It's been eight years since President Gordon B. Hinckley introduced "The Family: A Proclamation To The World." The proclamation was an inspired declaration designed to remind the world of the revealed, true role of the family in God's eternal plan, said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"Time has overwhelmingly proven the prophetic insight of the proclamation," said Elder Ballard. "As a Church we are more focused than ever in supporting and strengthening the family."
His Aug. 19 devotional address at the Marriott Center kicked off BYU Education Week at the Church-owned campus. Thousands attended the annual event, participating in more than 1,000 classes centered around the theme "Family: Central to the Creator's Plan."
The family, said Elder Ballard, continues to be assaulted throughout the world. "Gender is being confused, and gender roles are being repudiated. Same gender marriage is being promoted in direct opposition to God's primary purpose for His children to experience mortality."
The Church leader said the family is more than the basic unit of society — it is the basic unit of eternity determined in a grand pre-mortal family council. The proclamation makes clear that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only by lawfully wedded husband and wife, and that children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony.
"We must stand firm, brothers and sisters, at this time when the adversary is using differing lifestyles in an attempt to replace the marriage of one man to one woman," Elder Ballard said. "It would be well for all people of the world to read the full text of the proclamation."
Attacks on the family also undermine the value of life, particularly the life of the unborn, he added. Life is being trivialized — subjected to "the vacillating whims of convenience and political correctness." The family, once regarded as the cornerstone of society, is losing its essential role.
Satan's assault-the-family tactics make sense, Elder Ballard said.
"When Satan truly wants to disrupt the work of the Lord, he attempts to confuse gender and attacks God's plan for His spirit children. He works to drive a wedge of disharmony between a father and a mother. He entices children to be disobedient to their parents. He makes family home evening and family prayer inconvenient. He suggests family scripture study is impractical and not doable."
Today's youth need steadfast and courageous parents, declared Elder Ballard. What Church members do and teach in their homes matters. Using the proclamation as his primary text, Elder Ballard offered five concepts to ensure happy, secure families.
1 — Equal partnerships between husbands and wives.
Men and women, joined in marriage, need to work together as partners, Elder Ballard said.
"However, full and equal partnership between men and women does not imply the roles played by the two sexes are the same in God's grand design for His children." As the proclamation states, men are given stewardship over sacred priesthood ordinances. Women are given stewardship over nurturing and providing physical bodies to God's spirit children.
"These stewardships, equally sacred and important, do not involve any false ideas about domination or subordination," Elder Ballard said.
2 — Adherence to a father's duties.
Fathers are expected to both provide for and protect their families.
"Moral dangers are all around us, confronting our children from their early years," he said. Fathers should help with all the activities that make up family lives, and grandfathers can continue their shepherding roles as long as they live.
3 — Adherence to a mother's duties.
The proclamation teaches that mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. Elder Ballard spoke of the increasing number of mothers who are in the workforce, many out of necessity. He enlisted President Hinckley's counsel to working LDS mothers "to do the very best you can."
"Mothers must not fall into the trap of believing that 'quality' time can replace 'quantity' time," he said. "Quality is a direct function of quantity; and mothers, to nurture their children properly, must provide both." Grandmothers can continue their nurturing role throughout their lives, Elder Ballard added.
4 — Principles for marriage and families.
Elder Ballard said parents should work to create loving, eternal connections with their children. Correct and reprove with sensitivity. It can be destructive when parents are too permissive and overindulge their children.
"Children who understand their boundaries through the consistent application of important rules are more likely to do well at school, to be more self-controlled and to be more willing to abide by the laws of the land," he said.
He counseled parents to really listen to their children and know what is important in their lives.
5 — Hold family councils.
Gathering together in council as a family is one of the most effective tools parents can have, Elder Ballard said. Family councils can stifle contention, ease burdens and resolve frustration at home.
"Regardless of the size or makeup of the family council, what really matters are loving motivation, an atmosphere that encourages free and open discussion and a willingness to listen to the honest input of all council members — as well as to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit," he said.
Elder Ballard concluded by encouraging all parents to again read the proclamation and strive to live its inspired direction.
"Be of good cheer," he said. "God did not place you on earth to fail, and your efforts as parents will not be counted as failure unless you give up."
