The Pattern of Family Life
Dallin H. Oaks
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 2013)
“[T]he pattern of marriage …
originated with Adam and Eve
and has continued through the
ages as God’s pattern for the
procreative relationship
between His sons and
daughters and for the
nurturing of His children.”
Richard G. Scott
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 1996, p.
73-75)
“You can learn how
to be more effective
parents by studying
the lives of Adam
and Eve.”
The Pattern for Men & Women
The Roles of Adam
The Roles of Eve
• Moses 4:22
• Moses 4:23-25; 5:1
• Moses 4:22
• Moses 4:26
• Moses 3:18
The Roles of Husband & Wife Together
• Moses 2:28; 5:2
• Moses 3:24
• Moses 5:1
• Moses 5:12
Spencer W. Kimball
President
(Ensign, Oct 1975, 2)
“Certainly it is not easy for the
woman to bear the child in
distress and discomfort, but
still her desire should be to
her husband, for he will
preside over her. And surely it
is not easy for the man who
must provide for his family by
the sweat of his face, but it is
the true plan. (See Gen. 3:16–
19.) Great blessings come
from it.”
From The Family: A Proclamation to the World
God
• Moses 4:22
• Ephesians 5:22-33
Husband
Wife
Patricia T. Holland
Wife of Elder Holland
(On Earth as it is In
Heaven, p.72)
“[W]e come together as equal,
whole, developing, and contributing
partners. Most of our movement
together is in a lateral relationship.
We move side by side, together,
simultaneously, much like doublyyoked oxen. But there are times
when, for the sake of godly progress
and development, I follow my
husband in a vertical relationship. A
house of God is a house of order.
We all fall in line behind someone
in that straight course that leads to
eternal bliss. I am so grateful that I
fall in line with Jeff.
Patricia T. Holland
Wife of Elder Holland
(On Earth as it is In
Heaven, p.72)
“Much of the time I act
autonomously and independently.
In fact, Jeff will agree that I am
about the most independent woman
he knows. But when we make major
moves, and even some minor ones,
and when I'm concerned about the
children or my church assignments,
or when I experience weakness and
pain, I listen to and obey his
counsel because I know he obeys
our Father's counsel. I know that is
the order of heaven.”
God
• Moses 4:22
• Ephesians 5:22-33
Husband
Wife
The Pattern for Men & Women
The Roles of Adam
The Roles of Eve
• Moses 4:22
• Moses 4:23-25; 5:1
• Moses 4:22
• Moses 4:26
• Moses 3:18
The Roles of Husband & Wife Together
• Moses 2:28; 5:2
• Moses 3:24
• Moses 5:1
• Moses 5:12
From The Family: A Proclamation to the World
Quentin L. Cook
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 2013)
“There are many voices now telling
women how to live. They often
contradict each other. Of particular
concern are philosophies that
criticize or diminish respect for
women who choose to make the
sacrifices necessary to be mothers,
teachers, nurturers, or friends to
children.”
“A pernicious philosophy that
undermines women’s moral
influence is the devaluation of
marriage and of motherhood and
homemaking as a career…. They
ridicule what they call ‘the mommy
track’ as a career. This is not fair or
right.”
D. Todd Christofferson
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 2013)
Spencer W. Kimball
President
(Ensign, Oct 1975, 2)
“Let no carnal mind decide in
his or her feigned brilliance or
pretended wisdom that a
mistake was made. The whole
program was intelligently
organized…. Had the
superficial ideas of many
mortals of today prevailed, the
world, the human race, and all
proper things would long ago
have come to an end.”
The Pattern for Men & Women
The Roles of Adam
The Roles of Eve
• Moses 4:22
• Moses 4:23-25; 5:1
• Moses 4:22
• Moses 4:26
• Moses 3:18
The Roles of Husband & Wife Together
• Moses 2:28; 5:2
• Moses 3:24
• Moses 5:1
• Moses 5:12
Who’s Better? Boys or Girls?
Eve, a “help meet” for Adam
Moses 3:18
Help meet is translated
from the Hebrew, “Ezerkenegdo,” which conveys
the sense of “an equal but
opposite helper to him.”
Text
Manhood
M
A
R
R
I
A
G
E
Womanhood
The natures of male and female
spirits complete and perfect each
other, and therefore men and
women are intended to progress
together toward exaltation.
David A. Bednar
Quorum of the Twelve
(Worldwide Leadership
Training on Family)
“The Lord intended that
the wife be a helpmeet for
man (meet means equal)—
that is, a companion equal
and necessary in full
partnership.”
Howard W. Hunter
President
(Ensign, Nov. 1994, 50–51)
“The Lord intended that
the wife be a helpmeet for
man (meet means equal)—
that is, a companion equal
and necessary in full
partnership.”
Howard W. Hunter
President
(Ensign, Nov. 1994, 50–51)
From The Family: A Proclamation to the World
M. Russell Ballard
Quorum of the Twelve
(Campus Education
Week, 19 August 2003)
“As clearly stated in the
proclamation on the family, men
and women, though spiritually
equal, are entrusted with different
but equally significant roles.
These roles complement each
other.
M. Russell Ballard
Quorum of the Twelve
(Campus Education
Week, 19 August 2003)
“Men are given stewardship over
the sacred ordinances of the
priesthood. To women, God gives
stewardship over bestowing and
nurturing mortal life…. Each
stewardship is essential for the
spiritual progression of all family
members—parents and children
alike.”
M. Russell Ballard
Quorum of the Twelve
(Campus Education
Week, 19 August 2003)
“Men are given stewardship over
the sacred ordinances of the
priesthood. To women, God gives
stewardship over bestowing and
nurturing mortal life…. Each
stewardship is essential for the
spiritual progression of all family
members—parents and children
alike.”
Sheri Dew
Relief Society 2nd Counselor
(Ensign, Nov. 2001, 12)
“Satan seeks to confuse us
about our stewardships and
distinctive natures as men and
women. He bombards us with
bizarre messages about
gender, marriage, family, and
all male-female relationships.
He would have us believe men
and women are so alike that
our unique gifts are not
necessary, or so different we
can never hope to understand
each other. Neither is true.”
“[C]oncerning marriage and
the roles of man and woman,
let no man defy God or set
aside his divine program….
Spencer W. Kimball
President
(Ensign, Oct 1975, 2)
“Why do some allow
themselves to criticize—
criticize God’s plan? Why can’t
they accept their roles in life
and be grateful for them?”
Text
Moses 6:59
Manhood
• Spiritual Rebirth
M
A
R
R
I
A
G
E
Womanhood
• Physical Birth
“We know that … we must experience both a
physical birth and a spiritual rebirth to reach the
highest realms in God’s celestial kingdom.”
~Elder Christofferson (Ensign, Nov. 2013)
Text
The Pattern of Parenting
Richard G. Scott
Quorum of the Twelve
(Ensign, Nov. 1996, p.
73-75)
“You can learn how
to be more effective
parents by studying
the lives of Adam
and Eve.”
What are parents to remember
about their children?
Moses 6:55-56
What are parents therefore to
teach their children?
Moses 6:57-62
D&C 68:25
Faith in
Christ
Grow in
Christlike
Attributes
Repentance
The Law of
the Gospel
Covenants
Purified/
Sanctified
Making, Renewing,
& Keeping
Receive the
Holy Ghost
How did Adam & Eve’s children
react to their teachings?
Moses 7:1
The Good
The Bad
Moses 6:1-4
Moses 5:13, 55-57
Generational Effects:
Generational Effects:
Moses 6:13, 21-23
Moses 6:15
The Ugly
Moses 5:16-41
Jeffrey R. Holland
Quorum of the Twelve
(“A Prayer for the
Children,” Ensign, May
2003)
“Even then we know that some
children will make choices that
break their parents’ hearts. Moms
and dads can do everything right
and yet have children who stray.
Moral agency still obtains. But
even in such painful hours it will
be comforting for you to know that
your children knew of your abiding
faith in Christ, in His true Church,
in the keys of the priesthood and in
those who hold them.
Jeffrey R. Holland
Quorum of the Twelve
(“A Prayer for the
Children,” Ensign, May
2003)
“It will be comforting then for you
to know that if your children choose
to leave the straight and narrow
way, they leave it very conscious
that their parents were firmly in it.
Furthermore, they will be much
more likely to return to that path
when they come to themselves and
recall the loving example and gentle
teachings you offered them there.
“Live the gospel as conspicuously as
you can. Keep the covenants your
children know you have made.”
How did Adam & Eve’s children
react to their teachings?
Moses 7:1
The Good
The Bad
Moses 6:1-4
Moses 5:13, 55-57
Generational Effects:
Generational Effects:
Moses 6:13, 21-23
Moses 6:15
The Ugly
Moses 5:16-41
Cain and the Curse of the Broken Covenant
Bruce R. McConkie
(Mormon Doctrine,
p.108)
“Though he was a rebel and an
associate of Lucifer in pre-existence
and though he was a liar from the
beginning whose name was perdition,
Cain managed to attain the privilege
of mortal birth. Under Adam's
tutelage, he began in this life to serve
God. He understood the gospel and
the plan of salvation, was baptized,
received the priesthood, had a perfect
knowledge of the position and
perfection of God, and talked
personally with Deity. Then he came
out in open rebellion, fought God,
worshiped Lucifer, and slew Abel.”
Joseph Smith
(Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, p.58)
“Cain offered of the fruit of
the ground, and was not
accepted, because he could
not do it in faith.... with an
eye looking forward in faith
on the power of that great
Sacrifice [of the Son of
God] for a remission of
sins.”
What was the Curse of Cain?
End