30) CHURCH: Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exist to support the family? Or does the family exist to support the Church?

Prophetic Statements Joseph F. Smith #1: “In the home the presiding authority is always vested in the father, and in all home affairs and family matters there is no other authority paramount. To illustrate this principle, a single incident will perhaps suffice. It sometimes happens that the elders are called in to administer to the […]

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01) BIRTH-CONTROL: What is the first commandment ever given by the Lord to man? How does the Lord feel about birth control? Should couples postpone having children?

Commentary The first commandment given to man in the Garden of Eden was to multiply and replenish the earth. The importance of this commandment, while not commonly understood or appreciated in our day, has never changed. We have compiled a list of passages from scripture and the words of prophets in our day that clearly […]

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Abortion

Prophetic Statements Brigham Young “To check the increase of our race has its advocates among the influential and powerful circles of society in our nation and in other nations. The same practice existed forty-five years ago, and various devices were used by married persons to prevent the expenses and responsibilities of a family of children, […]

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28) FRIENDS: What should be the influence of friends on our family?

Supporting Statements: Immature people have friends to make them feel comfortable and important. Their friendships are really for themselves. Are they are often engaged in meaningless friendships based on affinity and self gratification, or are they engaging friends in matters of eternal importance? Are they just hanging out where nothing important is being said or […]

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27) NOVELS: What have the prophets counseled concerning fictional books and classics? What counsel has been given concerning novels?

Prophetic Statements Brigham Young #1:  In a letter addressed to his son Feramorz Little Young on August 23, 1877, President Brigham Young instructed: “You must permit me, my dear son, in the love that I bear for you and your brothers and sisters, to say that I do not esteem the perusal of novels a […]

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31) Should men and women marry outside of their race? What has been taught regarding interracial marriage?

Prophetic Statements Joseph Smith “Thursday, 8–Held Mayor’s court and tried two negroes for attempting to marry two white women: fined one $25, and the other $5” (History of the Church  6:210). Spencer W. Kimball The interrace marriage problem is not one of inferiority or superiority. It may be that your son is better educated and […]

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25) PURITY: Why does the Lord place immorality in seriousness next to murder? What are the effects of immorality on home and posterity?

Prophetic Statements Brigham Young 1# Any man who humbles a daughter of Eve to rob her of her virtue, and cast her off dishonored and defiled, is her destroyer, and is responsible to God for the deed. If the refined Christian society of the nineteenth century will tolerate such a crime, God will not; but […]

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22) LEGACY: What is a multi-generational heritage?

Prophetic Statements Lorenzo Snow If a father, for instance, had a large, extensive family, his object would be to do them good, to promote their interest and happiness, to put into their hands power, knowing that they could not accomplish much alone, and that they would have to take or obtain assistance from that family. […]

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21) COURTSHIP: What is the responsibility of the father regarding courtship? What are the responsibilities of parents to children during their single years?

Prophetic Statements John Taylor #1: It is usual in other countries, before a man can be received into society, that he must bring with him a reputation from reputable men; he is expected to have introductory letters before he can be introduced to them and associate with them, and not because he is in the […]

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20) SABBATH: How should families keep the Sabbath day? What is the parental duty in training children and directing activities on the Lord’s day?

Prophetic Statements Joseph F. Smith I would advise my brethren, and I take the advice to myself, to look after their sons as well as their daughters, and see where they are on the Sabbath; see that they do not go a fishing, riding or hunting, or waste their time in idleness, contracting pernicious and […]

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16) COUNSELING: When should outside influences be allowed to influence, counsel or mentor the family? Should worldly experts be permitted to advise the family?

Prophetic Statements Joseph F. Smith Brethren, there is too little religious devotion, love and fear of God, in the home; too much worldliness, selfishness, indifference and lack of reverence in the family, or these never would exist so abundantly on the outside. Then, the home is what needs reforming. Try today, and tomorrow, to make […]

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17) LAUGHTER: What has been taught about appropriate laughter?

Prophetic Statements Joseph Smith How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations—too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters […]

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