Family Proclamation Project

      The topic of abortion, specifically elective abortion, has been a polarizing topic in the United States and around the world for decades. With the recent Supreme Court decision overruling its previous precedence in the case of Roe v. Wade, abortion is once again at the center of public debate. With so many polarizing views and myriad of voices speaking on this topic, it can be easy to become overwhelmed as a young adult in today's society when determining where to stand on such an issue. However, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ provides valuable knowledge concerning the sanctity of life and the evils associated with purely elective abortions.      As The Proclamation states, "We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan." Heavenly Father has made it clear through the teachings of His servants that abortion is harmful and directly contradict...

     During a general relief society session of General Conference, President Hinckley introduced The Family: A Proclamation to the World. In the following decades, the general belief of the family unit by society has drastically changed. The Family proclamation offers a backdrop to the eternal truths of the family unit taught in the restored gospel. This sacred document can do so much more than simply defend the sacred doctrinal truths of the family. Consistent study of the Proclamation can aid in the efforts of everyday members of the church to gain much needed personal revelation. Furthermore, young adults who face important decisions concerning marriage, family, career, etc. can gain direction from the Lord when studying the Proclamation in these crucial years of young adulthood.      Within the Proclamation are crucial teachings about the roles of fathers and mothers, how to properly support extended family, the divine origin of gender, the purpose of ...

     Same-sex marriage and its relationship with the restored gospel has become an increasingly complex issue in the year 2023. In general, with the Supreme Court's ruling in 2015 in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriage is not only legal, but has been deemed to be just as beneficial as traditional marriage between a man and woman. In today's culture it is often deemed ignorant and close-minded to have views of marriage that are more aligned with traditional values. As a young adult in the church myself, it is clear that many young adults within the church struggle with the contrasting views of marriage between society and the restored gospel. It can be difficult to adequately defend the views of traditional marriage to those not of our faith, as so much of our reasoning resides on the eternal truths of marriage we know from the restoration of the gospel. If an individual's belief in traditional marriage values is not supported by a firm testimony in th...

      Sadly, abuse in the family unit is a topic that far too many young adults, and simply individuals have had to face and navigate. The church's definition of abuse is simple, "Abuse is the physical, emotional, sexual, or spiritual mistreatment of others. It may not only harm the body, but it can deeply affect the mind and spirit, destroying faith and causing confusion, doubt, mistrust, guilt, and fear." The Lord has made it clear through His teachings and through His servants that there is no room for any degree of abuse. However, as we know mortal beings are imperfect and as a result, abuse exists in our current world.      It is important that the general population of the church, especially the young adults, understand how to navigate such a complex and difficult topic. Many studies and research has been completed on what factors contribute to an increased likelihood of abuse happening in the family unit. Findings illustrate that poverty, poor parent...

      Dating inside and outside of the church has become increasingly different than it was just ten years ago. The rise of social platforms, dating apps, and more virtual interactions has drastically changed the manner in which everyone, especially young adults communicate with one another. This shift has not left dating in the modern day go unaffected. Personally, I have had countless interactions with young adults who vent their frustrations concerning dating in the year 2023. Genuine connections appear to be harder to develop in an ever increasingly virtual world. Coupled with a erosion of the culture's morals and values, the prospect of finding an eternal companion appears to many young adults to be a steep, uphill climb.      So how do young adults navigate a dating culture and scene that often appear contrary to the teaching of the restored gospel? The first piece of advice I would give is to first recognize the things of the world tha...

     In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints many doctrines are centered around the family unit. These doctrines found within the Church's teachings often create a culture where young adults are heavily encouraged to seriously date in order to get married and begin creating a family early in their adulthood years. However, in recent years the general shift of young adults in developing countries has been away from marriage and family life. Many young adults, inside and out of the church, often view dating, marriage, and children as somewhat of a negative. These polarizing views of marriage and family has created some new debate regarding when is the appropriate time to focus on marriage and starting a family.      The teaching of the Church are rather clear that starting a family and raising children in the gospel is one of the main focal points of the plan of salvation. Many factors have contributed to this detour away from marriage, especially ...