FAIR

FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 51: December 15 - 21: "The Family Is Central to the Creator's Plan"

THE FAMILY

Doctrinal Focus
Historical & Contextual
Apologetic Application
Practical Applications
Ideas for Teaching
Quick Reference

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
  • From the very beginning, God established marriage and family as sacred institutions. The uniting of man and woman was designed to fulfill His eternal purposes in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. (Genesis 2:24; Moses 1:39)

The Lord declared that marriage is ordained of God and should not be forbidden. Strong, righteous families are a divine safeguard for society and an eternal blessing for individuals.(Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17)

The new and everlasting covenant of marriage is necessary for exaltation. Without it, the highest blessings of eternal life cannot be obtained. (Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4)

The Lord’s command to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. Parenthood allows God’s spirit children to come to earth and progress toward eternal life.(Genesis 1:27–28; Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17)

Families that pray together and strive to love as Christ loves are blessed with greater harmony. His redeeming power makes forgiveness and healing possible within homes. (3 Nephi 18:21; Moroni 7:47–48)

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • In the 1830s–1840s, the early Saints faced opposition regarding their family and marriage practices, including confusion about the law of marriage, celibacy movements, and social upheaval about family roles.
  • This revealed that marriage and family are not cultural conveniences but eternal, divinely mandated institutions. The Saints were called to defend these truths despite prevailing cultural debates.
  • Today, as societal views on marriage and family continue to shift, Latter-day Saints can draw strength from knowing God has consistently declared marriage between man and woman to be central to His plan.
  • The Shaker movement in the early 1800s promoted celibacy and denied the sanctity of marriage. The Lord revealed that such teachings were contrary to His law, affirming that marriage was ordained of God from the beginning.
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  • By rejecting celibacy as a holier state, the Lord emphasized that family life is not a distraction from holiness but a pathway to it.
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  • This correction shows that prophets provide clear guidance in times of doctrinal confusion, just as modern prophets do today regarding the definition of marriage and the family.
  • While the proclamation came at a time of increasing legal and social challenges to the definition of marriage, its principles are rooted in eternal truth revealed since the Restoration. It aligns with earlier revelations that declare marriage and family as eternal institutions.
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  • Understanding this prevents us from dismissing the Proclamation as merely a response to contemporary politics—it is revelation that affirms truths taught since Adam and Eve.
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  • This perspective strengthens faith in modern prophets, showing consistency between ancient scripture, Restoration revelation, and present-day guidance.

If you have questions on this week’s reading, please email your questions to us here.

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: “The Church’s emphasis on family is simply a product of 19th- and 20th-century culture.”
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: The Lord declared in D&C 49:15–17 that marriage is ordained of God, countering celibacy movements of the time. This shows marriage was defended as divine truth long before modern debates.
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Prophets from Joseph Smith to President Nelson have consistently taught that family is central to God’s plan. Their unified testimony over generations strengthens the case that this is revelation, not social pressure.
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: The Spirit testifies that families are eternal, and countless Saints report spiritual witnesses in temple covenants and family-centered worship.
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  10. Logical Analysis: If family were merely cultural, it would shift with every generation. Its consistency across scripture, prophetic teaching, and covenant ordinances demonstrates its eternal foundation.
  • Claim: “It isn’t revelation, just policy.””
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: The doctrines in the Proclamation—marriage, parenthood, divine gender, and eternal family—are all taught in scripture (e.g., Genesis 1:27–28; D&C 131; Moses 1:39).
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  • Eyewitness Support: Multiple prophets and apostles have testified that the Proclamation is inspired of God and revealed through prophetic deliberation. President Hinckley called it a “declaration and reaffirmation” of truth, not invention.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Members worldwide have received witnesses of the Proclamation’s truth as they apply its principles in home and family life.
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  • Logical Analysis: A purely political document would have gone out of date quickly; instead, the Proclamation’s relevance has only increased as moral confusion has deepened.
  • Claim: “There’s no evidence marriage continues after death.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: D&C 131:1–4 and D&C 132:15–19 clearly teach that eternal marriage is required for exaltation, long before modern cultural disputes.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Prophets and apostles have consistently testified of sealing power exercised in temples, promising eternal family bonds. Thousands of Saints have reported spiritual manifestations of these truths.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Temple ordinances carry a distinctive Spirit that testifies of their eternal nature. Many have felt assurance that their family bonds are everlasting.
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  • Logical Analysis: If relationships end at death, love—the highest human experience—would be meaningless. The eternal nature of love and covenant makes logical sense within God’s plan of happiness.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Establish or reinforce daily family prayer, scripture study, and weekly family home evening.

These simple practices invite the Spirit, unify family members, and anchor children against worldly influences. The Lord has promised that teaching children light and truth protects them from sin (D&C 68:25–28).

  1. – Choose a consistent time each day for family prayer and scripture study.
  2. – Keep it short and meaningful—better to be consistent than perfect.
  3. – Plan a weekly family home evening with gospel teaching and uplifting activities.
  • – Involve children in planning so they feel ownership and joy.

Encouraging Thought:

President Nelson taught: “The home is the center of faith and worship. The finest homes are those in which the Spirit of the Lord dwells.”

Action Step: Share the truths of The Family: A Proclamation to the World in conversations and on social media in uplifting, respectful ways.

Many around us are confused about the role of family. A loving, clear testimony can plant seeds of truth and provide courage for others who feel alone in their beliefs.

  1. – Study the Family Proclamation and identify one truth that stands out to you.
  2. – Share your testimony in a conversation or post, focusing on hope and blessings rather than debate.
  3. – Live the principles so your example reinforces your words.
  4. – Pray for opportunities to defend truth with compassion.

Encouraging Thought:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “Defenders of the family will be respected for their courage and admired for their example.”

  • Action Step: Pray daily for Christ’s help in your specific family challenges (patience, forgiveness, guidance, teaching).

Parenting and family relationships can be overwhelming, but the Savior magnifies our efforts. His grace compensates for our weaknesses when we seek His help.

  1. – Identify one area in your family life where you feel inadequate.
  2. – Offer a sincere prayer, asking specifically for Christ’s help.
  3. – Act on impressions received, even if they seem small.
  4. – Express gratitude for every tender mercy you see.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: “Jesus Christ is the strength of parents. He makes up the difference when we fall short.”

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Teach that true strength in homes comes from living gospel principles.

Blocks/Legos or paper bricks with gospel principles written on them (faith, prayer, scripture study, love, forgiveness, service).

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Show a picture of a strong house or temple. Ask: “What makes a house strong in a storm? What makes a family strong in spiritual storms?”
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 68:25–28 and discuss how parents build homes of light and truth. Build a simple “house” with blocks/paper bricks as principles are named.
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  5. Application (5 min): Invite learners to name one “brick” (principle) they want to strengthen in their home this week

Follow-Up Question: What is one small thing you can do this week to add strength to your spiritual home?

Objective: Help learners see the harmony of gospel truths about marriage and family.

Printed puzzle pieces (cut from a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World, each piece with a principle written on it).

Activity Steps:

Introduction (5 min): Show a jumbled puzzle and ask: “What happens when pieces are missing? How is that like our understanding of God’s plan without family truth?”

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Assign small groups to read D&C 49:15–17; Genesis 1:27–28; Moses 1:39. Match verses to puzzle pieces. Build the puzzle as truths are discussed.

Application (5 min): When puzzle is complete, discuss how these truths form a complete picture of God’s plan for His children.

Follow-Up Question: Which truth from the Proclamation gives you the most strength right now, and why?

Objective: Show how parents (and future parents) can rely on Christ in family roles.

Rope or string, paper slips with common family challenges (e.g., sibling arguments, financial stress, teaching children, balancing time).

Activity Steps: 

Introduction (5 min): Invite one learner to hold a rope and pull against another person—then add two or three more pulling against them to show how heavy life’s challenges can feel.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Mosiah 24:14 or Mosiah 4:14–15 and Elder Uchtdorf’s teaching: “Jesus Christ is the strength of parents.” Discuss how He makes burdens light.

Application (5 min): Hand out slips with family challenges. Invite learners to write how turning to Christ could bring help in that challenge, then share if comfortable.

Follow-Up Question: How have you felt Christ’s help in your family life—or how could you invite His help more?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • Marriage between man and woman is ordained of God and central to His plan (D&C 49:15–17).
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  • Families are eternal, designed to help God’s children progress and return to Him.
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  • The Family: A Proclamation to the World reaffirms eternal truths, not cultural opinions.
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  • Parents have a sacred responsibility to teach children in light and truth (D&C 68:25–28).
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  • Jesus Christ strengthens and heals families as they seek Him.
  • Why trust modern prophets?
    • God has consistently revealed His will through prophets anciently (Amos 3:7), and modern prophets continue that pattern. Their unified, consistent testimony about family across decades shows divine guidance, not human opinion.
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    • Why does God allow mistakes?
    • Prophets are mortal, but God’s truth endures. Sometimes errors or cultural limitations appear, but the Lord ensures His essential doctrines are preserved and clarified over time. Revelation is a process—line upon line—showing God’s patience and wisdom in guiding His people.