Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Twenty

Marriage and Children are Ordained of God - D&C 49:15

“The Shakers rejected marriage and believed in a life of total celibacy” (D&C 49 Headnote) – When the Church was less than a year old Joseph Smith and the headquarters of the Church had moved to Kirtland Ohio near a Shaker community, one of several in the area.

Some of the early Brethren hoped to be able to convert the Shakers. They approached the Prophet Joseph Smith for direction, and he inquired of the Lord. In response the Lord gave the revelation contained in D&C 47. This revelation refutes some of the teaching of the Shakers including forbidding to marry and celibacy. This revelation was read to the Shakers, and they rejected it. Their rejection was fatal. Today there are no Shakers.

By not marring and having children many people today reject this revelation which states: “And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man. Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation; And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made” (D&C 49:15). If marriage and having children “is ordained of God” promoting the opposite is certainly from Satan.

- Marriage – Wide spread marriage has long been recognized as being essential to a stable society. Now however, in the developed world fewer people are marrying, and when they do they marry later in life. In 2024, adults in the United States were less likely to be married than at any point since the Census Bureau began tracking marital status in 1940.

- Having children generally – Today, all developed countries are experiencing a decline in their birth rate. In the United States the birth rate is at a historic low, and it decreases most years. Also, the fertility rate is decreasing, and is now 1.6 births per woman which is well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain the population. The nations in Europe and Asia are even lower.

- Having children outside of marriage – Many of the problems that come from having too few children are greatly exacerbated by the skyrocketing trend that greater percentages of children world-wide being born outside of wedlock. In the United States 39.8% of all births in 2023 were to unmarried women. Increasing percentages of out of wedlock births in the United States is seen among women of all races and educational levels.

A declining birth rate and an increasing aging population is a threat any country’s stability and governance – This requires increasing economic support of older, retired generations by younger, working generations. This is unsustainable. This threatens the economy and put pressure on social security and healthcare systems, and it is happening world-wide.

The opposition to marriage and having children is increasing – In the developed world today it is fashionable to marry later or not at all, and for married couples to have one or two children or none at all. In the United States the percentage of households with a married couple peaked 75 years ago in 1947 at 78.8%. That percentage has been below 50% since 2010, and it keeps going down. In 2024 households headed by a married couple was less than half at 47.1%.

The Family – A Proclamation to the World – “In 1995, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” This proclamation is a declaration and reaffirmation of doctrines and practices that prophets have stated repeatedly throughout the history of the Church. It contains principles that are vital to the happiness and well-being of every family. Family members should study the proclamation and should live by its precepts” (Introduction, emphasis added).

What this Proclamation teaches regarding marriage and family includes the following:

- “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.”

- “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

- “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. “

- “We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”

- “We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.”

- “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.”

- “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.”

- “Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

- “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

I testify of the truth of the following statement from The Family – A Proclamation to the World: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ” (emphasis added).

Released on May 25th. 2025.