together forever - both in this life and in the next.
Sacred Powers of Procreation and Parenthood
When God told Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply." [Genesis 1:28] Mormons believe that the commandment extends to married couples today. They believe that God approves of parenthood and sexuality, as long as they occur within marriage. Having any physically intimate relationship outside of marriage is considered a serious sin.
Sanctity of Life
Mormons believe that human life is a gift from God. The church opposes elective abortion across the board. An abortion could be considered appropriate in the case of rape, incest, jeopardy to the mother's life, or non-viability of the fetus, but "even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically." [LDS Newsroom, Public Issues]
The LDS church says that the decision to use birth control (other than elective abortion) is a private matter between husband, wife, and God. Couples are counseled to prayerfully make family planning decisions.
Children's Rights in the Mormon Church
Husbands and wives should provide for their children, both physically and spiritually. Mormons believe that God will hold them responsible for the treatment of each other and of their children. The family proclamation also affirms that "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."
Responsibilities of Fathers and Mothers
The proclamation on the family says that fathers are to "preside over their families in love and righteousness" as well as providing for and protecting them. Mothers are "primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." Whenever possible, mothers should choose to stay home full-time to fulfill this responsibility.
Even though their roles as parents are not the same, fathers and mothers are "equal partners" in the sacred work of parenthood. Husbands should support wives in nurturing the children, and wives should support husbands in presiding and providing.
Happiness in Family Life
Marriages and families will inevitably be happiest when based around the gospel teachings of "faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Family members must spend time together and strive to live gospel principles if they want to have a close-knit, harmonious home.
The Proclamation is for All the World, Not Just Mormons
Even though the proclamation is a Latter-day Saint document and is widely read within the LDS church, The Family: A Proclamation to the World is for everyone regardless of religious affiliation. The proclamation ends by urging citizens and government officers to "promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
Mormon Family Proclamation Speaks against Current Issues
The family proclamation doesn't reveal any new doctrines or revelations regarding the family, but reaffirms the LDS church's long-held stance on the importance of the family unit.
In the Mormon view, many issues today threaten to redefine the family unit and weaken traditional family values, including:
- Push to legalize same-sex marriage;
- Rising divorce rate;
- Increasing number of children born to unwed parents;
- Increasing percentage of children growing up without a father in the home, and;
- Rising number of homes where both parents work full-time.
It is believed that the family proclamation was an inspired document issued by the prophet of the LDS church a decade before many of these issues came to a head as is happening today.
Mormons believe that the family is central to God's plan. The Family: A Proclamation to the World seeks to voice Latter-day Saint views and remind the world of the sacred nature of the family.
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