How often have you read all three of the Proclamations from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles? Have you studied them together, side by side? If you haven’t, don’t worry. Neither had we. But what we discovered was timely for Easter!
To start off this Holy Easter week, our team looked at each of the Proclamations (The Family Proclamation, The Living Christ, The Restoration Proclamation). We first looked at them individually and then studied them together. In three proclamations, there are three consistent links:
- The temple and Christ.
- The eternal family and Christ.
- Eternal identity and purpose and Christ.
This reaffirmed that the family is central to God’s plan and that Jesus Christ is at the heart of an eternal family.
1995: “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”
“The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (Links to The Living Christ, Paragraph 2, The Restoration Proclamation, Paragraph 4)
2000: “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”
“He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.” (Link to Family Proclamation, Paragraphs 1,2,3,The Restoration Proclamation, Paragraph 4)
2020: “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”
“Three of the original twelve Apostles—Peter, James, and John—restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority. Others came as well, including Elijah, who restored the authority to join families together forever in eternal relationships that transcend death.” (Link to the Family Proclamation: Paragraphs 1, 3, 7, The Living Christ, Paragraph 2).
Is there any question about just how central the family and eternal identity is to our Heavenly Father’s plan through Jesus Christ? Is this the first time you noticed this connection?
Art: BrookieNoelleDesigns