Church News BYU’s Jenet Erickson on the divine design of the family and 'The Family Proclamation'
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Sep 16, 2025 
Join Jenet Erickson, an Associate Professor at BYU and expert on family dynamics, as she explores the vital themes surrounding 'The Family Proclamation' on its 30th anniversary. She reflects on the proclamation’s prophetic significance and its foresight in cultural debates. Erickson discusses the crucial role of marriage and motherhood in women's well-being, while also addressing the loneliness crisis. Her insights on the importance of parental complementarity in child development and the eternal nature of families are both inspiring and thought-provoking.
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Family As Divine Design
- The Family Proclamation describes an eternal, divinely designed family that grounds human identity and destiny.
- It connects family relationships to salvation through covenants and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Where She Was When It Was Read
- Jenet Erickson recalls sitting at the Relief Society meeting when President Hinckley read the proclamation and feeling its significance.
- She later realized each sentence would shape her study and understanding of family.
Marriage Is Central To God's Plan
- The proclamation frames marriage and family not only as social goods but as essential to God's plan of salvation.
- Marriage and fidelity matter eternally because they enable growth toward divine relationships.
