I've enthusiastically written for the celebration each year since, and this year when Montserrat extended the invitation to join her, as a host (just prior to my recent, unplanned I might add, trip to Europe), I eagerly and with honor accepted.
As the first guest post of the 2013 Family Proclamation Celebration, here on A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman, I feel privileged that my friend, Michael Towns, has agreed to share a few of his thoughts. I've been associated with Michael, online, for over a year (perhaps more), and during that time I've come to know, and deeply respect, his complete integrity for the standards of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and loyalty to the LDS Church and its leaders. On occasion, I have turned to him for his thoughts and opinions, on the serious moral issues of our day - almost always on matters pertaining to marriage and family - and found his counsel and input to be impeccable.
My friend, Michael...
“We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
With simplicity and elegance, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, read these words to the General Relief Society on September 23, 1995.
That was, for me personally, a very good year. I had graduated high school and was taking some college classes while preparing to depart on my mission the following March. I remember when the Proclamation came out. I remember people reading it with eagerness. I also remember people reading the above statement and saying, “So what’s the big deal? Of course marriage is between a man and a woman.”
My, how times have changed. Nineteen ninety-five seems positively quaint by 2013 standards. We’ve seen so much war and social “progress” in the last eighteen years. And notice how gay marriage really didn’t start picking up steam until about the year 2000, a good five years after this Proclamation was sent to the world…..
While a great deal of arcane legal groundwork had been laid in the 1990s, the real change occurred when domestic partnerships were created in 1998, three years after the Proclamation. However, gay activists wouldn’t settle for that; they wanted to use the word “marriage” and finally, in 2004, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom allowed city hall to start granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples (thus unleashing a drama in California that was just recently settled by the Supreme Court this year). Later that year, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, nine years after the Proclamation.
I have a testimony, born of the Holy Spirit, that the Family Proclamation came about after lengthy periods of mutual counsel, discussion, fasting, prayer, and inspiration from God. The timing of the Proclamation was absolutely inspired. The contents of the Proclamation are completely inspired. Everything aboutthe Proclamation is inspired. It was written and proclaimed with seeric vision and insight.
I believe with all my heart that the Proclamation is the truth of God. I also believe that we are accountable for what it teaches and for what it represents. I believe – and it is my witness from the Holy Spirit – that society itself will only be saved if we heed and obey the precepts found within the Proclamation.
We do have prophets among us! The Lord Jesus Christ has truly called them, they truly are Apostles of Him, and they only do what He would have them do. With the Proclamation on the Family, they put a firm doctrinal line in the sand that was marvelously inspired in preparation for the moral confusion of the 21st century.
Some would say that it takes a prophet to peer into the future….We have fifteen of them, and they gave us a prophetic vision eighteen years ago. We can’t speak often enough of the Proclamation. For it is true!
Michael W. Towns
Bio:
Michael W. Towns currently works as an Arabic linguist. He was born and raised in Florida and has been a member of the Church since the age of 10. He holds a degree in Information Studies from Florida State University. He is married to the former Sarah Davis, and they are parents of two precocious children.
Of note: On August 25th, Michael was deployed to the Middle East for a three month work assignment. We wish him a safe return to his family - hopefully in time for the holidays!
Of note: On August 25th, Michael was deployed to the Middle East for a three month work assignment. We wish him a safe return to his family - hopefully in time for the holidays!
Head on over to Chocolate on My Cranium or Mormon Mommy Blogs, to read what they have to share during our Family Proclamation Celebration!
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