Sharing and Defending Family Proclamation Principles

 Opening Song: Love is Spoken Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOEiAIQ874

Opening Prayer:

The Family: A Proclamation to the World is a resource given to help defend and protect families. As we learn the principles taught we can be better prepared to defend and teach these important truths. 

Read this quote from The Family: A Proclamation to the World: "We call upon responsible citizens...everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society" (Church of Jesus Christ, 1995, para. 9).

Discussion: Do you consider yourself a responsible citizen? If so what do you suppose a responsible citizen does? 

Heavenly Father expects us to be committed to building His Kingdom here on Earth. He gave us agency, which is the ability to act and be responsible for the ways that can make a difference in our lives and the lives around us by how we live. 

Activity: Give everyone a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and ask them to read it and highlight any of the responsibilities given by God that show our divine roles as His children.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng

Discuss the things they highlighted. You might want to choose two or three to go into more depth with. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Propose questions on each to facilitate discussion on these sacred responsibilities. 

"Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan" (Church of Jesus Christ, 1995, para. 7).

Question: What do you know about God's eternal plan of Happiness? Why is it important to have opposite genders rear and raise families? Why is it important to have a father and mother who love and support each other? If this is not present at home how might this affect a family?

"Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony..." (Church of Jesus Christ, 1995, para. 7).

Question: Why do you think this is important? Can children who are not born to parents who are married have the same blessings as those who are? Why not?

"We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force" (Church of Jesus Christ, 1995, para. 4).

Question: Why is bringing children to the Earth important? How does this relate to Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness?

Explain that the answers to all of these questions are why we have a sacred role to uphold them and defend them in our world today. 

Read a Quote by President Spencer W. Kimball: "The time will come when all those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us" (Hawkins. A.J, 2012).

This is a promise we are given by a prophet of the Lord. The Family: A Proclamation to the World is a resource to help us to defend and preserve our families and the sanctity of family on the Earth today. 

How can we do this?  Are you comfortable with this responsibility to defend the family? In your life, you will have instances to defend the principles found in the proclamation. Will you be ready? Let's practice some real-life situations. As we understand what is expected of us according to the principles given in the proclamation, we will be able to defend those principles with love and kindness. We can dismiss any malice that Satan gives to deceive us into contempt and hatred towards those who do not believe as we do. 

Role Play Activity: Share the following scenarios. Have family members reply how they would defend the principles taught in the proclamation and teachings of Jesus Christ. They might be willing to share parts of the proclamation to help support their answers. 

(These are examples of situations I have had in my youth):

• You are at school and your teacher asks the class about their personal view of abortion. A majority of the class raises their hand in support of pro-choice. Only you and one other student raise their hand in opposition. Do you take the opportunity to express your view or do you hide away because there are so many others who do not believe as you do? If you express your view in opposition what will you say to defend yourself without bringing in contempt or malice on such a sensitive topic?
• You find that in your 20's a lot of dating couples including some really close friends are starting to cohabitate (live together before marriage). You love your friends dearly and want to help them understand the views as given by the proclamation on this topic. What could you say to help them better understand the choice they make?
• One day you found out that your unmarried friend was expecting her second child out of wedlock. She was very concerned about this pregnancy as the father hasn't been around to support her first child. She feels that an abortion would be the best solution to her predicament. How would you support your friend at this difficult time and help her understand the importance and sanctity of life as given in the proclamation?

Testimony: Invite someone to share their testimony on what they have learned today or on an experience they have had in defending the sanctity of family according to the principles given in the proclamation. 

Closing Song: Love one Another https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/love-one-another?lang=eng

Closing Prayer:

References

 

Hawkins, A.J., “Sharing and Defending Family Proclamation Principles” (2012, pp. 354-358), Hawkins, A. J., In Dollahite, D. C., & In Draper, T., Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (1995). The Family: A Proclamation to the World. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng