The Family: A Proclamation on Accountabilty

The Family: A Proclamation on Accountability

The 8th paragraph of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" holds within it a warning. The Lord knew that when families operated appropriately the results could be beautiful, but he equally understands the destruction that can come to people's lives when their family situation is less than ideal. Knowing this, the majority of the proclamation is about how families should act at the ideal level. This paragraph is a warning when life is not ideal. The 8th paragraph reads... 

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Accountability to God means that we will be judged for our actions in the family.  Violating covenants of chastity and abuse are both large discrepancies that will need to be judged as they directly effect another persons personal agency. Failing to fulfill family responsibilities does the same. In my mind we fail to fulfill our family responsibilities when we do not follow the other righteous guidelines put forth in the rest of the proclamation. Responsibilities that include being a good father, mother, husband, or wife and all that comes with that. 

We are seeing the disintegration of the family even today. Perfectly righteous families fall apart as members turn to sin. Divorces are more prevalent today than every before. Child-rearing opportunities are prevented before they can even begin with their being more and more same-sex couples. The Family: A Proclamation to the World outlines the ideal family for both the parents and the children. The disintegration thereof is whenever this type of family is not existent and is broken up. Specifically it could be step-families, divorced families, and same-sex marriages. 

The last sentence says that breaking up of families will bring calamities on individuals, communities, and nations. A calamity is defined as "an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster". I think the proclamation uses this word because it is a severe word. It makes very clear how severe these sins will be on those involved. 

Doctrine and Covenants 1:17 says, "17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;". This verse applies because the Lord has the future before him and he knows all that will come to pass. He would rarely allow his children to suffer without giving them a chance to not suffer. By giving the commandments he is teaching his prophets the route to not having as much pain, and not suffering the calamities in the same effect that those who do not yield will have to. 

The only reason that the disintegration of the family would lead to such disastrous consequences is because it is against the will of God. It is not the most righteous path and therefore is sinful in some nature. Sin in any form leads its captors down a road to disaster. Therefore we should follow this proclamation and form our families in the best ways we can. We are all accountable to our efforts to do so... and we have been warned. 


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