The Family Proclamation




Last week was the anniversary of a document we read regularly in our house, it is called The Family: A Proclamation to the World. In 1995 at the Women's Broadcast our church holds every 6 months in conjunction with General Conference, President Gordon B Hinckley presented this proclamation explaining our beliefs on the family.  It explains so much of why we do the things we do and where our beliefs come from in regards to the home. It discusses things like marriage, the role of gender, the responsibilities of different family members, and our connection to each other as part of God's family. it's something that's given me constant guidance and comfort when I feel distractions starting to pull me away from my most important and most sacred titles. This felt like a very important anniversary to me and I wanted to celebrate it by doing something out of the ordinary, not just an Instagram post. As I studied and prayed about it, I decided to send out thank you notes to the families who have been great examples to Evan and I. We are just starting out over here and have lots to learn, but we've also been influenced by some amazing family members who are showing us the way. I created a little card and then for family night Evan and I personalized each one on the back, while Winston decorated the envelopes, and Cosette ate crayons. I played this song for Win as he colored and (in true Winston fashion) he insisted it be put on repeat until he had memorized all the words.

"Our Father has a family- it's me, you, all others too, we are his children. He sent each one of us to Earth through birth to live and to learn here in families. God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be. This is how he shares his love- for the family is of God."


He's been singing it at the top of his lungs in the grocery store and opening our back door to serenade the neighbors, occasionally with a remix where he tosses in some of OneRepublic's Burning Bridges because you know- gotta keep things fresh. But still, it brings tears to my eyes to hear his tiny voice sing something so sweet and so true.

I stumbled upon the most wonderful quote few days ago from Boyd K Packer, he says:

 “The shield of faith is to be made and fitted in the family. No two can be exactly alike. Each must be handcrafted to individual specifications.

The plan designed by the Father contemplates that man and woman, husband and wife, working together, fit each child individually with a shield of faith made to buckle on so firmly that it can neither be pulled off nor penetrated by those fiery darts.

It takes the steady strength of a father to hammer out the metal of it and the tender hands of a mother to polish and fit it on. Sometimes one parent is left to do it alone. It is difficult, but it can be done.

In the Church we can teach about the materials from which a shield of faith is made: reverence, courage, chastity, repentance, forgiveness, compassion. In church we can learn how to assemble and fit them together. But the actual making of and fitting on of the shield of faith belongs in the family circle.....This shield of faith is not manufactured on an assembly line, only handmade in a cottage industry. Therefore our leaders press members to understand that what is most worth doing must be done at home."

Oh how I love these teachings! The family is truly of God and I couldn't be more thankful for mine. We are excited to hear more quotes like this this weekend during general conference! Check it out here.

Comments

  1. We loved your sweet note in the mail. Thank you for being wonderful examples of living a gospel-centered life. We are so excited to see you soon, and we love seeing your family grown and evolve. Love this blog of yours Kam!

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