The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been a family-oriented organization. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” leaders of the Church declared, “We . . . solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” Family is at the core of Church doctrine, and Church members are encouraged through that same proclamation to “multiply and replenish the earth” by responsibly raising and caring for the children they are blessed with.
Family is a concept that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe existed even before the world began. Members believe that before this life, all people lived with God as a family. Another tenet of Church doctrine is the idea that families can be together forever; that family units will continue after this life if we keep God’s commandments. For this reason, genealogy is of particular importance in the Church. Marriages performed in LDS temples are called sealings because they are intended to last for eternity. These sealing ceremonies bind both the couple and their families from previous generations to form a common, eternal link. Doing genealogy creates an affinity for those who have passed on, and Church members take seriously their responsibility to help connect their current family with their ancestors.
In the family, husband and wife are “obligated to help one another as equal partners” in trying to follow God’s will. While men and women take on different responsibilities in the family, the blessings described in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” will come most strongly into their lives as they work in unity. Family life can be difficult, and individual circumstances are unique, but members of the Church are able to move forward with hope knowing that they are following God’s commandments and that, despite the trials and hardships, their families will continue after this life.
