INSPIRED
Elder L. Tom Perry explained, “The
inspired document ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’ states: ‘Husband
and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for
their children” (L. Tom Perry, “Mothers Teaching Children in the Home,” Ensign,
May 2010, 31). Similarly, Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “Carefully study and
use the proclamation of the First Presidency and the Twelve on the family. It
was inspired of the Lord” (Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Living the Great
Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, November 1996, 75). Three years later Elder
M. Russell Ballard warned that “to justify their rejection of God’s immutable
laws that protect the family, . . .
false prophets and false teachers even attack the inspired proclamation on
the family” (M. Russell Ballard, “Beware of False Prophets and False
Teachers,” Ensign, November 1999, 64).
REVEALED/REVELATION/REVELATORS
Similarly, President Gordon B.
Hinckley stressed that the teachings contained in the document come from
prophets, seers, and revelators: “We of the First Presidency and the Council of
the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world” (Hinckley,
“Strang Strong,” 100). Elder W. Eugene Hansen stated, “I leave you my witness
that the proclamation on the family, which I referred to earlier, is modern-day
revelation provided to us by the Lord through His latter-day prophets” (W.
Eugene Hansen, “Children and Family,” Ensign, May 1998, 63). Similarly,
President Dallin H. Oaks bore his witness of the revelatory nature of the
document when he proclaimed, “I testify of the truth and eternal importance of
the family proclamation, revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ to His Apostles for
the exaltation of the children of God” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Plan and the
Proclamation,” Ensign, November 2017, 31).
. . .
PROPHETS/PROPHECY
Since the proclamation was
introduced, more than 30 of the 230 references in general conference have mentioned
or emphasized the prophetic source and nature of the document, several of which
have already been quoted. Elder Robert D. hales explained that we should “watch,
hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and
protected. For example, ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’ was given
long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family” (Robert D.
Hales, “General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony,” Ensign,
November 2013, 7). Elder M. Russell Ballard simply taught, “The proclamation is
a prophetic document, not only because it was issued by prophets but because it
was ahead of its time” (M. Russell Ballard, “What Matters Most Is What Lasts
Longest,” Ensign, November 2005, 41). (W. Justin Dyer and Michael A.
Goodman, “The Prophetic Nature of the Family Proclamation,” in Latter-day
Saints in Washington DC, ed. Kenneth L. Alford, Lloyd D. Newell, and Alexander
L. Baugh [Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book,
2021], 146-47, 148, emphasis in original)