LDS Families
  • HOME
  • PURPOSE
  • CONTACT

Elder Ballard Addresses Importance of Traditional Marriage at World Congress of Families

10/27/2015

0 Comments

 
SALT LAKE CITY — Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke Tuesday morning at the ninth World Congress of Families being held in Salt Lake City. Several thousand participants have gathered at the Grand America Hotel for the four-day meeting, which features 185 speakers comprised of scholars, researchers and religious leaders.
​

“Society, law and popular opinion may change, but we know that society’s version of the family cannot and will not substitute for God’s purpose and plan for His children,” said Elder Ballard in his opening remarks as he outlined “how completely linked [Mormon] theology is to the traditional family.”

“In today's world, where marriage and children are increasingly marginalized, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not stand alone in identifying the traditional family as one of its most important doctrinal elements,” he said, adding that Pope Francis, the Southern Baptist Convention and other churches and prominent Christian leaders have also promoted traditional families.

Elder Ballard explained the Church’s position on marriage, which was outlined 20 years ago in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” He said, “This doctrine explains our strong position on the family. We also believe we are to reach out to all people with understanding, love and compassion.”
​
Elder Ballard World Congress of Families
Several thousand participants gather at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City for the World Congress of Families, October 27, 2015. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

The proclamation, signed by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, states, “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and … the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”

Elder Ballard also stressed the significance of temples to Mormons. “Temples are very important to Latter-day Saints because in them couples are married for ‘time and all eternity,’ not just ‘till death do you part.’”

“We must rally all the support we can to strengthen and protect our faiths, families and freedom. Some are actively trying to strip us of these rights,” he said.

Elder Ballard also encouraged those in the audience to “extend a hand of fellowship to those with whom we disagree.” He cited the Church’s support of recent legislation passed by the Utah Legislature that protects LGBT people from being fired or denied housing because of their sexual orientation. The legislation also protects religious freedom.

“By engaging in compromise and extending love to all God’s children, who are our brothers and sisters, we can create a peaceful, diverse tapestry of ideals and beliefs,” Elder Ballard said. “Remember, married or single, that, in the end, we are each a unique part of God's grand plan.”

​The global World Congress of Families has been held in previous years in Sydney, Madrid and Amsterdam.

​This article was originally published on MormonNewsroom.org.  It is shared here with permission.

0 Comments

Journalist Writes About Mormon Preparedness

10/20/2015

0 Comments

 

By: Dale Jones

Picture
In his recently released book titled “Lights Out,” distinguished journalist Ted Koppel explores the challenges the United States would have if there were widespread power outages caused by a cyberattack. 

The book includes three chapters discussing the history and efforts of preparedness by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members.

​Mr. Koppel writes, "What distinguishes the Mormons is their extraordinary focus on the integration of self-sufficiency and charity." He adds, "The LDS church has set world-class standards for disaster preparedness and imbued its membership with a sense of individual and group responsibility."

As part of his research Mr. Koppel spent several days visiting Utah including Church headquarters and its facilities. We recognize his significant work to explore, research and gain greater understanding of our faith, organization and efforts to ensure Church members are prepared for all of life's uncertainties.

See more information and context on the Church’s teachings on preparedness.

This article was originally published on MormonNewsroom.org.  It is shared here with permission.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
  • Provident Living
  • Church Welfare Plan
  • 2014 AP Story
  • 2014 Welfare Fact Sheet
  • First Presidency Message: Are We Prepared?
  • Tithing Topic Page
  • Tithing and Charitable Donations
  • Fasting Topic Page
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Food Storage
  • Food Storage Topic Page
  • All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances
  • All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage
  • Bishops’ Storehouse
​

0 Comments

    Archives

    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015





Photo used under Creative Commons from crimfants