FAMILY

The Social Role of the Family
Richard Wilkins, Managing Director of the World Family Policy Center

Social science data demonstrates two nearly incontestable conclusions: (1) stable, natural marital structures provide profound benefits for men, women and children, while (2) the breakdown of stable, natural marital structures imposes significant social costs upon individuals and society at large. In short, families play a profoundly important social role. Without healthy families we simply cannot have a healthy society.

We must re-awaken the conscience of the world regarding the social role of the family. I will first address the benefits of stable marital relationships to men, women, and children. I will then canvass the costs that society has incurred as a result of the decline in marital stability. I will conclude by calling upon the world community – and particularly the world’s faith communities – to recommit themselves to marriage and the natural family.

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The Family: A Proclamation to the World
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To read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in other languages, please visit
http://www.lds.org/languages/