Defending the Family

The next two Conference talks, Sister Carole M. Stephens' The Family is of God and Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson's Defenders of the Family Proclamation speak about the family. This isn't terribly surprising, as women (if I may apply this stereotype to women) love talking and hearing about families. Yet, these talks are especially timely because this year marks the 20th anniversary of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Sister Stephens said, "Twenty years ago, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reached out to the entire world when issuing a proclamation on the family. Since then, attacks on the family have increased."

She, and especially Sister Oscarson then spoke of the need for us to defend the sanctity of the institution of the family, especially as the world in general places less and less value on the family, the definition of marriage, and the roles of fathers and mothers. Sister Oscarson taught:

There are three principles taught in the proclamation which I think are especially in need of steadfast defenders. The first is marriage between a man and a woman. ... The next principle which calls for our defending voices is elevating the divine roles of mothers and fathers. ... The last principle we need to stand and defend is the sanctity of the home.

She speaks of each of these in detail, which I don't have time to also do, but I would like to add my testimony of the value, truthfulness, and importance of these things. God has ordained marriage as being between one man and one woman. Any marriage that is not between a man and a woman is not a true marriage at all, no matter what the legislature may say.

While I'm on the subject of men and women, I'd like to add that gender is not a thing that any person can choose. A woman cannot choose to be a man and a man cannot choose to be a woman. The family proclamation also says that our gender is part of our eternal identity. Even surgery cannot change our eternal identity.

Our unique qualities as men and women prepare us for our divine roles as fathers and mothers. Society places too little value on motherhood and too little value on homes these days. We need to maintain our stance that "There is no greater honor, no more elevated title, and no more important role in this life than that of mother or father," and "We need to take a term which is sometimes spoken of with derision and elevate it. It is the term homemaker" (Oscarson). Blessed and talented is the woman who can turn a house into a home. My mother is one of those women, and the value of what she does is inestimable.

The world can (and will) think what it wants about marriage, parenthood, and homes, but as for me, I'm going to try to give those things the great level of respect they deserve. Families are a central part in God's plan. In my opinion, that practically makes everything related to families sacred, including homes, marriage, and the divine roles of parents.