Even if you feel like your family is broken or simply does not reflect the structure of other families in the Church, you still have a place within the family proclamation.
Photo courtesy of the LDS Media Library
If you feel like your family is broken or incomplete, it can be difficult to understand how the principles and blessings stated in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” apply to you. Maybe your parents are divorced, or maybe you haven’t found your eternal companion. No matter what your earthly family looks like, the Lord eagerly offers you the blessings of an eternal family.
To demonstrate how everyone has a place in the family proclamation, the Ensign article “Seeing Yourself in the Family Proclamation” combines several insights from various general authorities and Church members—three of which are highlighted here.
All of us belong to God’s family. Our divine natures as children and “heirs of God” (Romans 8:17) entitle us to enjoy the loving guidance of our heavenly parents and to eventually receive “all that [the] Father hath” (D&C 84:38)—meaning we will also have the opportunity to have our own families.
“God can help us progress with the family we have.” In the article, Miranda Gaubatz, a daughter of a single mother, shares her testimony “that Jesus Christ can take our ‘not ideal’ families and make them enough to fulfill His purposes for us.” Because of Christ’s Atonement, the structure and dynamic of our families cannot limit our eternal progression.
“Family can mean more than just parents and children.” You can add to your earthly family by cultivating relationships with your extended family members, your ward, your community, and your friends.
Though you may feel your family is not “ideal,” your identity as God’s beloved child, your access to the Savior’s Atonement, and your ability to make friendships ensures your place in the family proclamation.
Read “Seeing Yourself in the Family Proclamation” to better understand how you belong in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and to learn from other members’ experiences.
Source: Ensign
—Abigail Tree, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY ALEXANDR PODVALNY
Find more insights
Take a look at “A Letter to a Single Sister” by Sister Sharon Eubank to learn how single adults can fully participate in the gospel and in their own earthly families.
Read “We All Long to Belong” by Eric B. Murdock for words of encouragement about finding your place within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.