The family is
the central unit of the Mormon
Church. It is designed to act as the unit of society both
in heaven and on earth. The family is central to the plan of our Heavenly
Father. It has been His design from the beginning that a man and woman marry
and bring children into the world. He told Adam in the Garden of Eden,
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh," 1 and commanded
them to "multiply and replenish the earth." 2
To Mormons
marriage is considered a sacred covenant. When performed within a Mormon temple the marriage is promised
to last for not only this life but for all eternity. Any children that are born
under this eternal marriage "covenant" are
also sealed to their parents after death. Because of this belief that families
are forever Mormons place a great emphasis upon the family.
The Church
teaches that in a Mormon
family, "Husband and wife have a solemn obligation
to love and care for each other and for their children." 3 Fathers
are to primarily provide for the material needs of the family, while mothers nurture
their children. Fathers and mothers work together as equal partners to teach
and raise their children.
Parents are
under sacred obligation to teach their children the doctrines of the Church.
The Doctrine and Covenants teaches, "As parents have children… and teach
them not to understand the doctrine… the sin be upon
the heads of the parents."4 Members believe that a
gospel-centered home is the place where children are best taught. President
Joseph F. Smith said, "Do not let your children out to specialists, but
teach them by your own precept and example, by your own fireside. Be a
specialist yourself in the truth. Not one child in a hundred would go astray,
if the home environment, example and training, were in harmony with the truth
in the gospel of Christ, as revealed and taught to the Latter-day Saints."5
Because teaching
the gospel is so important the Mormon Church has set aside every Monday night
for Family Home Evening. During these evenings gospel principles are taught and
family bonds are strengthened. Members are promised that "regular
participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth,
family unity, love for our fellowmen, and trust in our Father in heaven."
6 Members are also taught to have family prayer both morning and night
and to read the scriptures together as a family every day.
Having an
eternal family, one that will last forever, is the ultimate goal of every
Mormon family.
(1) Genesis 1:24
(2) Moses 2:28
(3) First Presidency of the
(4) Doctrine and
Covenants 68:25
(5) Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the
Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939), p. 302
(6) Family
Home Evening
Manual (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
1976), p. 3.